Red Hurley - How Great Thou Art - The Spiritual Hits Concert - National Concert Hall (NCH-Dublin) 21 Sept 2013 & Gaiety Theatre Dublin Feb 3-8 2014

POSTSCRIPT: DUE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE SHOW, A FURTHER 6 PERFORMANCES ARE SCHEDULED FOR DUBLIN'S GAIeTY THEATRE FROM FEB 3-8. JOINING RED ON STAGE FOR ALL 6 SHOWS WILL BE THE LEGENDARY UK SINGER ALED JONES.

Always challenging his loyal audience, Red Hurley’s Autumn 2013 tour was billed as something different and so it is. Capitalising on his recent Stateside success in the Gospel market, Red Hurley has managed yet again to buck the trend and achieve what is nowadays a relatively rare ‘Sold Out’ sign at leading Irish venues. Such was the demand for tickets for this new show that the NCH is staging a second night in November, evidence of this legendary singer’s enduring appeal. The secret to his continued success and the loyalty of his devoted fan base is simple, that voice. Like a great wine it has matured with age and the man himself has also weathered the years well. The new show produced by Pat Egan Management showcases a more mature but still exciting performer augmented throughout by a chorus provided by leading Irish choirs and an impressive big band. The show even has its very own special guest Diva, Opera Ireland’s Sandra Oman a relaxed and assured performer and a wise choice to pair with Red. Highlights, and there are many too numerous too mention, include a knockout version of the classic 80s track ‘Living Years’, a moving and frankly outstanding interpretation of the leading negro spiritual, ‘Sometimes I feel like a Motherless Child’ (dedicated to his friend and mentor Maya Angelou) and the soaring ‘How Great Thou Art’ redefined by Red in a recent recording that has ironically given him one of his most successful ever tracks in the UK thanks to Terry Wogan’s constant support on his radio show. This new, part Gospel. part Pop. part classical (lite) show was somewhat of a risk for a man more associated with a string of floor filling pop hits in the 70s & 80s but, thanks to some extremely high production values, it works extremely well as an evening of sophisticated entertainment. No surprise then that it has been packing leading venues across Ireland this autumn such as the aforementioned NCH, Cork Opera House & Limerick’s University Concert Hall. The staging and overall standard of musicianship under musical director Eugene McCarthy are consistently strong throughout and serve the show's star well. In the midst of it all, Red Hurley yet again confirms why he is one of Ireland’s national musical treasures. A man who has been entertaining audiences for over 40 years, Red Hurley has known the inevitable high and lows of a long career in the music industry. The affection in which he is held by Irish audiences has been augmented in recent times by long overdue international success particularly in the United States but also in the UK, a market which seem to elude him at his pop hits peak. His majestic voice is best appreciated live and his vocal versatility enables him to handle pop, rock, country and of late Gospel with apparent ease and is the main reason why he still has such a substantial audience. There is no sign of struggle in hitting those high notes but in keeping with a performer who has learned over the years to look after the vocal chords, Red knows when to ease the pace and showcase his considerable middle vocal range with phrasing and projection that still set him apart from other lesser singers. One of Ireland's most sucessful ever male singers his appeal seems enduring and crucially the power of that voice is undiminished. This new show is a must see. Catch this latest tour at leading venues throughout Ireland this autumn and the second gig by popular demand at NCH on Sunday November 17th tickets www.nch.ie