Classic Clapton at Thameside Theatre

Classic Clapton The World's No1 Eric Clapton Tribute Band featuring front-man Mike Hall will be making their first ever appearance in Grays in September.

The band will be performing at Thameside Theatre, Orsett Road, Grays, Essex on Friday 20th September. Doors open at 7pm. Band on stage at 7.30pm. Tickets priced £15 are available from the box office – Tel: 0845 300 5264. Fans are advised to book early.

They will perform all of EC's classic songs including Wonderful Tonight, Tears in Heaven, Crossroads, I Shot The Sheriff, Cocaine, Lay Down Sally and of course Layla! There will even be an “UNPLUGGED” segment.

NEARLY 2 HOURS OF CLASSIC CLAPTON

The band was formed in 1985 in Newcastle upon Tyne long before the term “tribute band” was invented, and named themselves ''After Midnight'' after Eric Clapton’s first solo hit. In guitar/vocalist Mike Hall, they have a front man who not only looks like Eric, he sings and plays guitar like him too!

In 1999, Mike won a national look-alike competition held at Madam Tussauds in London. Mike has met Slowhand twice, and even received a message of encouragement from the guitar maestro (written on a Concorde menu).

TYNE TEES TELEVISION were so impressed, they made a programme about them, called 'COVER THEIR TRACKS'. It was shown in August 2000 and received rave reviews, leading to national recognition.

In 2001 they embarked on an extensive tour of UK Theatres. They called the tribute show "CLASSIC CLAPTON". Since then, they have continued to perform throughout the UK and Europe including concerts at The Royal Festival Hall, London and a triumphant appearance at Glastonbury Festival in 2002. In the past few years they have performed numerous concerts in Europe including Spain, Estonia and Holland. In July 2009 they appeared at St Andrews Auditorium in Mumbai. A 10,000 mile round-trip for 1 gig, but it was a great experience.

In the past 28 years CLASSIC CLAPTON have become something of a rock institution.

CLASSIC CLAPTON comprises 4 excellent musicians:- Mike Hall (lead vocals/guitar), Paul Warren (keyboards/ backing vocals), Danny Davison (drums) and Dave Robson (bass guitar /backing vocals). Dave is a former member of chart band Geordie. In fact he was with them at the time Brian Johnson left to join AC/DC.

CLASSIC CLAPTON have released three albums. Firstly “THE MUSIC OF ERIC CLAPTON” contains brilliant cover-versions of 17 Clapton Classics. Their second is a live double CD ''CLASSIC CLAPTON Unplugged'' recorded at Belfast Waterfront Hall. In 2005 they released their third album “CLASSIC CREAM” – featuring 20 songs made famous by the sixties supergroup. All three albums will be available at Thameside Theatre.

Eric Clapton has been a major international star since the mid 1960's, when he revolutionised electric guitar playing, with his virtuoso performances in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. He has won an incredible 19 Grammies and is the only triple inductee into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of The Yardbirds, Cream and as a solo artist).

Eric Clapton’s recent tours unfortunately have visited only a limited number of large UK venues. If fans want to hear all of his hits performed in more intimate surroundings, they really should attend a CLASSIC CLAPTON concert. The whole of Clapton's illustrious career will be covered including Cream, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, The Yardbirds, Blind Faith, Derek & The Dominos and the solo years.