Jon Chamberlain

Setting up for Hair in Liz, AustriaSo the confirmed line-up of leads for the Hair tour this year hit the press at the end of 2011, but I didn't have time to write about it as the frantic festive season was upon us!

Gareth Gates has been confirmed for the role of 'Claude' for some time, and he has recently been joined by Zoe Birkett (recently seen in Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Thriller Live) and Amy Diamond (finalist in BBC1's Over The Rainbow).

Tour dates are out and available for purchase, and they keep adding more and more dates, so keep checking for a theatre near you!

Doing the European leg of Hair in 2011 was massively enjoyable. The cast are amazing people, the music is incredibly rewarding to play and the show as a whole is a roller-coaster of emotions. It can only get better from here on in and I can't wait to do it all again!

Last week, Dutch company EJB Entertainment put on an incredible event at The Gelredome in Arnhem, The Netherlands. The Queen Experience featured amazing vocalist Joseph Clark, a full symphony orchestra and a breathtaking sound and light show. At The Music Pie we were thrilled to be involved, producing high-quality orchestral backings for the event.

The show was a complete success, selling out the 34,000 seats at the Gelredome, and there will be more shows in December if anyone missed it (me included!).

EJB recently produced the european tour of 'Hair', and The Music Pie hopes to be involved in many more projects with the company in the near future.

1,035 miles around the UK

I don't think I've travelled quite so far over only two days to do two gigs. From Leeds to St. Andrews to Chertsey and home again, and NOT in my car for a change! I managed to avoid putting miles on the Skoda by using public transport and the band tour bus.

Both great gigs with Get Funked - quite a lot of people were depping on the first night in St. Andrews (a really last minute gig which came in 3 days before the event!) but everyone did a great job, and it was great to play with some new faces. St Andrews golf course (the venue) certainly is a swanky place, and it was amazing of the organisers to sort us out with rooms for the night. A good deal nicer than sleeping on the tour bus, even if it did have leather seats! I recommend these by the way if anyone is looking to hire a tour bus for a band - www.tigertours.co.uk

Ricky Valance, the man who sang 'Tell Laura I Love Her', will complete the celebrity vocalist roster, with Terry Christian fulfilling his duties as compere for the evening.

This really looks to be a cracking night for all the family, and as Musical Director, I intend to have everyone dancing in the aisles to some of the best hits of the past 60 years! Literally something for everyone.

This is all in the name of charity - find out more about the Charity Dreamgirls, and get your tickets for the concert here at an incredible bargain price! See you there!

Remember the 60s hits 'Silence Is Golden', and 'Here Comes My Baby'?

The Tremeloes' singer and bassist Chip Hawkes will be appearing to sing his most famous hits at the Charity Dreamgirls' 5 Years of Magic concert on 8th October.

You can still buy tickets here for a real bargain price, and all proceeds go directly to the Dreamgirls' nominated charities, who this year are: Overgate Hospice, Retail Trust, and the Willow Foundation.

Awesome singer Angie Brown is to appear with the Charity Dreamgirls as part of their 5 year celebraton concert at Halifax Victoria Theatre on 8th October.

Angie's voice has featured on records by Lisa Stansfield, Fatboy Slim and The Doves, and is most known for her recording of the 1993 hit "I'm Gonna Get You". You can visit her website here, or to buy tickets for the event go to the Charity Dreamgirls dedicated site.

This is turning into a great looking event with 2 celebrity guests announced - who'll be next?!?! Get your tickets while you can, it's all for charity :-)

Amazing news! Katrina of 'Katrina & the Waves' has been confirmed to appear on the bill with us at the Halifax Theatre on 8th October! You can get tickets for the concert HERE where you can also find out more information about the week of charity events we are hosting, and keep up to date with any more celebrity announcements!

4th - 8th October sees a week of great events put on by the Charity Dreamgirls: a fashion show, a vintage cinema night, a music quiz, a talent show, and main feature the celebrity concert on the Saturday night.

GO HERE to find out more details and about how you can get involved. Don't forget, it's all for charity!

The celebrties involved are to be annouced very shortly so stay tuned for the news as it comes!

The psychedelic, drug-fuelled, musical extravaganza which is 'Hair' is touring Europe during 2011 and I am thrilled to say I am playing keyboards on the show.  The first week was last week in Munich, and the show picks up in Linz (July) before many other dates this autumn. 

The show is expected to tour the UK throughout 2012 so if you don't fancy a trip to the mainland, keep your eyes peeled for that. The whole cast are amazing and the band take no prisoners!

I am playing in a performance of Benjamin Britten's setting of 'Noye's Fludde' at Hull City Hall.  Comprising orchestra, string quintet, choir, vocal soloists, timpani, recorder, and piano (4 hands), this opera-in-one-act tells the story of 'Noah's Flood'.  I will be playing the top of the 4-handed piano part, and as I am a featured soloist I will perform a solo piece in the first half of the concert.

I haven't done much piano-duo work so I am really looking forward to this.