Thease aren’t the real Blues Brothers but they’re the nearest thing to them. They are even going to have as a guest star James Brown (what?). I loved the original Blues Brothers so this must be alot of fun so i’m sure you’ll enjoy it and why not it just good rhythm and blued and soul music for everyone and anyone.

The real and first Blues Brothers were an American blues and soul revivalist band founded in 1978 by Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi as part of a musical sketch on Saturday Night Live. Belushi and Aykroyd, respectively in character as lead vocalist “Joliet” Jake Blues and harmonica player/vocalist Elwood Blues, fronted the band, which was composed of well-known and respected musicians. The band made its debut as the musical guest on the April 22, 1978, episode of Saturday Night Live.

Jake & Elwood – The Best Blues Brothers Show In The World…EVER!!! will be at the Palace Theatre Friday 21st May 2010 – 7.30pm and tickets are available from here.

Norah Jones is on tour promoting her new album called The Fall. I recentley bought her album as a new discovery to my collection and found that it was my cup of tea. Even though I have just come across her you proably know at least one of her 4 albums.

Norah Jones made her debut album in 2002 and has already won 12 Grammys plus more awards and many more nominations. Her music which includes different types of styles like Jazz, blues, pop, soul, folk and country has gone round the world.

Norah Jones will be at the Apollo Theatre on Monday 21st June 2010 – 7.30pm and tickets are available here.

Ali Campbell after 30 years left UB40 to go on his own and as he try´s to make a name for himself in his own right, which in my opinion he should have no problem with his unique singing voice, a great example is with what I think is an excellent version of “Would I lie to you” with Bitty McLean which shows you the potential here.

So I for one will be looking forward to Ali coming to Manchester or should I say he is “running free to Manchester” and will perform at the Apollo on Wednesday 24th June 2009 – 7.30pm. Tickets will of course be available from here.

Boyz II Men are a Grammy Award-winning American R&B/soul singing group from Philadelphia. Based on sales, they are the most successful R&B male vocal group of all time. Also they recorded five number 1 R&B hits between 1992 and 1997 and have sold more than 60 million records.

There biggest hits include, “End of the Road”, “I’ll Make Love to You”, and “One Sweet Day” (with Mariah Carey), set and broke records for the longest period of time a single remained at 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

So one thing is for sure when Boyz II Men come to Manchester you will hear some of the best R&B harmony’s.

They will be performing at the Manchester Apollo Saturday 13th June 2009 – 7.30pm and tickets are available from here.

British soul artist Lemar who was originally from the fame academy, which propelled into the public’s limelight as one of the stars of the original BBC Fame Academy. He has gone on to become one of Britain’s most popular solo artists and one of its most exciting soul talents.

Hit singles Dance (With U), Another Day, and 50/50 are some of his most successful singles to date and he will undoubtedly be singing tracks from his latest album “The Reason” and with a new single “Weight of the world.”

He will be preforming at the Manchester Arena on Friday 17th April 2009 – 7.30pm tickets are available from here.

You have to say as names go seal has to be up there, even though it may sound American he is truly British being born in London. Success in particularly was with a ‘kiss from a rose’, which won him two Grammy Awards for “Song Of The Year” and “Best Male Pop Vocal Performance”. But for me it was Crazy, which topped the charts in three countries.

In addition to this he became noticed when he provided the vocals for Adamski’s track ‘Killer’, which enjoyed phenomenal success and was was in the charts for four weeks at number 1.

Seal will be at the Manchester Apollo on Monday 29th June 2009 – 7.30pm and tickets are available from here.

Anastacia the New York soul diva with the huge voice will be in Manchester, which for me is a great thing and although I maybe a little old in the tooth, I certainly am impressed with her fantastic singing voice and for me one of the best in this genre.

Although of a small stature she is ability to hit the high notes of a soprano, giving her the nick name of “The Little Lady With The Big Voice“.

On top of this being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003, she has made a huge comeback and at the same time trying to bring awareness to breast cancer in regards to screener of girls under the age of 35, a little like the recent influence of Jade Goodie.

Surprisingly she is a bigger hit here in Europe rather than her own country, good for us I say!

She will be preforming at the Manchester Apollo on Thursday 2nd July 2009 and tickets are available from here.

As part of this year’s 50 year celebration of Motown, Once In A Lifetime – Motown Legends Live Tour will be coming to  the MEN Arena in Manchester on Saturday , June 27.

Tickets for the show – featuring The Commodores, Mary Wilson of The Supremes, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, The Miracles and Jr Walker’s All Stars are available here.

Simply Red will be preforming in Manchester at the MEN Arena on Sunday 5th April. The tour is to promote their latest album Simply Reds Greatest Hits, so I am sure they will be playing a few from when I was listening including Money’s Too Tight (To Mention), Holding Back the Years, The Right Thing, If You Don’t Know Me By Now, It’s Only Love, A New Flame, Something Got Me Started, Stars, Home and Fairground.

Whatever the case I am sure it will be a great night at Mick Hucknel is a local lad from Denton, caring on from the Manchester theme I thought this may jog a few memories.

Simply Red’s roots originate from the 1976 Sex Pistols gig at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester. Manchester art student Mick Hucknall was one of the many young music fans present, along with original members of Joy Division, The Smiths and Buzzcocks. The first incarnation of the band was a punk group called The Frantic Elevators. This band existed for 7 years, with limited releases on local labels, but split in 1984 with only limited local attention and critical acclaim for their final single, “Holding Back the Years”.

Taken from Wikipedia

I include that excerpt partly as I remember the odd gig at the free trade hall, oh what memories!

To get ticket you need to follow this link

I suppose Lionel Richie should have been preforming here tomorrow night as it happens to be Valentines night, still I am not a great fan of Valentines, but there you are.

Undoubtedly he is a great talent and no question this will be fully booked, still for me I will remember him preforming at the Olympics, but that’s only because I was an Athlete and I must add that was a few years back.

Tickets are available here