The World’s No1 Eric Clapton Tribute Band, featuring front-man Mike Hall, will be making a welcome return to the PLAYHOUSE in April. This time, they will be celebrating 32 years on the road. The band has a huge following in North Tyneside and has not appeared at the PLAYHOUSE since 2013 so demand should be high. Fans are therefore advised to book early! WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS (ENTER BELOW)
They will perform all of EC’s classic songs including Wonderful Tonight, Tears in Heaven, Crossroads, I Shot The Sheriff, Lay Down Sally, Cocaine and of course Layla! There will even be an “UNPLUGGED” segment.
The band was formed in Newcastle in 1985 long before the term “tribute band” was invented and named themselves ”After Midnight” after EC’s first solo hit. In the past 32 years, After Midnight have become one of the best-loved bands on Tyneside.
In guitar/vocalist Mike Hall, the band possesses a front man who not only looks like Eric, he sings and plays guitar like him too! Mike has met Slowhand twice, and received a message of encouragement from the guitar maestro (written on a Concorde menu).
TYNE TEES TELEVISION were so impressed that they made a programme about them called ‘COVER THEIR TRACKS’. It was shown in August 2000 and received rave reviews, leading to national recognition.
In 2001 they embarked on their first extensive tour of UK Theatres. They called the tribute show “CLASSIC CLAPTON”. Since then, they have continued to perform throughout the UK & Ireland, including concerts at The Royal Festival Hall, London and a triumphant appearance at Glastonbury Festival in 2002. In the past few years they have performed numerous concerts in Europe including Spain, Estonia, Holland and France. In 2009 they appeared for the first time in Mumbai. A 10,000 mile round-trip for one gig but it was a great experience. They were invited back for 3 more concerts in India in January 2016. This included performing in front of 3500 people in an open air sports arena in Mumbai.
CLASSIC CLAPTON comprises 4 excellent musicians: – Mike Hall (lead vocals/guitar), Paul Warren (keyboards/ backing vocals), Danny Davison (drums) and Dave Robson (bass guitar /backing vocals). Dave is a former member of chart band Geordie. In fact he was with them at the time Brian Johnson left to join AC/DC. Mike, Dave & Danny are all original members of CLASSIC CLAPTON. Paul joined in 2007.
The band have released three albums. Firstly, “THE MUSIC OF ERIC CLAPTON” contains brilliant cover-versions of 17 Clapton Classics. Their second is a live double CD, ”CLASSIC CLAPTON Unplugged”, recorded at Belfast Waterfront Hall. In 2005 they released their third album “CLASSIC CREAM” – featuring 20 songs made famous by the sixties supergroup. All three albums will be available at the PLAYHOUSE.
Eric Clapton has been a major international star since the mid-1960s, when he revolutionised electric guitar playing with his virtuoso performances in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. He has won an incredible 19 Grammies and is the only triple inductee into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of The Yardbirds, Cream and as a solo artist).
Eric is now in his seventies. His recent tours unfortunately have visited only a limited number of large UK arenas. If fans want to hear all of his hits performed in more intimate surroundings, they really should attend a CLASSIC CLAPTON concert. The whole of Clapton’s illustrious career will be covered including Cream, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, The Yardbirds, Blind Faith, Derek & The Dominos and the solo years.
Tickets priced at £15 are available now.
Tickets are available from the Box Office open Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm, Saturday 10.30am – 2.30pm plus until show start on event days. Tickets can also be purchased on the booking hotline 0844 248 1588* or online at www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk.
*Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.
