Marillion at Symphony Hall, Birmingham

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Posted 2019-10-23 by Andy Coleman ⇒ follow

Wed 06 Nov 2019

When Marillion played Birmingham's Symphony Hall in April 2018 it proved to be a night to remember (see review here ). They return to the prestigious venue on November 6, 2019 – and they're bringing along some mates to ensure another unforgettable occasion. The special show, part of their With Friends From the Orchestra Tour, will feature the In Praise of Folly String Quartet, plus Sam Morris on French horn and Emma Halnan on flute.

Frontman Steve Hogarth , celebrating 30 years with the band, says: "We've added this wonderful six-piece to the band for this entire tour. They're brilliant players, good friends, and the chemistry we have together has already spoken for itself."

The ensemble worked with band when they performed at the Royal Albert Hall in December 2017, and appeared on stage with them during the spring 2018 UK tour. Since then they've teamed up with Marillion in the studio to re-record some classic tracks for a With Friends From The Orchestra album.

Recorded at The Racket Club and Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios, and with a running time of almost 80 minutes, the record boasts nine reimagined Marillion tracks – Estonia, A Collection, Fantastic Place, Beyond You, This Strange Engine, The Hollow Man, The Sky Above The Rain, Seasons End and Ocean Cloud.

Steve explains: "Our brilliant producer and collaborator Michael Hunter wrote some new string arrangements and we took a week out record with our friends. The result has exceeded our expectations and is indeed a thing of beauty."

Marillion formed in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, in 1979, and recorded four albums with original lead singer Fish . When the frontman departed in 1988, Steve Hogarth, formerly of The Europeans, was recruited, for the next album, Seasons End. Thirty years and 14 albums later, he's still there, alongside Steve Rothery, Pete Trewavas, Mark Kelly and Ian Mosley.

**Marillion 2019 UK tour dates:

November 1: Philharmonic, Liverpool;
November 3: Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham;
November 4: Bridgewater Hall, Manchester;
November 6: Symphony Hall, Birmingham;
November 7: Guildhall, Portsmouth;
November 9: The Forum, Bath;
November 10: New Theatre, Oxford;
November 12: Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow;
November 13: The Sage, Gateshead;
November 15: Cliffs Pavilion, Southend;
November 16: St David's Hall, Cardiff;
November 18 & 19: Royal Albert Hall, London. **