Journeys; the John Hackett Band in concert 2020. With Special Guests
Photo: Mick Bannister
“When they performed John’s Satie-inspired, flute-led number, ‘Overnight Snow’, I was in heaven…the gorgeous ‘Satellite’ was followed by the rock-out ‘Ego & Id’ with its Zeppelin-esque guitar riff. The rousing encore ‘Red Hair’ closed the show and I wanted to see it all again. Roll on next year!” (Dave Kennedy, Rock Society Magazine)
2019 saw the John Hackett Band make their European ‘live’ debut at Prog Dreams in Holland, alongside selected UK dates, featuring material from across John’s solo career, the critically acclaimed debut album from John Hackett Band, ‘We Are Not Alone’ and from the John Hackett-Nick Fletcher album, ‘Beyond The Stars’ (2018), both released by Esoteric Antenna.
This year closes with a guest appearance on brother Steve Hackett’s ‘Genesis Revisited Band & Orchestra; Live at the Festival Hall’ to follow John’s contribution to Steve’s current studio album, ‘At The Edge of Light’ - along with guest appearances with Steve's current UK tour.
2020 now promises to be an even more intriguing prospect, with an extensive series of dates just announced that sees the JHB journey across the UK and Europe. There’s also the exciting news of another Hackett-Fletcher album.
And…
...the follow-up to ‘We Are Not Alone’ will see the four JHB writer-musicians assembled in the studio once again very soon; guitarist Nick Fletcher (“the best kept secret in Prog” and self-avowed admirer of fellow Yorkshireman, Allan Holdsworth); drummer/engineer and Bill Bruford fan Duncan Parsons, whose recent album ‘C:Ore’ united alumni from Genesis, Isotope and Camel and bassist/vocalist Jeremy Richardson (who writes on guitar and keys, and sings both in and out of his comfort-zone), whose debut album, ‘Was It For This…? presents literate, insightful and emotional music for our times; taking in almost as many styles are there are tracks. So. Expect another collection of wonderfully written and performed compositions, one or two of which might well surface, ‘live’ in 2020.
“There is something immediately familiar about this album-it feels like a hug on a bad day… What makes it so great? Well, first there’s the musicianship-some truly glorious guitar playing from Nick Fletcher and Hackett’s disarming vocal style instantly puts the listener at ease… Nine perfectly balanced instrumental and vocal numbers; encompasses a number of styles, crosses genres.” - Sounds Magazine
March
Sat 14th: Keighley, Studio 5. Special Guests, Apostle
Sun 15th: Sheffield, Crookes. Special Guest, Howard Sinclair
Sat 21st: Hull, O'Rileys Special Guest Coma Rossi
April
Fri 17th: Penzance, Acorn Theatre - plus Special Guest tba
Sat 18th: Tavistock, The Wharf - plus Special Guest https://www.tavistockwharf.com/whats_on/live_music?event=3461_john_hackett_band
Sun 26th: Chepstow, Winter's End Festival
May
Fri 1st: London, Nambucca. Special Guest, Howard Sinclair
Sat 2nd: Eastbourne, Printer's Playhouse
Sat 23rd: Wirral, The Big Room at Heswall. Special Guests, The Kentish Spires
June
Fri 26th Oundle, Queen Vic Hall – (double-header with The Gift)
September
Sat 5th: Ipswich, St Peter's By The Waterfront. Special Guests, Joanne Harris & Storytime Band
Sat 19th: Germany, Bergkeller, Reichenbach
Sun 20th: Holland, Muziekcentrum de Bosuil
October
Sat 17th: Leeds, Seven. Special Guests, Joanne Harris & Storytime Band.
Sun 18th Leicester, The Musician. Special Guests, The Kentish Spires
November
Sat 7th: Norwich, B2 Special Guest IT
Fri 20th: Bromsgrove, Studio at Artrix + Special Guest tba
Sat. 28th Kinross, Backstage At The Green
December
Sat 5th: Liverpool, Capstone Theatre + Special Guest tba
