YOUR FULL GUIDE TO WHAT’S ON
FEBRUARY – MAY 2022
THE APEX 1 CHARTER SQUARE BURY ST EDMUNDS IP33 3FD
BOOK TICKETS AT THEAPEX.CO.UK 01284 758000
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WELCOME Although things aren’t quite back to normal around the world, we are ensuring that The Apex goes into 2022 with our usual large range of music and other entertainment to help keep your spirits up. This is going to be the busiest Spring at The Apex ever and there is so much to enjoy that it is impossible to pick out just a few highlights. What I can say, is that there is classical music, pop, comedy, conversation, dance, jazz, world, blues, folk, Americana, art and bubbles! Our spring classical concerts are listed on the next double page, but keep an eye out for our dedicated classical brochure,
which contains details of our 2022-23 season and should be out in late February. Please be assured that if any event is cancelled or postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, your ticket will remain valid for the new date, or if you can’t make it, your ticket price will be refunded. So please pour yourself a cup or a glass of something, sit back and take some time to browse through the following pages and then we look forward to welcoming you to The Apex in the coming months… NICK WELLS APEX PROGRAMMER
* Ticket price includes booking fees where applicable. Concessions may be available, categories change according to event. Event details correct at time of print, but could change, see website or ring for up-to-date information. 3
CLASSICAL MUSIC AT THE APEX
MICHAEL FOYLE PLAYS ELGAR VIOLIN CONCERTO SAT 29 JAN 7.30pm £23.50* East Anglia Chamber Orchestra, with conductor Jacques Cohen, bring internationally renowned Michael Foyle, to be the soloist for Elgar’s Violin Concerto, one of the most wide-ranging and exhausting in the repertoire. Programme: Elgar Violin Concerto and Dvorak Symphony No 7.
BFO SPRING CONCERT SUN 6 MAR £13.50* (£5.50* U17s) An uplifting and energetic programme of music, including foot-tapping rhythms from South America with Marquez’s popular Danzon No.2; raucous German drinking songs in Brahms’ Academic Overture; the evocative ‘Suffolk Suite’ by Doreen Carwithen and Sibelius’s nationalistic composition, Finlandia. 4
ACADEMY OF ANCIENT MUSIC
WED 9 FEB 7.30pm £31.50*, £26.50* (£7.50* U25s) AAM return with new director Laurence Cummings, with a programme of beloved baroque hits, including two of Bach’s orchestral suites that the orchestra recorded at The Apex in 2013. JS Bach:
Orchestral Suite No.3 in D major, BWV1068
Muffat:
Sonata in G major from Armonico Tributo
Telemann: Concerto Polonoise in B-flat major Handel:
Sonata in G major, Op.5 No.4;
JS Bach:
Orchestral Suite No.2 in B minor, BWV1067
CLASSICAL MUSIC AT THE APEX
SUFFOLK SINFONIA SPRING CONCERT SAT 19 MAR 7.30pm £14.50* (£6.50* child) An evening of popular classical music featuring violin soloist Jamie Foreman playing Bruch’s Violin Concerto. Programme: Vaughan Williams: The Wasps; Bruch: Violin Concerto No 1 in G Minor; Beethoven: Symphony No 3 in Eb Major “Eroica”.
SUFFOLK PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA SUN 27 MAR 4pm £39.50, £34.50, £28.50, £22.50 Strings winner of BBC Young Musician 2018, Max Calver joins Suffolk’s professional orchestra to find the passionate intensity in Dvorak’s Cello Concerto, written, like the New World Symphony, in New York. Smetana’s racing Bartered Bride Overture opens the programme, conducted by Leslie Olive.
HYEYOON PARK, LAURA VAN DER HEIJDEN & BENJAMIN GROSVENOR
WED 13 APR 7.30pm £23.50*, £18.50* (£7.50* U25s) Pianist Benjamin, described as “one in a million... several million” by The Independent; BBC Young Musician of the Year winner Laura on cello; and the wonderful Hyeyoon on violin play Kodaly’s folk-infused duo for violin and cello and Dvorak’s dramatic Piano Trio. Zoltan Kodaly:
Duo for violin and cello, Op.7
Antonin Dvorak:
Piano Trio No.3 in F minor, Op. 65
FOR MORE CLASSICAL MUSIC EVENTS AT THE APEX, LOOK OUT FOR OUR DEDICATED CLASSICAL MUSIC BROCHURE 5
FEBRUARY – MAY 2022
BUDAPEST CAFÉ ORCHESTRA WITH CHRISTIAN GARRICK THU 3 FEB 7.30pm £19.50* (£5 U25)
A small but impeccably formed orchestra of just four players, the BCO plays a blistering barrage of traditional folk and gypsy-flavoured music from across the Balkans and Russia; Klezmer laments, Romanian Doinas, Hungarian Czadas and their own unique re-imaginings. 6
The Budapest Café Orchestra have won legions of fans with their immense skill, profound musicianship and hugely entertaining shows. Evoking vivid images of fiddle maestros, Budapest café life and gypsy campfires – a gig by the BCO is good enough to make you want to book that holiday down the Danube!
