A star-studded line up of famous names will be topping the live music bill at this summer’s Silverstone Classic (22-24 July). As well as being firmly established as the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival, the Silverstone Classic is equally renowned for its live music entertainment, provided as an integral part of the show at no extra cost to all ticket holders.
Reflecting the magical on-track action starring many of the finest racing cars from motor sport’s golden eras, the live music performances provide festival-goers and classic car fans with an equally evocative step back in time.
On Friday evening Silverstone Classic will rock to the celebrated sounds of the Rolling Stones, Bob Marley and Queen as three of the UK’s most acclaimed tribute bands roll back the years with sets featuring many of the best loved smash hits from the Sixties, Seventies & Eighties.
Then, on Saturday evening, the Silverstone Classic stage will host live performances from a trio of rock and pop’s greatest names when legendary acts: Suzi Quatro, 10cc & Wishbone Ash take to the stage. Quatro had a string of hits in the Seventies and is widely credited as being a major role model for a host of raunchy female rockers. Wishbone Ash is hailed as one of the major innovators in the harmony twin lead guitar format and enjoyed huge critical success with albums such as Argus in the early Seventies. Art rock band 10cc also enjoyed major success in the same decade racking up no fewer than three number one hits. With three such celebrated live bands, it promises to be a memorable evening.
Sunday’s musical entertainment switches from live stadium rock to the more relaxing atmosphere of the 40-piece Amadeus Orchestra playing many crowd pleasing classical favourites. Along with promising young tenor Adriano Graziani and energetic electric string quartet Tetra Electra, the acclaimed Amadeus Orchestra will be performing as part of the innovative ‘Picnic in the Paddock’ attraction for a relaxed afternoon.
Another newly created feature this year is the ‘village green’, which will host the recreation of many traditional British rural pursuits with steam engines, Punch & Judy shows plus a host of other entertainment.
Adding to the high octane festival atmosphere, camping is available for the very first time at the venue as well as in local campsites. The provision of on-site camping facilities is open to all Silverstone Classic Racing Club members, otherwise there are other accommodation options.
“The Silverstone Classic just gets bigger and better,” enthused Event Director, Nick Wigley. “We have already announced a glittering array of races, special plans to mark the Jaguar E-Type’s 50th birthday, the return of Group C sportscars plus a host of other exciting attractions. Now we have confirmed an equally stirring line-up of top class live music with bands and an orchestra that will really appeal to lovers of classic cars and family audiences. Over recent years the Silverstone Classic has developed into a true three-day festival with more and more people not wanting to miss all the action on offer. With so much great racing during the days plus great live bands performing in the evenings, it all adds up to a fantastic weekend at the country’s premier motor sport venue.”
Ticket sales are already more than 100 per cent up on last year with spectators taking full advantage of significant ‘Early Bird’ discounts available for those booking before the 31st March. For more information log onto www.SilverstoneClassic.com.
FRIDAY EVENING ‘TRIBUTE’ LINE UP:
Legend
Legend consists of seven great musicians and singers all dedicated to the life and music of the late, great Bob Marley. Led by the charismatic Michael Anton ‘Cheesy’ Phillips, the band has a pedigree second to none; its members have worked with such reggae greats as: The Mighty Diamonds; the original Wailers; Dennis Brown; Rankin Roger; The Beat; Burning Spear; Desmond Decker and Musical Youth. Legend covers the very best of Bob Marley and The Wailers timeless classics.
Queen on Fire
Freddy Mercury and Queen will go down in rock history as one of the genre’s greatest and most unique bands. Keeping the legend alive, Queen On Fire is the UK’s most authentic Queen tribute band recreating the special Queen live experience with total realism. The band has already given tens of thousands of Queen fans across Europe a chance to relive some of the most amazing music ever recorded.
The Rollin’ Stoned
The Rollin’ Stoned are highly regarded by those best placed to judge – Keith Richards’ mother described the band as ‘outstanding’. The costumes are shameless, the instruments genuinely vintage and the wit irreverent. However, while the tongue is never far from the cheek, it’s never at the expense of the music. For those who witnessed the Rolling Stones in the Sixties and Seventies, this is a chance to revisit lost youth. For the rest, it’s a chance to see what all the fuss was about.
SATURDAY EVENING’S CLASSIC ROCK LINE-UP:
Suzi Quatro
Suzi Quatro is five feet of pure rock and roll dynamite. Originally from Detroit, Suzi has been resident in the UK since 1971. Famous for her signature leather suit, she and the band still pump out high-energy performances of her million selling hits Can The Can, 48 Crash and Devil Gate Drive as well as many more rock songs from her best selling albums. In recent years, Suzi has been busy touring across Europe taking her music to a new generation of fans as well as those who have always loved the diminutive star’s hard driving music.
10cc
In the Seventies 10cc had an outstanding string of hit records including three number one chart toppers: Rubber Bullets, I’m Not In Love and the reggae inspired Dreadlock Holiday making it one of the most successful and influential English bands of the era. Founding member Graham Gouldman is still fronting the latest evolution of the band, which also includes Paul Burgess and Rick Fenn from the glory days.
Wishbone Ash
The legendary Wishbone Ash is one of this country’s greatest classic rock bands famous for its epic Pilgrimage and Argus albums of the early Seventies. Today lead guitarist Andy Powell is still playing iconic tracks from those multi-million selling albums including The King Will Come, Jail Bait, Throw Down The Sword and Blowin’ Free as well as material – old and new – from an astounding 40 years of twin-guitar rock.
SUNDAY’S CLASSICAL LINE-UP
Amadeus Orchestra
The Amadeus Orchestra was formed in 1990 and is one of the world's foremost training orchestras for young professionals and music students. The Amadeus Orchestra has helped launch careers with every major British orchestra, and others as far afield as the Boston Symphony and the Hong Kong Philharmonic, and their concerts have become renowned for their quality and vitality. The repertoire features a raft of classical favourites including the William Tell Overture, Dambusters’ March, Swan Lake and Elgar’s emphatic Pomp and Circumstance.
Adriano Graziani
Born in the same Welsh town that spawned Katherine Jenkins, Adriano Graziani is one of this country’s most promising young tenors. After receiving a scholarship to the Royal College of Music he was invited to sing the role of MacDuff for Glyndebourne Touring Opera’s 2007 production of Verdi’s Macbeth – a debut that earned him the Glyndebourne 2007 Promise Award for the most outstanding young singer. More recently critics hailed Grazzini’s 2009 debut as Cavaradossi for Holland Park Opera as testimony to the extraordinary potential he promises.
Tetra Electra
The eye-catching Tetra Electra Quartet features four classically trained and strikingly beautiful female musicians. With amplified violins and cello, they bring amazing energy to new arrangements of famous classics. Expect fireworks!
Tickets: Available in advance via the ticket hotline on 0871 231 0849 or from the official event website www.SilverstoneClassic.com