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ENGLEBERT, HAWLEY COME TO BRUM

23-05-2007

Two distinctive performers of differing vintages are heading to Brum…legendary sideburned crooner Englebert Humperdinck and The Stirrer’s current fave torch artist Richard Hawley. Surprisingly the two are connected.

First the details. Englbert, who has sold 130 million records in his time, is coming to Birmingham Hippodrome on Sunday 28 October. A Vegas veteran, The Hump has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has received an honorary doctorate from the university of his home town Leicester.

His street cred has shot up enormously in recent years, following a duet with Peter Kay in a John Smiths bitter ad - and he also features in a regular Eddie Izzard sketch.

It’s also a little known pop fact that Englbert’s first big hit “Release Me” kept The Beatles “Strawberry Fields Forever” off the top of the charts in 1967.

Richard Hawley, by contrast, has yet to enjoy chart fame, but this Sheffield troubadour should not be missed when he comes to Symphony Hall on 7 September.

If you dig soul-powered Americana filtered through a deep throated indie sensibility Hawley’s yer man. His last album “Coles Corner” was a classic - get a sight of the title track here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPqFYjGuGEE)

Ay, yes, but what’s the connection between these two venerable minstrels? Simple. Hawley once played guitar for fellow Steel City heroes Pulp, and is featured on their (criminally under-rated) “This Is Hardcore” album.

And Pulp front man Jarvis Cocker selected Englebert’s “Ten Guitars” as one of his Desert Island Discs on Radio 4.

One to impress your mates with down the pub, surely? No? I’ll get my coat.

Englebert Humperdinck is at Birmingham Hippodrome on Sunday 28 October at 7.30pm. Tickets go on sale on Friday 25 May and are available from Birmingham Hippodrome Ticket Sales on 0870 730 1234 or online at www.birminghamhippodrome.com. Tickets are priced £32.50, £28.50 and £25.00. Booking fees apply.

Richard Hawley plays at Symphony Hall on Friday 7 September. Tickets on sale now priced £17.50 and £15. BOX OFFICE Tel 0121 780 3333

or book on-line at www.thsh.co.uk (£1 postage & administration charge per concert for online bookings)