THE BON JOVI EXPERIENCE FRI 4 FEB 8pm £18.50* standing (£21* seated)
The only tribute to have performed live on stage with Jon Bon Jovi himself. They produce the looks and sounds of the real thing so closely that Jon Bon Jovi said they are “the best tribute I’ve ever seen”!
GORDON BUCHANAN MON 7 FEB 7.30pm £26.50*
LLOYD COLE SUN 6 FEB 7.30pm SOLD OUT!
30 YEARS IN THE WILD One of the most prominent wildlife presenters and filmmakers working today, Gordon has produced some of the most popular wildlife programmes on BBC TV, including the Animal Family and Me series. For the first time, Gordon will share his favourite wildlife encounters, the tools and traits he has developed over the years and behind the scenes insights into how these programmes are made. 7
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JOEL DOMMETT THU 10 FEB 8pm SOLD OUT!
THE ROY ORBISON STORY SAT 12 FEB 7.30pm £26* Barry Steele performs classic hits, original material written by Roy Orbison and pays homage to the original supergroup ‘The Traveling Wilburys.’ 8
WILKO JOHNSON
FRI 11 FEB 7.30pm £33.50* standing (£36* seated) Plus special guest ‘Rock and Roll’s Greatest Failure’ John Otway. Famed for his blistering chop-chord strumming action, original Dr Feelgood guitarist Wilko became one of the guitar heroes of the 1970s and beyond, not to mention one of rock ’n’ roll’s most extraordinary characters.
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JOHNNY CASH ROADSHOW WED 16 FEB 7.30pm £25.50*
FAT CAT COMEDY CLUB
FROM THE ASHES Along with favourites such as ‘Walk the Line’, ‘Ring of Fire’, and ‘A Boy Named Sue’, the show bring songs from his acclaimed ‘American Recordings’ (‘The Man Comes Around’ and ‘Hurt’) and other rarities and surprises.
SUN 13 FEB, 13 MAR, 10 APR & 8 MAY 8pm £13.50* For line-ups, see www.fatcatcomedyclub.com
GRAHAM KENDRICK TUE 15 FEB 7.30pm £19.50* An evening of praise and worship with Britain’s premier Christian singer/ songwriter and his band of talented musicians. 9
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BYE BYE BLUES BAND
FLEETWOOD BAC
THU 17 FEB 7.30pm £31.50* THE FAREWELL TOUR If you’re an aficionado of authentic Blues played by richly experienced and seasoned journeymen, this will be a memorable opportunity to catch them one final time.
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THE SEARCHERS & HOLLIES EXPERIENCE
ROY G HEMMINGS’
SUN 20 FEB 1.30pm £24.50*
SUN 20 FEB 7.30pm £29.50*
Magical hits from the 1960s, including ‘Sweets for My Sweet’, ‘Sugar and Spice’, ‘Needles and Pins’, ‘Stay’, ‘He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother’, and many more, performed by the FOD Band.
The long-serving member of The Drifters brings an electrifying show with hits from the likes of The O’Jays, Candi Staton, The Stylistics, The 4 Tops, The Supremes, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, The Drifters and more.
FRI 18 FEB 8pm £21* standing (£23* seated) The world’s first and best Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band, endorsed by Mick Fleetwood himself, and the only Mac tribute to authentically replicate the classic ‘Rumours’ line-up.
MOTOWN & PHILADELPHIA ON TOUR
FI GLOVER & JANE GARVEY MON 21 FEB 7.30pm £28.50* (VIP £36.50*) DID I SAY THAT OUT LOUD? Postponed from 19 December.
