Rick Wakeman

Rick Wakeman, an English keyboardist associated with progressive rock, returns to Birmingham for a concert at Symphony Hall. The evening centres on one of the most recognised keyboard careers in British rock.

Rick Wakeman is an English keyboardist whose career developed within British progressive rock. He played with the Strawbs before joining Yes in 1971, and he rejoined the group in the mid-1970s. His solo work runs alongside this band history: The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1973) draws on the Tudor monarch's marriages, and Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1974) is a rock adaptation of Jules Verne's novel. Both records are central to his catalogue.

Keyboards are the core of Wakeman's sound, with the instrument at the front of the music in both the band and solo settings. The programme suits listeners who follow progressive rock, its keyboard-led arrangements and its long-form compositions.

Symphony Hall is a concert and show venue in Birmingham, and this concert is one of its evenings of live music on this visit to the city.