Tours galore in March

Press, 28 January 1982, Page 12

Tours galore in March

March will be a busy month for popular music fans in Christchurch. witji four tours by big-name artists arranged. . . ? The artists named to- tour are Cliff Richard, (the <English pop star, Cleo Laine and her husband, John Dankworth. who will’ appeal to mainstream jazz fans, 'Joan Armatrading, : theWest Indian siriger. and songwriter who now lives in Britain, and Keith Jarrett, the. avant : garde-jazz pianist. : The tours are notable in that individually they do not compete with each other in search of fans, although that, is not to say that there will not be anyone willing to.go and listen to all four artists. The first artist to visit Christchurch will be Cleo 'Laine, who will appear at the Christchurch Town Hall on March 2. This will be her fourth tour of New Zealand and again her husband, John Dankworth, and four musicians will provide support. According to the promoter, Mr G. C. Atkinson, Australasia was the first region where Cleo Laine became internationally known when she toured in 1972. Before that tour she had remained in Britain.

Cleo Laine will, also appear at Wellington on February 22, Auckland, February.

25, Tauranga, February 28; and Dunedin on March 4. Before arriving in New Zealand Cleo Laine will appear in four concerts as part of the - Perth Festival in Western Australia. She will return to Australia after her New' Zealand tour. ; ■ Cliff “ Richard, whose career started in 1958 and is

still going strong, will play •two concerts in the Town Hall on March 9 and March 10.

Auckland is the other New Zealand centre that Cliff Richard will visit. He will play two shows at the Campbell Logan Centre on March 12 and March 13.

Keith Jarrett, perhaps the most unusual of the four artists named, will play in the Town Hall on March 17. Jarrett is famous as a pianist and composer in the modern jazz idiom. ■■

Before coming to NewZealand he will play at the Adelaide, Melbourne, and Perth festivals.

Jarrett will perform solo piano concerts in Auckland on March 15 and Wellington on March 18. It has been confirmed that Joan Armatrading will be in Christchurch for her third visit in about four years when she plays at the Town Hall on March 23.

. Armatrading. who has been consistently popular with her recordings and singing, sold out two concerts when she played at Christchurch in 1980. Five musicians, Jeremiah Meek, Justin Haldreth, Julian Diggle, Gary Sanford, and Dean Klevatt, are to accompany her on tour. The other dates of her New Zealand tour are Auckland on March 20, Wellington, March 21, and Dunedin on March 24. After Dunedin she will go to Australia for a series of concerts.

As has already been announced, Charlie Pride, the American country artist, will return ’for a tour of New Zealand, beginning in Christchurch on March 24 and March 25 at the Town Hall. Pride will also play at Dunedin, Wellington, Hamilton, and Auckland. Shows that Christchurch

will not see are those by Elton John and John Mayall and the so-called “Bluesbreakers.” Elton John is booked to play at Athletic Park. Wellington, on March 10 and Western Springs Stadium. Auckland, on March 13, as the . opening salvos for a world tour. John Mayall, accompanied

by Mick Taylor, formerly oi the Rolling Stones, Colin Allen, formerly of Stone the Crows, and on loan from Rod Stewart, and John McVie, on loan from Fleetwood Mac, will play at the Logan Campbell Centre, Auckland on February 16. Of the' accompanying band only John McVie has the distinction of being an original Bluesbreaker.