Keyboard Legend Rick Wakeman Brings His Music and Stories to the US, with an Evening at Ridgefield Playhouse Tomorrow!

An Evening with Rick Wakeman: His Music and Stories comes to the Ridgefield Playhouse on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at 7:30pm as part of the Pepsi Rock Series Driven by North American Motor Car.

For tickets and more information: CLICK HERE

 

The set will consist of music taken from across the wide breadth of his 50-year-plus career, stripped back to its roots in arrangements for grand piano, all punctuated by hilarious anecdotes and reminiscences of his life. VIP Meet & Greet Upgrade is available! Make it a great night out with dinner and a show by visiting TerraSole Wine Bar Ristorante (3 Big Shop Ln, Ridgefield) for dinner the night of the show and enjoy a complimentary glass of house wine with your entrée when you present your tickets.

“An Evening with Rick Wakeman” will include work from his early days as a session player arranging and performing keyboards on hits like David Bowie’s “Life On Mars”, through his groundbreaking stint with progressive rock band YES and his own multi-platinum solo albums, plus quirky covers of other acts like The Beatles. In a departure from his previous solo tours, as well as playing a grand piano, he will also be bringing along a few electronic keyboards to add variety and texture to his set.

The Soundcheck Experience Package Upgrade includes: priority check-in and entrance, Meet & Greet with Rick Wakeman, a photo opportunity with Rick Wakeman, an invitation to private pre-show sound check, a merchandise item designed and created exclusively for package purchasers, a collectible laminate to remember your evening, and onsite check-in staff. (Meet & Greet Upgrade does NOT include a ticket. You must have a ticket to the show to participate in the VIP UPGRADE package.)

After studying piano privately for 12 years, Rick gained a scholarship to the Royal College of Music, where he studied piano, clarinet and orchestration. In March 2012, Prince Charles presented him with his Fellowship of the RCM. He was also made a Professor at the London College of Music.

As a much sought-after session musician in the late sixties and early seventies, Rick Wakeman has played on more than 2,000 records, including such hits as Cat Stevens’ “Morning Has Broken” and David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” and “Life on Mars.” He has worked with a real eclectic mixture of other notable artistes, such as Donovan, Cilla Black, Marc Bolan, Black Sabbath, Lou Reed, Mary Hopkin, Dana, Al Stewart, Elton John, John Williams, and most notable as part of the band YES.

Both as a solo artist and with the band YES, he has sold more than 50,000,000 albums, written multiple film scores, two books, and has made hundreds of television appearances over the years. Rick still finds time each year to perform concerts around the world, which can range from his extremely popular one-man show to extravaganzas with symphony orchestras and choirs. A new album, Gallery of the Imagination, released on February 24 to coincide with performances at the prestigious London Palladium theatre with his band English Rock Ensemble.

For more information or to purchase touchless print at home ticket ($70-90; VIP Upgrade available) go online at www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org or, you can visit or call the box office (203) 438-5795.  The Ridgefield Playhouse is a non-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT and is committed to keeping the arts alive and available to all.

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