Tubular Bells is world-renowned as one of the most celebrated examples of music in film for its soundtracking of horror classic The Exorcist.
Continuing on from last years 50th anniversary celebrations of Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells, it has been announced the multi-million-selling and multi-award-winning album will be performed live in concert across the UK this Autumn on a 29 date tour.
Tubular Bells’ legacy was cemented with Oldfield’s performance of the album’s main theme at the iconic London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony, one of the rare performances of the project he has given.
The Tubular Bells UK Autumn tour will feature an expansive live group, conducted and arranged by Oldfield’s long-term collaborator Robin Smith, which will see the iconic Tubular Bells performed in full, as well as other works by Mike Oldfield including Moonlight Shadow, Summit Day, Family Man and Ommadawn.
‘A magnificent performance of a piece that’s now part of the fabric of popular culture. And when you think Mike Oldfield was just 17 when he began writing it, and was 19 when the album was released, it’s nothing short of a work of genius.’ – Newcastle Chronicle
‘This is a concert for anyone, for those who grabbed the album when it came out on vinyl in 1973 to the Spotify audiences of today. Music is at its best when it’s live! A most enjoyable experience. I would go and see this show again in a heartbeat.’ – Brighton and Hove News
Tubular Bells, created in 1971 and released in 1973, was the debut studio album by English multi-instrumentalist, composer, and songwriter Mike Oldfield. At just 17 years old when he started composing the music, Oldfield recorded and played almost all the instruments on the album, gained worldwide recognition when the opening theme was used for the soundtrack of the horror film, The Exorcist and went on to become the highest selling instrumental album of all time.
A bold and progressive fusion, Tubular Bells is a journey through classical, jazz, folk, progressive rock, and electronica and went on to win a Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition in 1974.
Robin Smith, the Musical Director of the tour show, was completely mesmerised by Tubular Bells the moment he heard it. He was educated at the Royal Grammar School High Wycombe and then studied Composition at the Royal College of Music. He spent several years working as a piano/keyboard player in Africa, the Caribbean, USA, and Europe before coming back to UK to join National Youth Jazz Orchestra. He quickly became the principal pianist and spent most of his free time composing new jazz compositions.
Smith has collaborated with Mike Oldfield for over 30 years, with performances of Tubular Bells including at Edinburgh Castle, and also the 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.
Tour dates:
Cardiff New Theatre 5th October
Reading Hexagon 6th October
Oxford New Theatre 8th October
Swansea Arena 9th October
Chester Storyhouse 11th October
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall 13th October
Edinburgh Festival Theatre 14th October
Perth Concert Hall 15th October
Gateshead Glasshouse 16th October
Sheffield City Hall 17th October
Liverpool Philharmonic 18th October
Stockton The Globe 20th October
Buxton Opera House 21st October
Manchester Bridgewater Hall 22nd October
Leicester De Montfort Hall 23rd October
Bath Forum 24th October
Truro Hall for Cornwall 26th October
Birmingham The Alexandra 27th October
**Dartford Orchard Theatre 28th October**
Southend Cliffs Pavilion 29th October
Hastings White Rock Theatre 30th October
Croydon Fairfield Halls 3rd November
Ipswich Regent Theatre 4th November
Basingstoke The Anvil 6th November
High Wycombe Swan 7th November
Poole Lighthouse 8th November
Warwick Arts Centre 10th November
Guildford G Live 11th November
Portsmouth Guildhall 12th November
**The Dartford Orchard Theatre is a rescheduled performance. The previous performance date was 19th September 2023. Tickets remain valid for all previous ticket holders.**
Tickets on-sale at mikeoldfieldofficial.com