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FREEDOM TO ROAM: THE RHYTHMS OF MIGRATION TUE 22 FEB 7.30pm £21.50* (£9* U25s) “A cinematic soundtrack to the major issue of the decade” – Irish Music Magazine World music fuses folk with classical, African, Celtic and Indian influences, crossing illusory borders and challenging us to see the world with fresh, and more hopeful, eyes. Leader of the Freedom To Roam project, flautist Eliza Marshall is joined by album co-writers Catrin Finch, Jackie Shave and Dónal Rogers, plus special guests Kuljit Bhamra MBE and Robert Irvine. They will play the entire Freedom To Roam album after a screening of the accompanying documentary by multiaward-winning director Nicholas Jones (A Greenlander, You Are Here). Championed by Virginia Mckenna, the project was inspired by a desire for universal compassion and respect for nature. “An important and thought-provoking journey with some of the world’s top musicians” – Virginia McKenna 11
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KING KING
IAN ASHPITEL & JONTY STEPHENS AS ERIC & ERN
FRI 25 FEB 7.30pm £23.50*
WED 23 FEB 8pm £29*
SAT 26 FEB 8pm £23.50*
Fan favourites and live classics, from ‘Follow You Follow Me’ and ‘Invisible Touch’ to ‘In The Cage’ and more. “The best exponents of Collins-fronted Genesis I’ve seen” – Nick Davis, Genesis’ producer.
The Olivier nominated duo behind the critically acclaimed West End hit. “I never thought I’d see Morecambe & Wise live – I think I just have!” – Ben Elton. Last few tickets!
“The best blues-rock band in the world” – Blues Rock Review Last few tickets!
NATHAN CARTER
GENESIS VISIBLE TOUCH
FAIRPORT CONVENTION
THU 24 FEB 7.30pm £33.50*
SUN 27 FEB 7.30pm £29*
An exciting feature on the UK Country scene, Nathan has topped the Irish charts again with his unique blend of Celtic, country and pop.
Entertaining music lovers for over half a century, Fairport have won a BBC Lifetime Achievement Award and their ground-breaking album ‘Liege and Lief’ has been voted The Most Influential Folk Album of All Time. This year’s tour will present a mix of long-established favourites and album tracks, including their latest LP, ‘Shuffle and Go’.
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RUSH: A JOYOUS JAMAICAN JOURNEY MON 28 FEB 7.30pm £23.50*
A hugely entertaining show, telling the story of reggae music and the Windrush Generation.
TOMMY EMMANUEL TUE 1 MAR 8pm £38.50*, £33.50*
Last few tickets!
Narrated by comedian John Simmit and featuring ska, rock steady, calypso, gospel, lovers rock, dancehall and Reggae, the JA Reggae Band will play music by Desmond Dekker, Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley, Lord Kitchener, Millie Small and many more. “This is a fantastic show, informative, hugely entertaining & the music – WOW!!! ... the two vocalists were outstanding.”
DOM JOLY’S HOLIDAY SNAPS WED 2 MAR 7.30pm £21* TRAVEL AND COMEDY IN THE DANGER ZONE Best known as the creator of Trigger Happy TV, Dom will be talking about his exploits as a serial globe-trotter and seeker of dangerous travel spots. From North Korea though the Congo and Syria to Chernobyl, he’s visited some of the most unusual places on the planet. 14
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CROONERS SAT 5 MAR 7.30pm £25* Featuring the 9-piece ‘The Mini Big Band’ playing songs from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Matt Monro and Nat King Cole, this rip-roaring comedy musical is a witty and exhilarating show, full of satirical energy, hilarious one liners and superb musical numbers.
THE ZOMBIES
ELIO PACE
THE FUREYS
THU 3 MAR 7.30pm £28.50*
MON 7 MAR 7.30pm £31.50*
WED 9 MAR 7.30pm £25*
Led by founding members, vocalist Colin Blunstone and keyboardist Rod Argent, they will debut new songs, along with early hits ‘She’s Not There’ and ‘Tell Her No’ and post-Zombies favourites like ‘What Becomes of the Brokenhearted’ and ‘Hold Your Head Up’.
BILLY JOEL ALBUMS SHOW FEATURING DAVID BROWN
Stalwarts of Irish music, The Fureys have been entertaining audiences for 41 years, with songs such as ‘I Will Love You’, ‘When You Were Sweet 16’, ‘The Green Fields Of France’, ‘From Clare To Here’, ‘Her Father Didn’t Like Me Anyway’ and many more.
Joined by David Brown, lead guitarist in Billy Joel’s band from 1978 until 1991, Elio will perform two more classic Billy Joel albums in their entirety: ‘Streetlife Serenade’ and ‘52nd Street’.
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PATSY CLINE AND FRIENDS SAT 12 MAR 7.30pm £22.50* Sue Lowry takes you back to those Honky Tonk days with ‘Crazy’, ‘I Fall to Pieces’ & ‘Sweet Dreams’. Marc Robinson pays tribute to Hank Williams and Lee Davidge performs Jim Reeves songs, including ‘Welcome to my World’ & ‘Distant Drums’.
