Tour by Kerry Ellis | |
![]() Promotional image for Ellis' 2011 tour | |
Associated album | Anthems |
---|---|
Start date | 1 May 2011 |
End date | 16 July 2011 |
No. of shows | 16 |
Kerry Ellis concert chronology |
Anthems: The Tour was the debut headlining concert tour by English stage actress and singer Kerry Ellis with Queen guitarist Brian May. The tour, comprising 16 dates in Great Britain, supported her debut album Anthems . Beginning with two charity performances, titled Anthems: The Concert, on 1 May 2011 at the Royal Albert Hall, the tour followed commenced on 3 May 2011 and ended on 16 July 2011 with a special titled Anthems in the Park at RAF Cranwell. Receiving positive reviews, the tour was complimented by critics for the pairing of May's sound and Ellis' vocals.
In support her debut studio album, [1] Ellis had stated, in early 2010, in an interview with Broadway.com that she planned "to have a tour to promote" Anthems. [2] In November of that year, she announced on Twitter that the plans for a tour are to go ahead with details to follow. By December, the Royal Albert Hall date was announced while in January 2011, due to demand, a further Royal Albert Hall date was added.
By February, twelve dates were confirmed. [3] A further date was confirmed as part of Anthems in the Park at RAF Cranwell. In April, another was added at London's Hampton Court Palace Festival.
Commencing the tour at the Royal Albert Hall on 1 May 2011 for two special charity performances (benefiting Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research), Ellis (accompanied by May) was supported by the City of London Philharmonic, The West End Chorus, American performer Adam Pascal and electronic string quartet Escala. [1] Singer-songwriter Dan Gillespie Sells (from British pop band The Feeling) joined her for a performance of "Love It When You Call".
At the start, Ellis was hidden from the audience among a group of cloak-clad dancers. She eventually emerged in a silver showgirl outfit from the group and began singing "Dangerland".
Ellis performed at venues in Liverpool, Gateshead, Sheffield, Nottingham, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Southend and Bath in the month of May. Described as "more raw" by Brian May, the tour saw Ellis accompanied by Brian May and their band (named "Anthems Ensemble"). [3]
The Royal Albert Hall concerts were met with much positivity in critical response. Edward Seckerson of The Independent wrote that the concert "makes [him] wonder if Kerry Ellis' renewed rock-chick status might permanently lure her away from the West End stage." Her "super-octane" and "powerhouse" talent was commended and he admitted that "the cosmic wall of May's now inimitable sound and style chimes with Ellis' searing vocals." He also wrote about his highlight, "Defying Gravity", confessing that the number is now more associated with Ellis than with Idina Menzel, the song's original performer. [4] Andrew Clarke of East Anglian Daily Times commended Ellis' voice and breath control, writing that her voice "exploded on the concert stage" and "the power of [it] had the entire auditorium whooping with delight". In summary, Clake stated that it was "a highly ambitious and brilliantly realised show" that was "delivered with consummate skill and polish" with a crowd that "roared its approval" and Ellis "quite taken aback with the enthusiastic response." [5]
On subject of the rest of the tour, David Burrows of Shropshire Star responded extremely positively and confessed that Ellis "had the room in the palm of her hand." Burrows named "Diamonds are Forever" as a stand-out performance and added that "the chemistry between Ellis and May is clear to see. These are two friends having the time of their lives." He also commented that while the crowd "might have come for Brian", "they stayed for Kerry – treating her to a number of richly deserved standing ovations." [6] Andy Prothero of South Wales Argus also wrote that the pair "succeeded in blurring the boundaries between rock and theatre" although "it [was] tough to distinguish the Kerry fans from the Brian May fans". [7] Eileen Wells of Express & Star responded in a similar way, writing that "an artistic chemistry between Ellis's stupendous voice and May's distinctive soaring guitar sound" create a "triumph" of a collaboration adding that "Ellis quickly dispelled any doubts about her ability to step into Freddie Mercury's shoes." [8] Jonathan Geddes of The Herald responded less enthusiastically, admitting that "the set often had a karaoke feel to it", criticising it for being "significantly overdone". Geddes, however, enjoyed the acoustic segments and stated that May, Ellis' "propensity for costume changes" and the power of her voice "couldn't be faulted", naming the latter "outstanding". [9] Ray Philp of Edinburgh Evening News also commended Ellis' talent yet wrote that "she [didn't] always fit in to proceedings". [10]
Ellis' performance won the 2012 Whatsonstage.com Award for best Solo Performance. [11]
1 May 2011
3 May 2011 – 16 July 2011
Date | City | Country | Venue |
---|---|---|---|
1 May 2011 | London | England | Royal Albert Hall [A] |
3 May 2011 | Liverpool | Liverpool Philharmonic Hall | |
5 May 2011 | Gateshead | The Sage Gateshead | |
6 May 2011 | Sheffield | Sheffield City Hall | |
8 May 2011 | Nottingham | Nottingham Royal Concert Hall | |
9 May 2011 | Birmingham | Birmingham Symphony Hall | |
11 May 2011 | Edinburgh | Scotland | Edinburgh Festival Theatre |
12 May 2011 | Glasgow | Glasgow Royal Concert Hall | |
14 May 2011 | Cardiff | Wales | St David's Hall |
16 May 2011 | Manchester | England | Bridgewater Hall |
18 May 2011 | Milton Keynes | Milton Keynes Theatre | |
19 May 2011 | Southend | Cliffs Pavilion | |
21 May 2011 | Bath | The Forum | |
11 June 2011 | London | Hampton Court Palace Festival | |
16 July 2011 | Cranwell | RAF Cranwell |
Notes:
Sir Brian Harold May is an English musician, songwriter, singer, astrophysicist and animal rights activist. He achieved worldwide fame as the lead guitarist of the rock band Queen, which he co-founded with singer Freddie Mercury and drummer Roger Taylor. His guitar work and songwriting contributions helped Queen become one of the most successful acts in music history.
