Rick Wakeman has announced a follow-up album to his 2017 Piano Portraits album (and tour) with a sequel. He will return this Autumn with a new show based on the follow-up album, Piano Odyssey, which will be released September 14. The 26-date U.K. tour will feature even more classic rock tracks with Wakeman‘s unique piano treatment, and will travel to towns and cities not previously visited in 2017.
The new release includes covers of two Yes songs, “And You and I” and “Roundabout,” and two from the Beatles: “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” See complete track list and pre-order info here.
Wakeman’s concurrent project, the trio formerly known as Yes Featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman, begin a brief U.S. tour this month. (They concluded an equally brief European and U.K. tour in June.)
A special show on August 26 will kick off the tour at the Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles. This intimate venue has been selected to celebrate Yes’ first headline show there in November 1971, with tickets sold at ’71 prices – only $2 each. Tickets will only be sold at the door, on the day of the show.
A live collection from their 2017 tour is being released on Sept. 7. A studio album is also apparently in the works, with a song named not-so-coincidentally after the Yes album, Fragile, available on YouTube in its early stages.
Wakeman’s 2018 solo concerts will be based on a selection of tracks from both albums, showcasing music that has a special connection with the keyboardist’s own personal musical journey, accompanied by his memories and anecdotes about the songs, plus what’s described as a few musical surprises.
In December, a special Christmas tour will follow, in which the setlist will be given a seasonal twist. (See dates below.)
Expect a night of beautiful piano arrangements, interspersed with Wakeman’s renowned comedy interludes.
Watch a preview of Wakeman’s tour
Related: Our interview with Wakeman
Yes Featuring Anderson-Rabin-Wakeman Tour Dates (Tickets are available here and here)
Aug 26 – Los Angeles, CA – Whisky a Go Go
Aug 27 – San Diego, CA – Humphreys By the Bay
Aug 29 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
Aug 31 – Phoenix, AZ – Celebrity Theatre
Sep 01 – Las Vegas, NV – Westgate Resort & Casino
Sep 03 – Denver, CO – Levitt Pavilion
Sep 05 – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theater
Sep 07 – Highland Park, IL – Ravinia
Sep 08 – Northfield, OH – Hard Rock Live
Sep 09 – Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center
Rick Wakeman Piano Odyssey U.K. Tour (Tickets are available here and here)
Sep 20 – Durham – Gala Theatre
Sep 27 – Salisbury – City Hall
Sep 28 – Yeovil – Westbury Leisure Complex
Sep 29 – Aylesbury – Waterside Theatre
Sep 30 – York – Barbican Centre
Oct 04 – Reading – Hexagon
Oct 05 – King’s Lynn – Corn Exchange
Oct 11 – Ipswich – Corn Exchange
Oct 12 – Northampton – Royal Derngate
Oct 13 – Scunthorpe – The Baths Hall
Oct 19 – Bath – The Forum
Oct 20 – High Wycombe – Wycombe Swan
Oct 21 – Oxford – The Sheldonian Theatre
Nov 01 – Worthing – Pavilion Theatre
Nov 03 – Guildford – G Live
Nov 07 – Peterborough – The Cresset
Nov 09 – Halifax – Victoria Theatre
Nov 11 – Evesham – Regal Cinema
Nov 15 – Tunbridge Wells – Assembly Hall Theatre
Nov 17 – Dorking – Dorking Halls
Christmas Piano Odyssey Tour
Dec 08 – Bexhill On Sea – De La Warr Pavilion
Dec 11 – Birmingham – Town Hall
Dec 16 – Bristol – Bristol St. Georges
Dec 17 – London – Union Chapel
Dec 18 – Cambridge – Corn Exchange
Dec 19 – Manchester – RNCM Concert Hall
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