GONG MON 14 MAR 7.30pm £19*
ANSELL’S LES MUSICALS THU 10 MAR 7.30pm £29.50* (VIP £64.50*)
Jonathan Ansell (G4 frontman) and Jai McDowall (Britain’s Got Talent winner) create the ultimate celebration of musical theatre, with songs from Phantom Of The Opera, Wicked, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Greatest Showman, We Will Rock You and many more. 16
From its beginnings in a French commune in 1967, the ever-metamorphosing entity continues into unknown territory with an immersive, expanded and transformative set. Gong’s musically diverse world includes shades of psychedelia, space rock, jazz, avant-garde, krautrock and surreal soundscapes.
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OMID DJALILI TUE 15 & WED 16 MAR 8pm £26* After experimenting with a Zoom gig, where he got muted by 639 people, and a Drive-in gig, where an audience member got out his car, attached a hose pipe to his exhaust and fed it through the window; multi awardwinning comedian and actor Omid Djalili is back where he belongs, on a stage, bringing back the Good Times.
ALY BAIN & PHIL CUNNINGHAM
BURYSOUND GRAND FINAL 2022
ECHOES OF ELLINGTON ORCHESTRA
THU 17 MAR 7.30pm £21* (£5 U25s)
FRI 18 MAR £tbc
Aly’s passionate fiddle playing has found its way onto recordings by Eddi Reader and Richard Thompson, while accordion player Phil has worked with Mark Knopfler, James Taylor, Rosanne Cash and Midge Ure. Together, they have won the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Duo.
Winners of the five heats at The Hunter Club come together in this grand final. Headlined by the winners of BurySOUND 2020, Burybased punk quintet FLEAS.
MON 21 MAR 7.30pm £24.50* (£11.50* U16s) Following their memorable performance here in 2019 under the moon, EOEO return with Holst’s Planets Suite re-scored as if Duke Ellington had adapted the piece in his own distinctive way. In addition, they will perform excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, re-imagined in the style of Ellington. 17
Mid-Suffolk Mobility Mobility in the heart of Suffolk • New and used mobility scooters and wheelchairs • Service, repair & batteries • Rise and Recliner Chairs and Sofas • Bath Lifts and Bathroom aids • Continence care and bedding items, masks, gloves and sanitiser • Proform & unilift beds • Cosy Feet shoes and socks • DB Wide fitting shoes and slippers Visit our 3 large showrooms with FREE easy access parking Finbow’s Yard, Bacton, near Stowmarket, Suffolk • SAT NAV IP14 4NH
Call Mark and Mavis 01449 781804 Email: msmobility@btconnect.com Open: Tuesday – Saturday 9am-4pm
www.midsuffolkmobility.co.uk 18
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NEW MODEL ARMY TUE 22 MAR 8pm £26.50*
Formed in Bradford in 1980, NMA’s beginnings were inspired by Northern Soul, Punk Rock and the incendiary atmosphere of the times. Despite never having had a massive hit single, NMA have album sales in the millions and have built up a devoted fanbase. With Justin Sullivan at the helm, they have outlasted most of their peers – without making a single artistic or commercial compromise.
GLENN TILBROOK
KATE BUSH-KA
SHOWADDYWADDY
THU 24 MAR 7.30pm £21*
FRI 25 MAR 7.30pm £23.50*
SAT 26 MAR 7.30pm £23* standing (£26* seated)
Following chart success with Squeeze’s pop classics ‘Take Me I’m Yours’, ‘Cool For Cats’ and ‘Up The Junction’, Glenn embarked on a solo career, armed with ready wit and a shed load of grin-inducing great songs.
An immersive journey through Kate Bush’s alluring repertoire; replicating costumes and choreography, lead singer Kate Smith conveys a captivating rendition of this highly original and unique artist.
Long established as Europe’s most successful exponents of retro-inspired rock & roll with 10 Top 5 hits, including ‘Under The Moon of Love’, ‘When’, ‘You Got What It Takes’, ‘3 Steps To Heaven’ & ‘Hey Rock & Roll’). 19
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KATE HUMBLE TUE 29 MAR 7.30pm £26*
HUMBLE BY NATURE An uplifting, inspiring and funny evening, full of warmth and passion for the natural world, with travel, adventure & animal stories throughout! Kate Humble is a farmer, best-selling author, activist and one of the UK’s best-known and loved TV presenters, on programmes such as Animal Park, Springwatch and Autumnwatch. 20
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ANIMALS & FRIENDS FRI 1 APR 7.30pm £28.50* FAREWELL TOUR Featuring two original members playing hits such as ‘We Gotta Get Out Of This Place’, ‘Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood’ and their multi-million selling anthem ‘House Of The Rising Sun’, plus rhythm and blues from Ray Charles, John Lee Hooker, etc.
