Culture: Spring at the Apex in Bury St Edmunds promises something for all tastes
The Apex’s extensive programme of famous faces and less well-known known musicians means there’ll something going on to suit most tastes next year. . .
Spring’s eclectic line-up includes Paul Young’s band Los Pacaminos, who will play the very best in Tex Mex Border music on January 11.
From The Jam sees Bruce Foxton and co celebrating the 40th anniversary of ‘All Mod Cons’ on January 17.
Accomplished star of the West End and Broadway stage, Ramin Karimloo returns with his acclaimed Broadgrass Band on January 29 and one of the most popular and exciting live rhythm and blues acts, Dr Feelgood return on February 13.
Dub-dance pioneers Dreadzone are back with their unique blend of electro, dub and reggae on March 1; while Steve Harley & his Acoustic Trio are back on March 14; and Dire Straits’ music and memories are played and discussed by John Illsley on March 25.
Although there is a wide variety of genres on offer, folk is always a favourite with local audiences. Judy Collins (January 28) is esteemed for her imaginative interpretations of Both Sides Now and Send in the Clowns, and her recent album was Grammy nominated for Best Folk Album in 2017. There are also welcome returns from The Young’uns with The Ballad of Johnny Longstaff – a musical adventure about a working class hero on February 4; Fairport Convention on February 12; Irish music legends The Fureys on March 9, Cornish choir Fisherman’s Friends on March 21 and charismatic multi-instrumentalist Seth Lakeman on March 22.
Hailed as “nothing short of a world music super group”, Bokante on January 30 features Grammy award-winning guitarists Michael League, Chris McQueen and Bob Lanzetti (all from Snarky Puppy) and a diverse ensemble from four continents.
Jazzers will be able to celebrate the 60th anniversary of one of the world’s most iconic music venues with The Ronnie Scott’s All Stars on January 16. Two of the greatest jazz guitarists in the world, Martin Taylor and Ulf Wakenius play on March 6 and there will be a Big Band Spectacular
from the Syd Lawrence Orchestra on March 20. Echoes of Ellington Jazz Orchestra’s tribute to Gustav Holst’s The Planets, Jazz Planets takes place underneath a beautiful moon on February 19. Hanging in the auditorium from February 19 to 24, Luke Jerram’s moon measures seven metres in diameter and uses detailed NASA imagery to exactly replicate the moon’s surface!
For classical connoisseurs, European Union Chamber Orchestra perform works by Boccherini, Mozart, Grieg and Haydn with pianist Peter Donohoe on January 31. The Academy of Ancient Music explore the full emotional gamut of baroque music on February 25 and East Anglia Chamber Orchestra make two visits, the first with the Cohens on February 2 and again with the Fairhaven Singers on March 23. Wolsey Orchestra bring their Spring Concert on 9 February 9 and Suffolk Sinfonia bring theirs on March 16.
You can hear plenty of tributes to popular music: The Chicago Blues Brothers (January 18), The Story of Guitar Heroes (January 20), The Simon & Garfunkel Story (January 24), Bob Marley Celebration (February 3), Let’s Hang On (Frankie Valli on February 8), Simply Dylan (February 15), Barry Steele as Roy Orbison (February 16) and The Billy Fury Story on February 27.
You can get down to Boney M Experience and Odyssey at Boogie Night 6 on January 26, or rock out to Buster James Band, Let There B/DC, Counterfeit Quo and Creedence Clearwater Review at Monsters of Rock on February 1.
There are many more shows on offer, so visit theapex.co.uk, call 01284 758000 or pick up a spring brochure to get the full programme.
