Keith James and the Music of Yusuf-Cat Stevens

***Due to the original November date falling within the second lockdown and the second date falling within the third – all ticket holders should have received an e-mail to offer a second roll-over to the new date or a full refund.

If you haven’t heard from us please e-mail the office at elmsliehouse@gmail.com or call Anna on 07789 470780. Many thanks! ***

We are offering very limited capacity (30) and will be setting up the Hall in a ‘Bistro style’, to enable us to offer table service from the Bar.

Proceeds and audience donations from this tour of concerts will go to the UNICEF UK Syrian Children’s appeal. 

This Concert is performed as a gesture of belief in the possibility that harmony and understanding between us all may be interwoven into today’s World.

 Keith James Presents an honest and loving reflection of the timeless and insightful music of Yusuf – Cat Stevens

It is hardly surprising that, to mark its 50th anniversary, Yusuf has entirely re-recorded and re-released his remarkable Album Tea for the Tillerman, with each of the unforgettable 11 songs re-conceptualized and re-imagined and gifted back to us among all the uncertainties of 2020 and beyond. (Release September 2020)

During the early 1970s, amassed body of music from this hugely popular and sincerely loved singer/songwriter made for a collection of ‘must have’ records across a whole generation. Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat were on everyone’s turntables and on every radio station, live versions are played in concerts, bars and on the world’s beaches to this day. Songs such as Wild World, Father and Son, Moonshadow and Where do the Children play have been covered by hundreds of Artists worldwide.

Keith James is a long standing, well-respected and inventive concert performer who specialises in playing intimate, carefully researched biographic style concerts of those he has studied and revered as writers over the years.

He weaves the story of Cat Stevens’ life from his early pop career, life threatening illness and spiritual journey around a performance of his beautifully-crafted and memorable songs.

This concert will give you far more than just the music itself…

 There is a huge amount of insight into the history and the spirit of Cat Stevens; his early pop career, his illness that changed him existentially and spiritually into an incredibly thoughtful and loving singer songwriter; such that his songs are remembered instantly for their uplifting sense of vision, truth and human fragility.

 Much to talk about the background and embryo of each song; some of which will be performed as all of us remember and some, carefully and intuitively re-voiced; respectfully re-interpreted with rich, balanced guitar arrangements and a more personal vocal approach.

Yusuf campaigns on many educational and humanitarian issues, he was awarded the ‘Man of Peace’ award by the Nobel Peace Laureates.
In 2015 and he received the Lifetime achievement award from BBC Radio 2 and the Ivor Novello Award for outstanding song collection.
He has received two honorary doctorates and awards for promoting peace from two organisations founded by Mikhail Gorbachev.

‘Some of the most atmospheric and emotive music you will ever hear’ The Independent

‘Keith James has become a pillar of trust. A sublimely intimate and engaging voice’ Sunday Times

‘certainly the UK’s most celebrated and evocative interpreter of golden music’ The Guardian

‘a sensitive and pleasingly understated delivery, all the better that the songs might speak for themselves’ Acoustic Magazine

For all information about Keith James: www.keith-james.com/