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Judith Durham
The Diamond Tour
2003
- AS a singer and songwriter, Judith Durham has few equals. A Sixties icon, Judith’s stunning voice has ensured her a place in Pop Music’s Hall of Fame.
As part of the The Seekers, Judith joined forces with Tom Springfield (Dusty's brother) to write and produce a single, resulting in the chart-topper ‘I'll Never Find Another You’, which made The Seekers the first Australian group ever to hit No.1 internationally, and made Judith Australia's very first international pop princess and pin-up girl.
The next few years brought worldwide adulation, with tours, more albums, and a succession of huge and lasting hits - including A World of Our Own, The Carnival Is Over and Morningtown Ride - rivalling all the top groups including The Beatles and The Rolling Stones for the No.1 spot. The Seekers' biggest international seller was Georgy Girl, originally written and recorded as the title song for the movie starring Lynn Redgrave. The song was nominated for an Academy Award and it made history when the group became the first Australians ever to reach the No.1 spot in the USA.
In 1967, The Seekers set an official all-time record when more than 200,000 people (nearly one tenth of the city's entire population at that time) flocked to their performance at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne. Their TV special The Seekers Down Under scored the biggest TV audience ever, and early in 1968 they were jointly awarded the nation's top honour - Australian Of The Year.
But Judith wanted to spread her wings and shocked Seekers fans worldwide by starting her solo career. With songs like Climb Ev'ry Mountain, Judith continued to entertain audiences all over the world with a wonderful mix of music - from folk to country, jazz to pop, blues to gospel, original songs, ragtime piano and even classical.
In the Nineties, Judith rejoined the Seekers to tour once more, thrilling life long Seekers fans, as well as new recruits, with another highly successful solo tour following soon after.
Judith Durham
Thursday June 12, 8pm
Tickets: £18.50
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Barry Manilow’s
COPACABANA
Starring Gemma Craven
- Tuesday 1 – Saturday 12 July
SOMETIMES a song is more than a song, but Barry Manilow’s Copacabana is something more memorable than music that typifies current talent.
Following 18 months of sold-out performances in London’s West End and a previous two-year tour of the UK, Barry Manilow’s Copacabana arrives to the Liverpool Empire Theatre for two weeks only from Tuesday 1 – Saturday 12 July.
Copacabana is a captivating tale of love and romance set amidst the swinging nightclub scene of the 1940’s. This spectacular new production stars Gemma Craven, heading a cast of Britain’s most talented musical performers. Gemma’s first film role was as Cinderella in Brian Forbes’ film ‘The Slipper and the Rose’, which was chosen as the Royal Film Performance and brought her two major film awards: The Variety Club’s Film Actress of the Year and the Evening News Film Awards’ Most Promising New Actress.
With music by Barry Manilow and lyrics by Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman, Copacabana features a Latin-themed score including Copacabana, Ay Caramba!, Lola, Who Needs to Dream?, and Sweet Heaven - all set against a back-drop of dazzling costumes, spectacular sets and sensational choreography.
Barry Manilow has certainly got it right. For 25 years, the man who writes the songs the whole world sings has been carrying the tune to Copacabana around with him. Through its various incarnations as a hit single, a TV movie and a casino revue, its music and love triangle scenario were never far from his mind.
Along with lyricists Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman, Manilow has been reworking, re-writing and re-thinking Copacabana into a new version that he calls a real treat.
"I think everyone is going to love it," he says.
"It's like `42nd Street' and `Crazy for You,' a real crowd pleaser. I always wanted to see it served up as an American musical comedy".
Manilow has written four new songs, including a tap dance number,
"I Gotta Be Bad", beefed up the role of the nightclub manager and re-envisioned the entire concept.
"The bare bones are still there. The story is still the story," he says.
"But the structure has changed."
Copacabana is at the Liverpool Empire Theatre for two weeks from Tuesday 1 – Saturday 12 July.
For tickets call Ticketmaster on 0870 606 3536
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