From Seth Lakeman to Andy Fairweather Low, Laurence Jones to the Budapest Café Orchestra, there’s something for everyone at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds during the spring of 2025
Folk and country music fans will be well catered for with a host of gigs, starting with the founders of folk-rock, Fairport Convention on February 6. All Ireland champion musicians and dancers bring you the sound and fun of Ireland, without the clichés, in The Irish House Party on February 24.
Described by The Guardian as ‘the finest instrumental duo on the traditional scene’, Spiers & Boden (February 25) first rocketed onto the music scene in 2001, quickly winning a clutch of BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and going on to form folk big band, Bellowhead.
Contemporary folk’s poster boy, Seth Lakeman plays the venue on February 28, while his brother Sam joins Cara Dillon on March 28, for her acclaimed and emotive new material and a selection of her beloved classics.
Country stars Catherine and Lizzy Ward Thomas (February 11) were the first British country music act to score a Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart. The UK’s biggest country music export, The Shires have just announced an intimate acoustic tour, with Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes, performing their classic tracks on March 21. Police Dog Hogan (March 6) use guitar, fiddle, banjo, trumpet, accordion, bass and drums to create a driving bluegrass-country-folk sound.
Direct from London’s world-famous jazz club The Ronnie Scott’s All Stars combine live jazz and rare archive footage to tell The Ronnie Scott’s Story on January 16.
Multi-award-winning British guitarist and vocalist, Laurence Jones (January 23) has been hailed as "the future of the blues" by Classic Rock Magazine. His latest album, Bad Luck & The Blues, topped the Official Jazz and Blues Charts in the UK.
Most famed for his time with Focus and their mega-hit Hocus Pocus, Jan Akkerman will be playing his favourite Focus tunes and more recent compositions on February 4.
Budapest Café Orchestra perform a hugely entertaining show of skill, musicianship and Eastern European folk music on February 27, evoking vivid images of fiddle maestros, Budapest café life and gypsy campfires.
Andy Fairweather Low (March 1) shot to fame as lead singer in Amen Corner, singing massive hits like Bend Me Shape Me and (If Paradise is) Half As Nice. A successful solo career followed with Wide Eyed And Legless being his biggest international hit.
10cc’s Graham Gouldman brings his Heart Full of Songs project on March 7, playing songs he has written for 10cc, The Hollies, Herman’s Hermits and the Yardbirds. Smoky-voiced chanteuse Elles Bailey (April 6) picked up Live Act of the Year for the second year running at the UK Americana Awards and earned UK Blues Awards’ Vocalist of the Year for two consecutive years.
From the traditional to the contemporary, Eddi Reader (April 27) brings joyous life to all forms of song. With ten solo albums, three BRIT awards and an MBE in tow, Eddi continues to delight audiences worldwide.
Newton Faulkner (May 6) is currently recording his next collection of songs, full of powerful vocals with his signature guitar sound weaved through the mix.
Funk Soul Orchestral: James Brown vs Prince is a live high-energy celebration, led by the electrifying performance of Ashton Jones on February 7; and 80s Mania is a multi-tribute homage to the 1980s on March 14. The Story of Guitar Heroes features 50 years of iconic songs from the greatest guitar legends on February 14, while Nashville Nights pays tribute to modern country music on March 4.
Other great tribute shows include Money for Nothing (Dire Straits); T.Rextasy; Johnny Cash Roadshow; Purple Zeppelin; Barry Steele & Friends tribute to Roy Orbison; Chicago Blues Brothers RESPECT greatest hits tour; and high voltage rock from Live/Wire.
See wwwtheapex.co.uk or call 01284 758000 for more information or to book tickets.
