Brian May & Kerry Ellis – Acoustic by Candlelight

With a backdrop of stars and warmed by candlelight Brian May and Kerry Ellis created an intimate, informal and familiar atmosphere, as they began their 11 date ‘Acoustic By Candlelight’ tour in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk last night. The sold out Apex venue situated in the old cattle market in the town sees Brian and Kerry perform some of musics best known songs stripped back to their beautiful bare bones.

The set list consisted of over 23 songs chosen simply because Brian and Kerry ‘liked them’. Queen fans who came along to see Brian ‘rock out’ were left totally satisfied as songs such as ‘Tie Your Mother Down’, ‘We Will Rock You’ and ’We Are the Champions’ received the ‘acoustic’ treatment. Kerry’s incredible voice created plenty of goose bump moments in particular during an extremely moving rendition of the Freddie Mercury penned ‘Life is Real’. Accompanied with a beautiful image of Freddie as the back drop you could have heard a pin drop in the room.

Moments that made the evening ultimately more special were the 500 strong sell out crowd, performing as the back up singers to Brian & Kerry as they performed ‘Love of My Life’ as well as the guitar lead detaching itself from Brian’s guitar just at a point when he was due to strike the infamous guitar pose! A moment where the crowd got so caught up that they willed the strike of the guitar to happen however long they had to wait for it! When it did, the room erupted into laughter, cheers and a standing ovation!

The Born Free tour was created as the brain child of Brian and Kerry who had wanted to bring the intimacy to fans in the UK after experiencing exactly this on their recent visit to Shamwari, where they met with Virginia McKenna (as guests of of her charity The Born Free Foundation, named after the film which starred Virginia) on a game reserve and rescue centre in South Africa and worked with her and her team where they tirelessly work to protect the endangered lions.

The unique and informal setting for these 11 dates is quite simply astounding and not to be missed.

Brian May & Kerry Ellis have recorded their own version of the song ‘Born Free’ and this and a video showing the work of Virginia McKenna’s foundation in Shamwari in South Africa is now available to buy on iTunes, with profits going to this wonderful cause – it truly is 99p well spent!

Tuesday 6 November 2012               Leamington Spa, The Assembly

Wednesday 7 November 2012          Corby, The Core at Corby Cube

Friday 9 November 2012                   Tunbridge Wells, Assembly Hall Theatre

Saturday 10 November 2012             Brighton, St. Georges Church

Sunday 11 November 2012               London, Union Chapel

Monday 12 November 2012               St. Albans, Alban Arena

Thursday 15 November 2012             Crawley, The Hawth

Friday 16 November 2012                  Portsmouth, New Theatre Royal

Saturday 17 November 2012             Salisbury, City Hall

Monday 19 November 2012               High Wycombe, Swan Theatre

www.ticketzone.co.uk

Born Free - Download details.

Acoustic Version (iTunes)

Large Scale Version (iTunes)

Large Scale Version and Video (iTunes)