Songwriter, lead singer and guitarist Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues will be kicking off his intimate North American Stage Door Tour on May 11th in Plymouth, NH. Joining him are Mike Dawes on guitar and Julie Ragins on keys and background vocals, performing fan favorites from both Hayward’s solo career and his work with The Moody Blues. Hayward is perhaps most famous for penning hits like “Nights In White Satin,” “Tuesday Afternoon,” “Question,” “The Voice” and “Your Wildest Dreams.”
Hayward’s Stage Door Tour is named after the song “Stage Door” from his first solo album Songwriter (1977). “’Stage Door’ has a particular resonance for me as when we were small boys, my brother and I could not afford to go to the shows at the Empire Theatre in Swindon,” explains Hayward. “In fact, we were regularly chased away from the lavish entrance by the fat commissionaire who stood guard there. But we loved the stage door. We saw many artists come ago, and we believed it was the place the real magic entered and left the building. Which of course, it is.”
Art rock and progressive rock pioneers The Moody Blues sold more than 60 million albums during their roughly 50-year career and earned 18 platinum and gold discs for their unique fusion of rock and classical music. The band performed mostly rhythm and blues for a few years before settling into their niche with songs like “Nights In White Satin” and “Tuesday Afternoon” on their classic 1967 concept album, Days of Future Passed. Hayward later composed and performed for film and television during the 1980s, including the theme song “It Won’t Be Easy” for sci-fi series Star Cops, and has released a number of solo records.
The full band just finished celebrating the 50th anniversary of the arrival of frontmen Hayward and John Lodge with a month-long “Fly Me High” tour throughout the South, which wrapped on April 2nd in Biloxi, MS. The Moodys will also appear in a five-night Las Vegas residency this fall at The Venetian Theatre followed by a midwest tour, featuring an exclusive career-spanning set list covering everything from “The Story In Your Eyes” to “Wildest Dreams.”
2016 Stage Door Tour Dates:
Wed. 5/11– Plymouth, NH – The Flying Monkey
Thurs. 5/12– Salisbury, MA – Blue Ocean Music Hall
Sat. 5/14– Chester, NY – Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center
Sun. 5/15– Lexington, MA – Cary Hall
Tues. 5/17– Ridgefield, CT – Ridgefield Playhouse
Wed. 5/18– Albany, NY – The Egg Center for Performing Arts
Fri. 5/20– Sellersville, PA – Sellersville Theater
Sat. 5/21– Sellersville, PA – Sellersville Theater
Sun. 5/22– South Orange, NJ – South Orange Performing Arts Center
Tues. 5/24– New York, NY – City Winery
Wed. 5/25– New York, NY – City Winery
Thurs. 5/26– New York, NY – City Winery
Sat. 5/28– Annapolis, MD – Rams Head On Stage
Sun. 5/29– Alexandria, VA – The Birchmere
Wed. 6/1– Tulsa, OK – Brady Theater
Thurs. 6/2– Oklahoma City, OK – Hudson Performance Hall
Fri. 6/3– Dallas, TX – Majestic Theatre
Sat. 6/4– Austin, TX – Paramount Theatre
Tues. 6/7– Tucson, AZ – Fox Tucson Theatre
Thurs. 6/9– Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
Fri. 6/10– San Juan Capistrano, CA – The Coach House
Sat. 6/11– Pasadena, CA – The Rose
Sun. 6/12– Agoura Hills, CA – The Canyon Club
Tues. 6/14– Sacramento, CA – Crest Theatre
Thurs. 6/16– Oakland, CA – Yoshi’s
Fri. 6/17– Napa, CA – Uptown Theater
Sun. 6/19– Grants Pass, OR – Rogue Theater
Mon. 6/20– Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater
Fri. 6/24– Mt. Vernon, MA – Lincoln Theatre
