On 22 and 23 February of this year, Rick Wakeman CBE and the English Rock Ensemble revisited his multi-platinum back catalogue – both solo and with his former band YES – with two sold-out concerts at the prestigious London Palladium. Their performances received such a rapturous response from audience and media alike that Rick has decided to take the show on the road, with The Return Of The Caped Crusader… Tour of the UK in 2024.
The tour will start in Glasgow on 15 February 2024 and then visit Liverpool, Manchester, Brighton, Cardiff, Birmingham, York and Gateshead before concluding in Bristol on 28 February. The two-part show will consist of Rick’s new arrangements of Classic YES material for band and vocalists, followed after the interval by his much-loved epic Journey to the Centre of the Earth.
Rick will of course be playing the leading role on keyboards, while the English Rock Ensemble line-up will be the same as the Palladium shows: Dave Colquhoun (guitars and backing vocals), Adam Falkner (drums), Lee Pomeroy (bass and backing vocals), Hayley Sanderson (vocals) and Adam Wakeman (keyboard, guitars and backing vocals).
“I was amazed to discover that we could have sold the Palladium shows many times over and the clamour for extra shows by fans who missed out was overwhelming,” comments Rick. “Following the great reaction and reviews of the shows, I am really pleased that we can again perform the Classic YES / Journey to the Centre of the Earth Palladium programme. Who knows? If these are successful, maybe we can do the Six Wives / King Arthur show at a later date!”
Whether as a solo artist, with his own groundbreaking albums The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Journey to the Centre of the Earth and The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, or as a band member of YES, helping to create the trailblazing records like Fragile, Close To The Edge and Tales From Topographic Oceans, Rick Wakeman holds legendary status in the history of progressive rock. Expect to hear classic rock brought bang up to date by Rick and the English Rock Ensemble, playing at the top of their game in a not-to-be-missed tour!
Reviews from the London Palladium shows:
‘I left feeling I’d seen two of the most iconic gigs of Rick’s career!’ Prog Report
‘It felt like a privilege to be at such an event.’ Velvet Thunder
Tickets and VIP packages for The Return Of The Caped Crusader… Tour 2024 go on sale at 10am on Friday 19 May via www.myticket.co.uk/artists/rick-wakeman
The Return Of The Caped Crusader… Tour 2024
February 2024
Thu 15 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Sat 17 Liverpool Philharmonic
Sun 18 Manchester Bridgewater Hall
Tue 20 Brighton Dome
Wed 21 Cardiff St David’s Hall
Fri 23 Birmingham Symphony Hall
Sat 24 York Barbican
Sun 25 Gateshead Sage
Wed 28 Bristol Beacon
