It’s simply Mick as Hucknall flies solo
Released: 28 February 2008
Mick Hucknall, the legendary voice of Simply Red, is coming to Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Monday 30 June.
The singer is stepping out from Simply Red for the first time as he hits the road to support his new solo album, Tribute to Bobby - and a full house is anticipated.
The Bobby in question is the enormously influential African-American singer Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, also known as the Lion of the Blues.
Along with the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and Junior Parker, Bland developed a sound that mixed gospel with blues and R&B. He sang classics such as Farther Up The Road and perfected his craft in the 1960s with Cry Cry Cry and I Pity The Fool. In 1997 he received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
The 12-track masterclass in soul, blues and R&B is a fond tribute to one of Hucknall’s most important inspirations and musical idols. Hucknall’s vocals emphasise the sentiment of each of the covers, while masterfully adopting them and making them his own.
He said: “I’d been listening to Bobby’s songs for so long that it was almost second nature to try and do these tunes.”
Civic Halls' manager Mark Blackstock said: “We are very proud that we are to have a visit from Mick Hucknall, who is the latest in a long line of big names to come and play at our venues. This is sure to be a sell out so we would advise fans to get their tickets as soon as they can.”
Tickets, priced £35, go on sale at 9am on Friday, 29 February, from Midland Box Office on 0870 320 7000 or via www.wolvescivic.co.uk
Issued by the press office.