SOUL CARIBBEAN BIG BAND: The UK Tour Featuring Zara McFarlane and Carleen Anderson Hosted by Richard Blackwood

Thursday 24 October  |  GATESHEAD The Sage Gateshead  |   sagegateshead.org/ 0191 443 4661 After their performance at the opening celebrations of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park later this month, Soul Caribbean will tour the UK this autumn taking in Gateshead, Manchester, Birmingham and Poole. A 21st century melting pot of well-loved songs made famous from artists as diverse as Bob Marley and Rihanna, Soul Caribbean is the ultimate Caribbean music party. Soul Caribbean features a magnificent live band and fabulous singers including young singer Zara McFarlane (signed to Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood label) and sensational soul diva Carleen Anderson (The Brand New Heavies) led by Kevin Robinson (Simply Red).   New arrangements mixing soul, reggae, ska, salsa, soca, calypso and R’n‘B  create a dance party like no other.  The show features songs including Could You Be Loved, Umbrella and Monkey Man - this night is sure to have you up on your feet and dancing the night away. At each performance the band and vocalists will also be joined by a local choir who have been working with Kevin over the summer on arrangements of some of the classics in the repertoire. All shows will be hosted by comedian and actor Richard Blackwood. “The Soul Caribbean big band, assembled by Kevin Robinson, played a sunny set of reggae, soul, ska, and salsa, climaxing in a glorious choral version of Many Rivers to Cross with the Stratford East Singers” The Times