TOM ROBINSON with Adam Phillips THEN & NOW

50 YEARS OF ADVENTURES IN THE RECORD INDUSTRY

1975-2025

Tom Robinson presents an evening of songs and stories from fifty years wandering the wilder shores of the Record Industry. Classic hits such as War Baby, Up Against The Wall, and 2-4-6-8 Motorway rub shoulders with a Radio 1 ban for being Glad To be Gay, rocking against racism with The Clash, writing songs with Elton John, headlining Glasto with Peter Gabriel, drug smuggling in East Germany, two nervous breakdowns and a year in tabloid hell after falling in love with a woman. Plus fan favourites from his vast back catalogue, spanning Café Society in 1975 to his acclaimed 2015 comeback album Only The Now.

TOM ROBINSON BIOG

Tom Robinson's first record release was in 1975 as one-third of Café Society: an acoustic harmony trio discovered by Ray Davies at The Troubadour folk club in London's Earls Court. The album sold just 500 copies.

After seeing an early Sex Pistols gig at The 100 Club, Tom made a rapid change of direction and formed the Tom Robinson Band with rock guitarist Danny Kustow. TRB were early supporters of Rock Against Racism and soon enjoyed Top 5 success with their debut single for EMI: 2-4-6-8 Motorway. Brief notoriety followed in early 1978 with the LGBT anthem Glad To Be Gay, and a few months later the band's first album Power In The Darkness entered the charts at No.4.

Over the last 50 years Tom's been mentored by Alexis Korner and Martin Carthy, written songs with Elton John and Peter Gabriel, toured with The Police, Red Wedge and The Undertones, and Rocked Against Racism for a crowd of 80,000 - alongside The Clash, Steel Pulse and X-Ray Spex.

He's been banned by Radio One, exiled in East Berlin, and hounded by the tabloids for being in love with a woman. More recently he's given over ten thousand artists their first national airplay on his BBC Introducing shows for 6 Music and served for ten years on the Ivor Novello Awards committee. At age 75 Tom still enjoys a reputation among his punk contemporaries - and in the world of acoustic/roots music - as both a master songsmith and a funny, ferocious live performer.

Ha Hum Ah Productions: Making a Killing

1590, Nuremberg. Europe teeters on the edge of modernity but, in the shadow of the gallows, executioner Frantz Schmidt has more immediate concerns. Torturer, hangman and—most unusually—a meticulous diarist, Frantz wrestles with a family curse that haunts his every step. When a brash new assistant arrives, tensions ignite and the stage is set for a clash that could tear their brutal world apart.

Inspired by the notorious diary of Frantz Schmidt, Making a Killing plunges into a gritty world of power, betrayal and ambition. With its stark echoes of today, this gripping tale lays bare the dark truths of human nature in a society on the brink of change.

Running Time: 1hr 50mins + interval

Suitable 14+ (Contains mature content)

www.artsreach.co.uk 

Andy Fairweather Low came to prominence as the lead singer in Amen Corner. The 60s saw them clock up hit after pop hit. Songs such as 'Bend Me Shape Me', 'Hello Suzy', '( If Paradise is ) Half As Nice' are internationally remembered to this day. But if you were paying close attention, you might have picked up a clue in their first single the magnificent ‘Gin House’ as to Andy’s future musical collaborations.

Since the early days Andy has gone on to work with Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, David Crosby, The Band, Elton John, Roger Waters, David Gilmour, The Who, BB King, Joe Cocker, Steve Winwood, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Joe Satriani,, Jeff Beck, The Impressions, Lonnie Donegan, Mary J. Blige, Georgie Fame, Bonnie Raitt, Otis Rush, Van Morrison, Chris Barber, Jackson Browne, Bill Wyman, Sheryl Crow, Pete Townshend, Kate Bush...... and literally hundreds more.  

Now following a solo path, his first solo album in 24 years Sweet Soulful Music was released late in 2007 followed by The Very Best Of Andy Fairweather Low which was released in the UK in June 2008 with a Live DVD following hot on it’s heels.

In fact Andy has been touring and releasing CD Albums ever since and has built a strong following having now released 10 Albums including Two Live DVD shows and a Three disc Box Set DVD / Double Live CD which debuted in the Amazon Box Set Top 50 in it’s first week of release.  A double live vinyl “Lockdown”  Internet concert followed and his CD & Vinyl release Flang Dang recently debuted which in February 2025 was superseded by The Invisible Bluesman on Blue Vinyl, CD & Download.

Eric Clapton invited Andy to perform as a featured artist at the 2023 Crossroads Guitar Festival in Los Angeles and again with his band The Low Riders to open the UK & Ireland leg of his 2024 tour & now the UK / European dates on his 2025 tour.

A remarkable front man, a remarkable band. Following them into 2025 Andy’s The Invisble Bluesman Album entered the Official UK charts at Number 1 and the Spring tour broke all records selling 99% across the whole tour.

Andy Fairweather Low – Guitar & Vocals, Ian Jennings  – Bass,  Paul Beavis – Drums, Nick Pentelow – Tenor Sax / Baritone sax & Clarinet., Richard Milner  -  Hammond Organ & Backing Vocals, Pete Cook  -  Baritone Sax.

http://andyfairweatherlow.com/                                         

https://www.facebook.com/AndyFairweatherLowAndTheLowRiders/?locale=en_GB 

 

Beyond the Barricade, the UK’s longest running Musical Theatre Concert Tour, is back for 2025. Join the cast for two hours of the best of Broadway and the West End, featuring the songs that have made audiences return over and over again for more than 25 years. Enjoy numbers from The Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, West Side Story, The Lion King, Blood Brothers, Miss Saigon, Hamilton

and many others, climaxing with a spectacular finale from, of course, Les Misérables!

 

The concert tour will feature Andy Reiss, David Fawcett, Katie Leeming and Sarah Ryan who have all played principal roles in both the West End and UK Tours of Les Misérables, together with a live band who capture the feel of the original orchestrations of the chosen musicals.  

 

To this day every musical note is still played and sung live – very rare indeed. Beyond the Barricade gives musical theatre songs a bold concert format treatment – but with the conviction and intention to deliver the material as if the audience are watching the original performance.

The band’s lively setlist includes Tex-Mex classics like "La Bamba", "Wooly Bully", and "Speedy Gonzales", along with a mix of Spanish ballads and original tunes. The fun-loving spirit of Los Pacaminos is infectious, turning any evening into a celebration of music, rhythm, and great company. The combination of accordion, guitar, and traditional Tex-Mex beats will transport you to the heart of the Southwest, all within the intimate setting of Boisdale. Each member of Los Pacaminos brings something special to the band, With a lineup of seasoned musicians delivering every note with passion, this is a night that will have you singing along and dancing until the very last song.