ANDY FAIRWEATHER LOW & THE LOW RIDERS THU 31 MAR 7.30pm £27* Andy came to fame as the lead singer in Amen Corner, with hits such as ‘Bend Me Shape Me’ and ‘(If Paradise is) Half As Nice’ and under his own steam with ‘Wide Eyed and Legless’. A regular member of Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings since the 1980s, Andy has become the guitarist of choice for a phenomenal cast list of musical luminaries.
LUTHER VANDROSS: A CELEBRATION SAT 2 APR 7.30pm £25.50*
Harry Cambridge and his 10-piece band bring songs such as ‘Never Too Much’, ‘The Best Things in Life Are Free’, ‘Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now’ and many, many more. 21
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CAVERN BEATLES SUN 3 APR 7.30pm £25*
Replicating as closely as possible, the excitement and energy of Beatlemania, the psychedelic era of Sgt. Pepper, and the creative masterpieces of The White Album and Abbey Road.
FEAST OF FIDDLES MON 4 APR 7.30pm £23* Fiddlers Peter Knight (Gigspanner, Steeleye Span), Chris Leslie (Fairport Convention), Brian McNeill, Ian Cutler, Tom Leary (Lindisfarne) and Garry Blakeley, with full band and drummer Dave Mattacks. “Britain’s fiddling supergroup” – Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2 22
RAY MEARS THU 7 APR 7.30pm £26*, £18.50* U16s, £84* family
Recently we have learnt to value our green spaces more than ever - in this fascinating, inspirational, and educational show, Ray will be demonstrating techniques that will help us reconnect with the natural world. Highlighting the problems nature faces today, this is a call to act now, to prevent crimes against nature and the environment.
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A CELEBRATION OF MOTOWN SAT 9 APR 7.30pm £21.50*
Live performances of your favourite hits from Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross, The Commodores, Jackson 5 and many more.
GRETCHEN PETERS & HER BAND FRI 8 APR 7.30pm £30.50*, £26*
Inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014, Peters has written for artists as diverse as Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, Bryan Adams and Faith Hill. In 2015, The Telegraph named her one of the greatest 60 female singer-songwriters of all time.
GARY DELANEY TUE 12 APR 8pm SOLD OUT!
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THE YOUNG’UNS MON 18 APR 7.30pm £19.50*
THE SUPERSONIC 70s SHOW THU 14 APR 7.30pm £22* 10th Anniversary Show – Glam-packed with incredible hits from the greatest musical decade of them all...the 70s! So slip on your flares, strap on your platforms and splash on your ‘Charlie Girl’ or ‘Brut’ for a glorious rollercoaster ride of 70s nostalgia.
GYLES BRANDRETH SUN 17 APR 5pm SOLD OUT! 24
Folk songs for today, with heart-on-the-sleeve storytelling, beautiful lyrics, warm harmonies and relentless repartee. Nearly twenty years after accidentally stumbling into the alien world of their local folk club as drunken teenagers, (and gaining their name in the process) these three thirtysomething friends from the North East have won three BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and never lost the joy of that first night of singing together. “Hugely captivating – performing with great verve and humour – a brilliant folk act!” – Stuart Maconie (BBC Radio 6)
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AN EVENING WITH LIVERPOOL LEGENDS TUE 26 APR 7.30pm £38.50* (VIP tickets available) European Cup Winners Phil Thompson, Sammy Lee and Bruce Grobbelaar on stage together, hosted by Jed Stone. The evening will be full of entertainment and banter as they tell stories from their time playing for Liverpool.
BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN MON 25 APR 8pm £33.50*, £28.50*
G4 LIVE
Inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2016 and twice Grammy-nominated, Beth has released thirteen solo albums and written seven No.1 hit songs (recorded by other artists). At her live show, you can hear one great song after another, and some fascinating stories woven between them.
WED 27 APR 7.30pm £29.99* (VIP tickets available) The classical vocal quartet are returning with their versions of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘My Way’, ‘Nessun Dorma’ and ‘Creep’ plus recent tracks from their latest album G4 Love Songs. 25
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THE MANFREDS THU 28 APR 7.30pm £26.50* One of the most respected bands from the ‘60s era with their R&B based pop. Almost 60 years on, the band, with original front man Paul Jones, will be performing many of their hits, along with Jazz and Blues covers and tracks from their solo albums.