Hugh Wooldridge is an English theatre director, theatre and television producer and writer, and stage lighting designer. Wooldridge was born in Amersham, Bucks, the son of British composer John Wooldridge and actress Margaretta Scott. He is the brother of actress Susan Wooldridge. Wooldridge currently specialises in large productions, often at the Royal Albert Hall, London. He also teaches, gives master-classes and runs workshops.
Queen + Paul Rodgers was a collaboration between Queen and Paul Rodgers, formerly of Bad Company, Free, The Firm and The Law. Guitarist May had previously performed with Rodgers on several occasions, including a performance at the Royal Albert Hall.
Kerry Jane Ellis is an English actress and singer who is best known for her work in musical theatre and subsequent crossover into music. Born and raised in Suffolk, Ellis began performing at an early age before training at Laine Theatre Arts from the age of 16.
The News of the World Tour was the fifth headlining concert tour by the British rock band Queen, supporting their successful 1977 album News of the World. The tour spanned from 11 November 1977 to 13 May 1978 over three tour legs: North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom. Rehearsals for the tour took place at Shepperton Studios in October 1977.
The A Day at the Races Tour was the fourth headlining concert tour by the British rock band Queen, supporting their late 1976 album A Day at the Races.
Anthems is the debut studio album by actress and singer Kerry Ellis which was released on 13 September 2010 by Decca Records. Produced by rock musician Brian May, the album comprises eleven tracks that tap into all the different areas that Ellis had been part of in her professional career between the years 2000 and 2010. Photography for the album's artwork was completed by Paul Rider with design and art direction by Tourist.
"I'm Not That Girl" is a showtune from the musical Wicked, based on the novel, "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West", by Gregory Maguire. It was composed by Stephen Schwartz, originally recorded by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth (reprise) on November 10, 2003, and released on December 16, 2003. It is a solo sung by the main character of the show, Elphaba Thropp in the first act and Glinda in the reprise in the second act.
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The Born Free Tour is the second headlining concert tour by English stage actress and singer Kerry Ellis with Brian May. The original 2012 tour comprised 11 dates in and around the home counties of England, beginning on 5 November 2012 at the Apex in Bury St Edmunds, and finishing at the Swan Theatre in High Wycombe.
The Kiss 40th Anniversary World Tour was a concert tour by American rock band Kiss. Def Leppard joined Kiss for the first 42 shows of the tour. Kobra and the Lotus and The Dead Daisies were the opening acts.
The Queen + Adam Lambert Tour 2014–2015 was a worldwide concert tour by British rock band Queen and American singer Adam Lambert during 2014 and 2015. Following on their 2012 tour and their appearance at the 2013 iHeart Radio Music Festival, the band announced a 2014 tour of North America. Following the overwhelming success of their North American tour, it was expanded to Australia, New Zealand and Asia in the autumn, then Europe in early 2015. A tour of South America took place in September 2015.
Idina Menzel: Live at Radio City was a concert by American singer-songwriter and actress Idina Menzel at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York on June 16, 2014. In the wake of the success of Disney's popular animated film Frozen (2013), in which Menzel starred as Elsa, Menzel announced in April 2014 that she will be headlining a one-night-only concert at Radio City Music Hall on her break from her eight shows a week.
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Rufus Tiger Taylor is an English musician, best known as the drummer for the rock band The Darkness since May 2015, and as a touring drummer for the Queen + Adam Lambert stage shows. He is the son of Queen drummer Roger Taylor. His Godfather was drummer Taylor Hawkins from the Foo Fighters.
The End of the Road World Tour is the ongoing final concert tour by the American rock band Kiss. The tour began on January 31, 2019, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada and is set to conclude on December 2, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, United States.
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