Kilimanjaro Live Presents
TARJA
PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS MY OWN GHOST

Manchester Academy 2 
Thursday 9th March 2017
Doors 7.30pm | Curfew 11pm

Tickets £17.50 advance STBF

“On The Shadow Self Tarja has got it brilliantly right … a supremely confident singer who … has found her sound” – 8/10 Metal Hammer

Tarja is very proud to announce two headline UK shows in 2017.

The UK shows will be a fantastic celebration at the end of a very successful year for Tarja. 2016 saw the release of a mini album “The Brightest Void” and her fourth studio album “The Shadow Self”, the heaviest record to date, to widespread critical acclaim. The first single (on both albums) “No Bitter End”, collected the essence of Tarja’s new work: massive guitar riffs, a driving beat and of course Tarja’s incredible vocals to create a powerful soundscape, that will be un-missable live.

The versatile singer is following up on the success of the multi-platinum and gold awarded previous records “My Winter Storm” (2007), “What Lies Beneath” (2010) and her most recent album “Colours In The Dark” (2013) which charted all over the globe including 4 Top 10 entries.

Magnum guitarist Tony Clarkin is a man who seems to never stop working. He is responsible for writing all the material released by the band, and on top of that he produces their albums from the very first demo to the final mix. “As soon as an album is finished, I start to collect new ideas,” he explains. “That’s how I’ve worked since the early seventies, for me that’s the ideal method.” On their latest album, Clarkin and Magnum’s other original member, vocalist Bob Catley, prove all over again just how perfectly this established system works.

Magnum have recorded eleven new songs which feature all the traditional strengths of the British act and also live up to the band’s ambition to explore a more rock-oriented direction. “Thanks to our current record company, we enjoy full artistic freedom,” Clarkin enthuses. “SPV understand how important this is to us.We’ve not always been in such a fortunate position. During the eighties, the label we were with at the time wanted us to sound as pop-oriented as possible because they hoped for better album sales. I used to hate that, despite the success we had.”

The new album was recorded by the Magnum line-up consisting of Clarkin, Catley, keyboardist Rick Benton and drummer Lee Morris, plus their latest addition, bassist Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69, Place Vendome, Unisonic, among others), who joined the fold to replace Al Barrow. “Unfortunately Al had to leave the band because he didn’t have enough time. He lives in the US, which had always caused organisational problems,” Clarkin explains the background of the line-up change. “Tobias Sammet of Avantasia recommended Dennis, who is a great musician and vocalist, exactly what we were looking for. His contribution to the album surpassed our wildest expectations. We’re really looking forward to touring with him.”

Talking of which: Magnum’s major European tour has been scheduled to start in March 2020, initially with a number of headlining shows, to be continued by a first-rate package together with Gotthard from Switzerland. This extremely successful collaboration first passed the litmus test a few years ago, and Clarkin, Catley & Co. are very enthusiastic: “Along with some classic numbers, we will also present four or five songs from the new release.” the band promises, providing even more reasons for their fans to mark the dates in their calendars.

LINE UP

Tony Clarkin – Guitar

Bob Catley – Vocals

Rick Benton – Keyboards

Dennis Ward – Bass

Lee Morris – Drums

‘If you missed seeing Kate herself, Cloudbusting are the next best thing!’   Simon Mayo, BBC Radio 2

Cloudbusting have been championed by BBC ONE as one of the most authentic tributes in the world. Their passion for Kate’s music has won over sceptical fans everywhere, challenging perceptions of what a tribute band can be and resulting in sell-out performances across the UK.

‘There can only be one Kate Bush’ says vocalist Mandy Watson, who never attempts to mimic Kate on stage. ‘When you sing her music the characters in the songs take over - they are what you become, not Kate. We're just fans, amazed at this opportunity to perform this music we love so much’.

Many of Kate’s original collaborators from stage and studio have been inspired to join the band on stage, including bass player Del Palmer, drummer Preston Heyman and dancer Stewart Avon Arnold, all of whom performed with Kate on her legendary Tour of Life live shows 40 years ago.

Running Up That Hill, Wuthering Heights, Hounds of Love, Babooshka, This Woman’s Work, Wow… Cloudbusting can’t wait to whip up a storm of love for Kate’s music once again in 2020 their new show featuring all the hits you’d expect as well as many songs you wouldn’t! Accompanied by eye-popping visuals that highlight the drama of Kate’s music, a Cloudbusting concert is an event no Kate Bush fan will want to miss. In the words of Kate herself, ‘We’re Cloudbusting, daddy!’

‘I could have been listening to Kate herself!' - Preston Heyman

‘Utterly, surreally brilliant’ - Mick Wall, Classic Rock Magazine