CHINA CRISIS
GIOVANNI PERNICE
HOT CLUB OF COWTOWN
FRI 29 APR 7.30pm £29*
SAT 30 APR 2.30pm & 7.30pm £39*, £36* (£71 VIP)
SUN 1 MAY 7.30pm £21.50*
China Crisis founder members Eddie Lundon and Gary Daly and a full live band celebrate their 40th anniversary playing all the hits, including ‘African & White’, ‘Christian’, ‘Working with Fire and Steel’, ‘Black Man Ray’ and ‘Wishful Thinking’.
THIS IS ME! The Strictly Come Dancing favourite is back with a brand new show.
Sultry jazz made famous by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli, meets hard-driving Western swing pioneered by early string bands of the American Southwest. Happy and heartbreaking, sophisticated while still down-to-earth, Hot Club return with new songs and a few inspired standards.
Expect beautiful choreography, a fabulous soundtrack and all of your favourite Ballroom and Latin dances and more… Last few tickets!
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LEMN SISSAY WED 4 MAY 7.30pm £20*
MY NAME IS WHY? Lemn’s life story is a story of neglect and determination, misfortune and hope, cruelty and triumph.
JOHN ILLSLEY MON 2 MAY 7.30pm £31.50* Music and memories from the former member of Dire Straits. John and his band will play music from the whole DS catalogue, including, ‘Money for Nothing’, ‘Brothers in Arms’, ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘Sultans of Swing’ and tell stories from his time in the band.
OYSTERBAND TUE 3 MAY 7.30pm £23.50*
The five-times BBC Radio 2 Folk Award-winning outfit that brought passion, power and a little poetry to folk and roots music, enter their fifth decade as vital and creative as ever. 28
Reading from his Sunday Times bestselling memoir, Lemn explores the institutional care system, race, selfexpression, Britishness and the meaning of home. Infused with all the lyricism and power you would expect from one of the nation’s best-loved poets, this moving and timely event is the result of a life spent asking questions, and a celebration of the redemptive power of creativity. Followed by a Q&A.
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RICH HALL’S HOEDOWN DELUXE SAT 7 MAY 8pm £18.50*
Rich’s keen acerbic stand-up combines with spit and sawdust alt-country lyricism. He’s a TV presenter and stalwart of QI and Have I Got News For You, but seeing the Hoedown is a whole different experience. Gut-busting, rib-tickling, toe-tapping, the Hoedown Deluxe covers the full anatomical spectrum.
GIGSPANNER BIG BAND THU 5 MAY 7.30pm £24*
Beginning life as a trio (with Steeleye Span fiddle player Peter Knight), the line-up has expanded into the Gigspanner Big Band, with acclaimed multi-instrumental duo Edgelarks and Bellowhead co-founder and melodeon player, John Spiers.
FASCINATING AIDA FRI 6 MAY 2022 7.30pm SOLD OUT! 29
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THE EVERLY BROTHERS STORY TUE 10 MAY 7.30pm £25.50* WALK RIGHT BACK From the producers of That’ll be the Day, this show tells the story of the brothers rise to fame, through their decade-long feud and to their glorious reunion. Featuring hits such as ‘Bye Bye Love’, ‘All I Have To Do Is Dream’ and ‘Cathy’s Clown’.
QUEEN RHAPSODY FRI 13 MAY 7.30pm £27.50* High energy tribute show featuring hits from every decade of Queen’s musical legacy.
GILBERT O’SULLIVAN THU 12 MAY 7.30pm £34*, £30*
His 2018 album reached the top 20 in the UK, and now he returns for a solo show that includes new songs from his forthcoming album, alongside classics such as ‘Alone Again Naturally’, ‘Clair’ and ‘Nothing Rhymed’, performed in an intimate setting. 31
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RED HOT CHILLI PIPERS SAT 14 MAY 7.30pm £28.50* standing (£31* seated) Bagpipes with attitude!
SIMON & OSCAR FROM OCEAN COLOUR SCENE MON 16 MAY 7.30pm £29* In 2015 Ocean Colour Scene celebrated their 25th Anniversary with a sell-out acoustic tour, Simon and Oscar are continuing the theme with a tour of intimate seated venues, the perfect stages for their acoustic performances of hits such as ‘The Riverboat Song’, ‘The Circle’, ‘Traveller’s Tune’, ‘Hundred Mile High City’ and ‘The Day We Caught The Train’. 32
PP ARNOLD SUN 15 MAY 7.30pm £26*
When PP Arnold arrived in London in 1966 as one of Ike & Tina Turner’s backing singers on their tour with The Rolling Stones, the shy but vivacious 19-year-old caught the eye of Mick Jagger, who would persuade her to stay in London and record as a solo artist – ultimately leading to a five-decade career!
