Basingstoke, Hampshire UK
2nd November 2007
No faking it for rock fans in Basingstoke
The Academy Basingstoke is featuring rock music’s current talking point, “NEVER THE BRIDE”, live on stage on Saturday 17th November 2007, back by popular demand.
Never the Bride's Nikki Lamborn and Catherine Feeney first met on stage at a jam session in a London pub.
Instant rapport and a similar taste in music and direction, lead to more jamming before Nikki from Bristol and Catherine, better known as Been, from Glasgow, formed a song writing collaboration.
Nikki commuted to write, gig and busk in Covent Garden. Never the Bride was born and the duo built up a core following around the capital.
Their live reputation went from strength to strength and big support slots followed from The Who, ZZ TOP and The Pretenders. After successfully supporting The Who, a personal call from Roger Daltrey lead to Nikki and Been joining Daltrey, Alice Cooper, Paul Rodgers, Peter Frampton and a few more rock gods on The British Rock Symphony Tour. The band toured the UK, Europe and Australia with the Orchestra, making a huge impression with their interpretation of Led Zeppelin's Kashmir and Stairway to Heaven.
Their first performance at The Royal Albert Hall is a key moment in Nikki and Beens' lives. Roger held up both their arms and said to the audience who were going crazy, "What d'ya reckon then? Nikki Lamborn has the best female rock voice since Janis Joplin and I know what I'm talking about, I knew Janis."
"After The Rock Symphony Tour ended in Australia, we decided to stay awhile and write some songs," explains Been. "We did a Thelma and Louise, rented a car and drove across the country drinking tequila in small bottles.”
"The money had run out by the time we reached Sydney, but luckily it was around the time of The Olympics and there were lots of people to entertain. Our busking skills paid for the song-writing trip and some of those songs are on our album, Surprise!"
Nikki's powerful presence and strong vocals has been described as Tina Turner and Robert Plant rolled into one. Her incredible voice came under the spotlight while coaching a Cambridge choir girl in the ways of rock for Channel 4's “Faking It” series.
Been, keyboard player and occasional guitarist, is the main composer behind the songs that, together with Nikki's voice, make Never the Bride unique.
Other band members include Murray Gould on guitar, who has played with Elton John, Dido and Faithless, and Greg Harwood on bass, who has played with every one from Ronan Keating to James Brown. Drummer John Tonks repertoire includes Steve Winwood and the Sugarbabes.
As a response to their growing fanbase worldwide, the band have recorded a DVD rockumentary, entitled For Richer For Poorer, highlighting life for a rock band on the road both at home and abroad.
The band may have been one of rock’s best kept secrets but, following widespread exposure as Dame Shirley Bassey reached the charts at number 10 with a cover of their song “The Living Tree” and they appeared with her at Glastonbury earlier this year, they are playing selected dates across the UK, including The Academy in Worting Road Basingstoke. Visit www.neverthebride.com for details.
This event is sponsored by Mad Gold Barbados Rum which is a firm favourite amongst rock fans but is growing in popularity generally as more and more bars and venues across the UK are putting it on their shelves.
Full details of this event and other original artists appearing live at The Academy in 2007, alongside their popular tribute band shows, are available on the venue’s website (http://www.academyclubs.com/) which is updated regularly or by telephoning 01256 327273.
Tickets are priced £10 on the door.
ENDS
Note to Editors
There are three Academy's currently in the South - Basingstoke, Boscombe and Eastleigh. All operate 24 hours, 7 days a week, and offer extensive Snooker, Pool and Nine Ball. Uniquely to The Academy venues, they now show live premiership football on Saturday & Sunday afternoons. In addition to this, professional Darts are available as well as huge satellite screens with surround sound showing live sporting events. Discreet but loaded fruit machines offer maximum payouts and that all-important thrill! The Fun Bars with their light refreshing décor offer a variety of entertainment for all ages, definitely not to be missed! The Basingstoke venue also boasts a function room and superb Chinese Restaurant.
(http://www.academyclubs.com/).
Further details of “Never The Bride” can be found at http://www.neverthebride.com/
Photographic images are available on this site.
Further details of Mad Gold Barbados Rum can be found at http://www.mad-gold.com/
Media enquiries to:John Hicks M.IDM
Headline Promotions, Press & PR
Mobile: 07771 575 654
Fax: 0707 520 9717
john@headlinepromotions.co.uk
http://www.headlinepromotions.blogspot.com/
