Today on the 10.09.16 Jimmy Somerville will enter the main stage of the opera ball Hall Leipzig to present his “Homage” to the Disco Area. Disco and Opera Ball – that fits together beautifully, because the Scot brings the Berlin Show Orchestra, which will give his songs a very special, modern sound.
Jimmy Somerville about the Berlin Show Orchestra after the show at the Day of German Unity event in Frankfurt: „What a great bunch of musicians. I had a wonderful time on stage. They brought a great energy to the songs. Hope to meet and perform again sometime guys. We rocked !!! Best wishes, Jimmy“
Hessischer Rundfunk about the Berlin Show Orchestra: „The Berlin Show Orchestra gave the hits of Jimmy Somerville, Howard Jones and Nik Kershaw a unique character. Combined with a fine light show, their costumes and special performances the songs of Nik Kershaw, Jimmy Somerville and Howard Jones reached with the support of this modern orchestra a new level. „
About Jimmy Somerville:
James William “Jimmy” Somerville is a Scottish pop singer and songwriter. He sang in the 1980s with the pop groups Bronski Beat and The Communards, and has also had a solo career. He is known in particular for his falsetto singing voice.
In 1983, Somerville co-founded the synthpop group Bronski Beat, which proceeded to have several hits in the British charts. Their biggest hit was “Smalltown Boy” which reached No. 3 in the UK charts.
Somerville left Bronski Beat in 1985 and formed The Communards. They had several hits, including “Don’t Leave Me This Way” which spent four weeks at No. 1 in the UK charts and became the biggest-selling single of 1986 in the UK.
The Communards split in 1988 and Somerville began a solo career the following year. He released his debut solo album Read My Lips in November 1989, which contained three UK Top 30 hits, including “You Make Me Feel” and a cover of “Comment te dire adieu?”, a duet with June Miles-Kingston, which reached number 14 in the UK Singles chart. He also sang on the second Band Aid project at the end of 1989.
In November 1990, Somerville’s “greatest hits” album The Singles Collection 1984-1990 (which featured his hits with Bronski Beat and The Communards in addition to his own material) was released and reached number 4 on the UK Album Chart. It included a cover of the Bee Gees’ hit song “To Love Somebody”, which also reached the UK Top 10. Also in 1990, Somerville contributed the song “From This Moment On” to the Cole Porter tribute album Red Hot + Blue produced by the Red Hot Organization, the proceeds from which benefited AIDS research.
September 2014 saw the release of new single “Back to Me” followed by “Travesty”, both from Somerville’s new disco-inspired album Homage. The emphasis on the recording of the new album has been on achieving the musical authenticity of original disco which Somerville grew up listening to. He stated ‘I’ve finally made the disco album I always wanted to and never thought I could’. (Wikipedia)
But almost more than his musical talent, it was his political zeal that made him stand out from the crowd. At a time when musicians such as Boy George and Freddie Mercury kept their sexuality ambiguous, Somerville was one of the first truly out-and-proud gay pop stars, addressing homophobia head-on in songs such as Bronski Beat’s “Smalltown Boy” while also nailing his socialist colours to the mast on such tracks as the Communards’ anti-Thatcher screed “Breadline Britain”. You’d be unlikely to hear chart acts today making a similar stand. (The Independent)
About the Berlin Show Orchestra:
During the celebration of the German Unification Day in Frankfurt, the newly founded Berlin Show Orchestra staged its world premiere at the main event. The orchestra is distinguished by its artistic quality, but also its commitment to sustainability. In pursuing this goal, the Berlin Show Orchestra is supported by First Climate AG.
Berlin Show Orchestra beim LEA 2016 Foto Musikwoche
About Talent Buyer & Booking Agent Stefan Lohmann
Stefan Lohmann, born 1973 in Xanten, a Hamburg based Talent Buyer, Booking Agent and Artist Relations Manager. He creates live entertainment concepts for events of all sizes and orientation. After more than ten years working as an international seller of live entertainment Stefan Lohmann moved 2014 on customers side. Since he provides his experience, insider knowledge, contacts and negotiating skills to its customers as Talent Buyer and Artist Relations Manager.
He works fully transparent for his clients and based on partnership.
2015 Stefan Lohmann founded the sustainably acting Berlin Show Orchestra. The Orchestra accompanies internationals Stars and is part of Stefan Lohmann’s Live Entertainment Concepts for the Day of German Unity, 800 Anniversary of Oranienburg, German Sustainability Award, Live Entertainment Award and many more.
2016 followed the establishment of the Sustainable Event Solutions network, which provides a holistic approach to consulting and implementation of sustainable and carbon-neutral events and tours. Clients: PRG LEA – Live Entertainment Award, German Sustainability Award, Touring Artists
Festspiele in Concert – together with Jörg Mandt (chief editor and consultant at Burda, Bauer Media Group, Image, Condé Nast, Klampt Verlag) founded Stefan Lohmann the concert series “Theatrefestival In Concert” as part of the Bad Hersfeld Theatre Festival. All concerts in 2016 were sold out within hours.
Stefan Lohmann is a member of the general assembly of a respectable salesman to Hamburg e.V.
References: Festspiele in Concerts, Zons Rockt, KulturPur Festival, Audi, Touring Artists, Festspiele in Concert, TV Station ZDF and MDR, leading event agencies …. more references.