Following two sold-out shows at the Sydney Opera House, and the nationwide tour that followed in 2016, Australia’s celebrated live concert event Stairway To Heaven: Led Zeppelin Masters embarks on a limited eight-date UK tour kicking off today (18th April).
From the raw, metallic blues of Whole Lotta Love to the epic Stairway to Heaven and the sheer exhilaration of Kashmir, Led Zeppelin Masters celebrates the timeless musical legacy of Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham and John Paul Jones with a no-holds-barred concert performing the masterpieces of Led Zeppelin.
Fronted by powerhouse vocalist Vince Contarino and bolstered by the breathtaking might of the thirty-five-piece The Black Dog Orchestra, Led Zeppelin Masters features no fewer than eighteen Led Zeppelin classics.
Vince said, “After the huge success we’ve enjoyed touring Stairway To Heaven: Led Zeppelin Masters in Australia, we are incredibly excited to finally bring this show to the UK, the home of Led Zeppelin.”
Vince Contarino has been working as a singer, songwriter and musician for the last forty years. In addition to his work with the Led Zeppelin Masters show, he has performed with Joe Walsh from The Eagles, former AC/DC bassist Mark Evans, Wa Wa Nee vocalist/songwriter Paul Gray (keyboards in the Black Dog Orchestra) and guitarist Steve Williams, and Mondo Rock bassist Paul Christie in the band Party Boys. He also is the frontman for former Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick’s band when he performs in Australia.
Contarino has worked closely as a vocal director for Joe Camileri (Black Sorrows) and supported acts such as Alice Cooper, Status Quo and Stevie Marriott and many more. Contarino has performed four sell-out seasons with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Victoria performing orchestral versions of Led Zeppelin songs. He has also given Deep Purple’s catalogue the symphonic treatment, performing with Deep Purple founding member and keyboard player, the late, great Jon Lord.
In 1997, Contarino turned his talent and enthusiasm towards the theatre, working in association with the cross cultural Theatre Company Doppio Teatro (Bread and Onions, Pulcinella and Ciao Mamma Ciao). Vince has also added the roles of Judas (Jesus Christ Superstar) and the Pharaoh (Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) to his repertoire when he worked at Her Majesty’s Theatre. He has also worked as mentor for the Helpmann Academy.
The eight-date tour begins at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall on Tuesday, 18th April, and ends at Plymouth Pavilions on Thursday, 27th April.
The list of full tour dates is as follows:
April 2017
Tue 18th Manchester, Bridgewater Hall 0161 907 9000 bridgewater-hall.co.uk
Wed 19th London Palladium 0844 412 4655 rutlive.co.uk
Thu 20th Bristol, Colston Hall 0844 887 1500 colstonhall.org
Sat 22nd Newcastle, City Hall 0844 811 21 21 theatreroyal.co.uk
Sun 23rd Edinburgh, Usher Hall 0131 228 1155 usherhall.co.uk
Tue 25th Birmingham, Symphony Hall 0121 780 3333 thsh.co.uk
Wed 26th Southend, Cliffs Pavilion 01702 351 135 southendtheatres.org.uk
Thu 27th Plymouth Pavilions 0845 146 1460 plymouthpavilions.com