The Gerry Colvin Orchestra
From intimate sold out club gigs to both playing and compering Glastonbury and being given a standing ovation at Fairport Convention’s 50th anniversary Cropredy Festival, the irrepressibly exuberant Gerry Colvin is not just a folk-pop legend, he’s one of this country’s finest songwriters and a sensational live performer with more energy than your average power station.
Capable of bringing a tear to your eye or stoking a fire in your heart, his thoughtful, playful, insightful, compassionate and inevitably melodically infectious songs speak to anyone who’s ever felt the passion and pain of love, to those enraged by the injustices of today’s society and to those who’ve ever wished they owned Johnny Cash’s shirt.
And now Gerry and his band, along with a clutch of special guests, are headlining what is guaranteed to be a show to remember at the Stratford Playhouse, to celebrate his fifth decade of making music.
Gerry started out with Birmingham-based 70s indie jazz outfit The Man Upstairs before co-founding skiffle-cowpunk indie outfit Terry & Gerry in the early 80s, championed by John Peel, appearing on The Old Grey Whistle Test, The Tube, and seeing all of their five singles and debut album top the indie charts.
Returning from a stint as professional songwriter in Nashville in the early 90s, he collaborated with Alison Moyet, had huge success with The Gerry Colvin’s Inexperience and The Atlantics before, in 1995, joining forces with Nick Quarmby to form ColvinQuarmby, going on to release six critically acclaimed albums, be voted best band at the 2009 Cropredy Festival and, in 2010 win the Hancock Award for Best Live Folk Act.
Now fronting the four-piece Gerry Colvin Band, featuring Jerome Davies on double bass, accordionist Trish Power and Lyndon Webb on guitar Gerry continues to write and perform in the UK, Europe and the USA. The band have released five albums of original Colvin songs while Gerry also has a solo jazz album to his name: in addition to his huge ten album back catalogue.
Not only that, he’s also kept busy touring with the much in demand reformed Terry and Gerry, who toured with Status Quo in 2015, and has still found time along the way to write his first novel, ‘The Rabbits of Zakynthos’, serve as patron of Stratford Upon Avon-based Welcombe Radio, Banbury Folk Club and Banbury Folk Festival, write three musicals, two film scores, write and present for Radio 2, contribute a ukulele version of Revolution to a Beatles tribute album and even performed as a comedy double act with Detectorists co-star Mackenzie Crook.
For the Playhouse concert The Gerry Colvin Band will be joined by very special guest Marion Fleetwood, The GCB Folk choir, five string players, a top horn section and Paul Johnston on drums. Twelve people on stage to create a wonderful night not to be missed.
‘’This man is unique and unforgettable. He should be a household name. Go see him.” - Phil Beer, Show of Hands
‘’Gerry Colvin is a remarkable Talent. I am a fan.’’ - Simon Nicol, Fairport Convention
Ticket price
£22.50*
*booking fee applies
Book your tickets here