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KATE RUSBY SAT 21 MAY 7.30pm £29.50*
TORD GUSTAVSEN
Prepare to be thoroughly entertained by Kate’s engaging Yorkshire wit and wondrous singing, as she performs her choice of classics from a back catalogue stretching over 30 years, along with a selection of new songs from her most recent albums.
FRI 20 MAY 7.30pm £23.50* Norwegian pianist and composer, Tord Gustavsen’s music continues to evolve, with memorable melodies, subtle grooves, musical space, gentleness and depth.
AN ACOUSTIC ROUND THU 26 MAY 7.30pm £26.50* A new show featuring the musical talents of Ivor Novello award winning Jamie Lawson, best known for his hit single, ‘Wasn’t Expecting That’; Mercury Prize nominee Gemma Hayes; the critically acclaimed Richard Walters; and multi-mullion streamed London singer songwriter Laura Zocca. 33
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MELVYN BRAGG TUE 31 MAY 7.30pm £29.50* (£39* inc book)
DREADZONE FRI 27 MAY 8pm £24* Fast approaching their 30th anniversary, Dreadzone are still one of the best live bands around, with their unique blend of electro, dub and reggae and their storming and energetic live shows.
THE CLARE TEAL SEVEN SAT 28 MAY 7.30pm £27.50* Exhilarating & uplifting swing from jazz vocalist Clare Teal, featuring some of the best songs from the Great American and British songbooks. 34
Join writer, broadcaster and host of Radio 4’s In Our Time as he celebrates the publication of his first ever memoir: Back In The Day. Live on stage, Melvyn will share his elegiac, intimate account of growing up in a Cumbrian market town, from his early childhood during the war to the moment he had to decide between staying on or spreading his wings. With the opportunity to ask your own searching questions, this event promises to be a poignant elegy to a vanished era, vividly capturing a community-spirited northern town and illuminating what made Melvyn the writer, broadcaster, and champion of the arts he is today.
CHILDREN’S AND FAMILY EVENTS
THE AMAZING BUBBLE MAN MON 11 APR 1pm £14* (£11.50* child)
SHAKESPEARE SCHOOLS FESTIVAL TUE 8 FEB 7pm £tbc See Shakespeare’s timeless stories brought to life in the world’s largest youth drama festival.
Louis Pearl combines comedy and artistry with audience participation and spellbinding bubble tricks to keep everyone mesmerized; square, fog-filled and giant bubbles, bubble volcanoes and people inside bubbles, he conjures gasps of amazement and laughter from all ages.
THEATRETRAIN: SPOTLIGHT! SUN 20 MAR £17.50* An eclectic mix of musical numbers from the talented students of Theatretrain.
PERFORMING ARTS SHOWCASE WED 30 MAR 7pm £11.50* King Edward VI students bring performances from large ensemble dances to small drama pieces.
SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW ABOUT DINOSAURS
MARK THOMPSON’S SPECTACULAR SCIENCE SHOW
TUE 12 APR 2pm £16.50* (£14* child)
FRI 15 APR 3pm £13.50* (£11* U16s)
Dr Ben Garrod’s pre-historic adventure, filled with fascinating facts about the biggest, deadliest and weirdest predators that roamed the planet 65 million years ago. Yes, Tyrannosaurus rex, Allosaurus and Spinosaurus might have walked or swam where you are right now!
Science like you have never seen it before. Designed for children and adults alike, Mark’s Spectacular Science Show explores the strange and magical properties of matter with exploding elephant’s toothpaste, vortexgenerating dustbins and even howling jelly babies! 35
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CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
BOOZE & BRUSHES DESIGNS ON SIGNS
BOOZE & BRUSHES CAKE STAND
BOOZE & BRUSHES PAINT NIGHT
THU 10 FEB, WED 9 MAR, THU 7 APR & TUE 3 MAY 7pm-9pm • £30
FRI 18 FEB, TUE 15 MAR, THU 14 APR & FRI 13 MAY 7pm-9pm • £45
WED 23 FEB, THU 31 MAR, WED 27 APR & MON 16 MAY 7pm-9.30pm • £25
Create signs with custom stencils on wood. Personalised with a different project each month.
Make an afternoon cake stand using poured resin – with many colours and glitters to choose from.
Fun creative classes for everyone. All materials included to create your own masterpiece!
HARMONICA WORKSHOP
BEGINNERS YOGA
TAI CHI
SECOND SAT OF EVERY MONTH 12noon-3.30pm • £40
EVERY WEDNESDAY 1pm-2pm • £7
EVERY THURSDAY 9.45am-10.45am
WITH STEVE LOCKWOOD For beginners & intermediates: learn or improve new blues rhythms, cool country wails, pitch bends and jam along with well-known solos.
