ALL FOR THE LOVE OF HIS HOMETOWN
DAVE STEWART MAKES HIS SUNDERLAND EMPIRE DEBUT THIS SUNDAY. Ahead of his much-anticipated homecoming gig this weekend, Dave Stewart has released his new album.
Nashville Sessions : The Duets, which is released on CD on Friday with a digital release available now, is a new collection that presents the best duets from the recording sessions at John McBride’s famed Blackbird Studio in Nashville, that resulted in the album trilogy of The Blackbird Diaries.
The release caps off the trilogy with The Ringmaster General released in 2011 and Lucky Numbers released in 2013.
The third album features striking vocal performances by Stevie Nicks, Alison K ra uss, Colbie Caillat, Joss Stone, Martin a McBride and more.
Sunderland-born musician Dave will be bringing a flavour of Nashville to Wearside when he plays Sunderland Empire on Sunday night as part of his 65th birthday celebrations.
Despite a career spanning 40 years and 100million album sales, this will be the first time the artist, producer, director and Eurythmics co-founder has performed on the Empire stage.
He’ll be bringing with him a host of top American musicians including steel guitar player Dan Dugmore, bass player Michael Rhodes, guitarist Tom Bukovac and drummer Chad Cromwell – who’ve played with the likes of Joss Stone, Sheryl Crow, Neil Young, Stevie Nicks and more.
The star has also chosen three local bands, Social Room, Lilliput and Picnic, to support him on the Sunderland date, as well as Easington Colliery Band, who will join him on stage to help bring to life two songs inspired by his childhood on Wearside.
One of only two gigs he’ll be performing in the UK to mark his milestone birthday, the gig will feature a selection of some of the tracks which made his name, as well as music he’s written for other artists.
Dave said: “I’m looking forward to playing lots of the hit songs I’ve written over the years in the legendary Sunderland Empire. I was born and grew up in Sunderland and have many great memories about my life there (I’m sure more will come flooding back).”
He added: “I was a struggling musician as a teenager in Sunderland so I chose to invite three young, local bands, to perform before me.”
During his creative partnership with Annie Lennox, Dave produced a number of hits including Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This), Love Is A Stranger, Here Comes The Rain Again, Would I Lie To You, There Must Be An Angel( Playing With My Heart) and Thorn In My Side.
He has gone on to craft songs for, and collaborate with, the likes of Mick Jagger, B ono, Tom Petty, and Gwen Stefani– to name just a few – and has played live with the likes of BB King ,U 2, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan.
Beyond his creative work as a musician, he is a renowned producer, author, director, photographer, filmmaker and philanthropist. l Dave Stewart perform sat Sunderland Empire on Sunday, September 10. Tickets from 0844 871 3022. l To win a pair of tickets to the show, answer this question: Which female singer partnered Dave in the Eurythmics? Email your answer and contact details to Katy.Wheeler@jpress.co.uk by 1pm on September 8.