Lunchtime class by Carole Baker, suitable for all ability levels, the classes cover Yoga postures (asanas) and basic breathing & meditation techniques to help de-stress and give you more energy.
Tai Chi basics and the Traditional Yang Family 103 hand form. To book, please contact Martin Fayers at martinfayers@yahoo.co.uk or 01449 736455. 37
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THE APEX GALLERY
THE APEX GALLERY
(OPEN MON–SAT 10am-5pm & SUN 10am-4pm)
ERIC GEE: ANGLIAN LANDSCAPES+
JOY... IS CONTAGIOUS!
FLORART: VISIONS OF NATURE
TUE 18 JAN – SUN 13 FEB
TUE 15 FEB – SUN 10 APR
TUE 12 APR – SUN 15 MAY
40 landscapes of Suffolk and Norfolk, by local artist and illustrator Eric Gee. Eric has returned to the freedom of painting in oils, as he endeavours to capture the vast skies and unique character of this beautiful region. All profits go to www.thedoxaproject.org
A large solo exhibition of unique, bold and happy abstract art by Suffolk artist Kelly Glithro.
An exhibition of photographs bringing visions of nature indoors… This husbandand-wife team share a passion for the natural beauty that’s around us and document the world with a focus on the magic they find in landscapes and close-ups of nature.
All original paintings on quality deep edge canvas, commissions considered, and limited edition prints also available.
TINA HAGLEY TUE 12 APR – SUN 15 MAY Exciting, experimental and abstract work by Suffolk artist Tina Hagley.Tina creates expressive paintings and collages inspired by human anatomy and natural forms. The work in this exhibition was completed between 2020 and 2022, during which times the pandemic and lockdowns affected and intensified her work, which has become more powerful and expressive. 39
OTHER EVENTS
BOND: LIVE AND LET DINE FRI 25 & SAT 26 FEB 7.30pm £52*
STRICTLY SATURDAYS THIRD SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH 2.30pm-4.30pm Free Fun & friendly dancing; Latin, Ballroom & Rock & Roll.
THE 4 DAY FILM CHALLENGE MON 21 – THU 24 FEB 10am-4pm • £61.50* Write, shoot, star in and edit a short film. Run by The Offshoot Foundation. Suitable for ages 10 – 18.
CHESS CLUB EVERY TUESDAY 3.30pm-5.30pm Run by Bury St Edmunds Chess Club – all welcome. For more info, visit www.bsechess.org.uk
JOB FAIR CRAFTS & GIFTS SAT 19 MAR & 16 APR 10am-4.30pm Local exhibitors offer a great selection of handmade crafts & unique gifts in a warm and friendly shopping experience. 40
WED 23 MAR 10am-2pm Free IM Jobs in association with the Bury Free Press. Come along to meet recruiters who are seeking candidates in and around Bury St Edmunds. For more details please email jobs@iliffepublishing.co.uk or visit www.imjobs.co.uk
With vodka martini in hand, enjoy an adventuresome romp through Bond movie clichés. Expect lots of laughs, LOADS of costume changes and the smallest car chase in history. Includes three-course meal. This event takes place at: THE ATHENAEUM ANGEL HILL BURY ST EDMUNDS SUFFOLK IP33 1LU
COMING SOON
AN EVENING WITH JIMMY WEBB
CATRIN FINCH & SECKOU KEITA
TOYAH & HAZEL O’CONNOR
WED 1 JUNE 7.30pm
TUE 7 JUNE 7.30pm
SAT 11 JUNE 7.30pm
HUNTAR
THE HIGH KINGS
FRI 3 JUNE 8pm
WED 8 JUNE 8pm
THE UNTHANKS
CARPENTERS STORY
AURORA ORCHESTRA
SAT 4 JUNE 7.30pm
THU 9 JUNE 7.30pm
THU 16 JUNE 7.30pm
SI CRANSTOUN
TWISTING THE NIGHT AWAY SUN 19 JUNE 7.30pm 41
ABOUT THE APEX
ABOUT THE APEX The Apex is situated in the heart of Bury St Edmunds, close to the train & bus stations and numerous car parks. The box office is open MON – SAT 10am-5pm and an hour before events. 24-hour booking is available on the website: www.theapex.co.uk * Ticket price includes booking fees where applicable. Concessions may be available, see website or ring for details. Event details are correct at time of print, but may change. See website for up-to-date information, and for booking terms & conditions. For map and directions see website. Closest parking at arc / Cattle Market car park, for Sat Nav use IP33 3DG.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE WWW.THEAPEX.CO.UK/YOUR-VISIT 42
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