Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan returns to De Montfort Hall in what promises to be the most intimate concert in The Tribute Tour. 

2017 marks the 20th year since the death of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Regarded as the greatest singer in the genre of Qawali, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan brought the modest form of devotional singing to international attention. He collaborated with and influenced countless musicians. His nephew, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, is proof that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. 

There is the same clear, ringing voice, with that slight bit of gravel rasping at its edge, just like Nusrat. Rahat shines at classic Qawali, the Sufi devotional music made famous by his uncle, even though he has brought the house down in India's thriving, immensely popular Bollywood industry, lending his voice to dozens of projects. 

His Leicester appearance is one you shouldn't let pass by as the protégée pays tribute to his mentor.

Comedy superstar John Bishop is coming here to warm up his brand new show Winging It in autumn 2017!

It will have been three years since his last tour and Winging It is gearing up to be his biggest and best yet. John is very much looking forward to this new adventure and can’t wait to be back on the road again. 

John has achieved huge success with a number of his own comedy, entertainment and documentary shows including John Bishop’s Australia (BBC1), John Bishop’s Britain (BBC1); John Bishop’s Only Joking (Sky1); The John Bishop Show (BBC1); The John Bishop Christmas Show (BBC1) and John Bishop’s Gorilla Adventure (ITV1).  More recently his new series John Bishop: In Conversation With… sees him chatting, one to one with some of the UK’s biggest names.

John has also been a regular on A League of their Own (Sky1) as well as a host of The Royal Variety Performance.

"King of the one-hundred-liner." **** Daily Telegraph

"Home is not only where Bishop’s heart clearly and endearingly is – it’s where his art is, too." **** Daily Telegraph

"His Supersonic show easily confirms that John Bishop has finally taken on the mantle of Britain’s top comic." **** Daily Mirror

**** The Times

With their glorious new album Jump On Board coming out in April, Texas announce 21 UK dates this autumn.

Written and produced by Texas stalwarts Johnny McElhone and Sharleen Spiteri Jump on Board is the first new Texas studio album since The Conversation in 2013 and is nothing short of a pop classic.

New single Let’s Work It Out – with a divine video featuring Thierry Henry- has been playlisted at Radio 2 while the band are set to perform on the Chris Evans Radio show with Sharleen also appearing on Saturday Kitchen and BBC Breakfast soon.

Having already sold out two nights at Kelvingrove Park Glasgow in July (with a third recently put on sale due to phenomenal demand), Texas kick off their UK tour 11th September in Cardiff.

Dress up as your favourite character from a fairy tale and come and enjoy this one hour 15 minute session with storyteller and performer Lindsey Warnes Carroll. This interactive storytelling session is based on our best-loved fairy-tales, including Beauty and the Beast - this year's panto at De Montfort Hall, and will include craft-making, actions and songs to accompany the stories.

Most suited to children aged from three to eight years and their grown-ups.

Part of Everybody's Reading Festival

Hot off the back of announcing his new album Love Always, Shane Filan has announced his major indoor UK Tour, Love Always, taking in some of the UK’s best loved venues.

Shane says, "Love Always, is a collection of some of my favourite classic love songs. It's an album I've wanted to make for a long time. For me there’s nothing quite like singing an amazing ballad and this album is full of them. Some of the song suggestions came directly from my fans because they would always say to me, we would love to hear you sing this song. So, I decided to make a list of all my favourite love songs and then put them together on one album. The hard part was narrowing it down to those on the album. There's also a few original tracks on there, some that I've written myself. It's always amazing to get into the studio and see what we can create. I can't wait for my fans to hear the album. It has been a long time coming."

Shane has cemented his position as one of the UK’s most popular male solo artists, following phenomenal success with Westlife - one of the world’s most successful bands of the last few decades – and his own hugely successful Right Here Tour in 2016, which saw fans pleading for another run on the road. Shane was keen to oblige and the idea for Love Always was soon born, with this latest tour including all his popular hits and tracks from the new album.

Westlife had fourteen chart topping singles and forty-four million sales. Their career, Shane says, "fulfilled all of our dreams 1000 times over." It’s been a remarkable journey for a singer songwriter who grew up inspired by an admiration of Backstreet Boys and Michael Jackson.

Multi-platinum Australian artist Guy Sebastian will be joining Shane Filan on his tour.
Australia’s first ever “Idol” winner in 2003, Guy’s decade and a half long career has seen 42 platinum and three gold certifications, and sold three million in combined sales with a string of arena tours. His 2013 single Battle Scars went platinum in the US, with Guy in fact being only one of a few artists in Australian music history to ever achieve this. Four seasons on the judging panel for the hit television show, Australia’s ‘X Factor’ have also given him opportunity to really cement himself as a popular household name.

Hot off the back of the Conscious release – his tenth studio album - Guy will be joining Shane Filan on his Love Always Tour and is looking forward to touring the UK and bringing his own inimitable repertoire to the stage.

Gerry and The Pacemakers – on their farewell tour
The Searchers
Brian Poole and The Tremeloes
Steve Ellis
Vanity Fare

Following last years’ successful tour, Sixties Gold returns with an even stronger line-up of artists that, between them, scored over 50 UK Top 30 hits.

This will be Gerry and The Pacemakers’ farewell tour, so don’t miss the chance to experience this record breaking Merseybeat band. They were the second Liverpool group to chart, after The Beatles, but the first to reach No. 1 and the first act ever to top the chart with their first three singles.

Also from Liverpool, where it all started, and tipped to be as big as The Beatles, The Searchers’ first single went to No. 1 and led to five more Top 5 hits and a total of 128 weeks in the charts and sales in excess of 50 million.

Brian Poole and The Tremeloes, featuring original members Brian Poole, Chip Hawkes and Dave Munden, the band that broke the Liverpool stranglehold and went on to have 21 hits that spent over 220 weeks in the UK charts.

Steve Ellis, the original lead vocalist and founder of Love Affair who had five Top 20 singles, including their No. 1 Everlasting Love.

Finally, Vanity Fare, scored with three top 20 hits in the late sixties, including their catchy Hitchin’ A Ride.
Relive the 1960s with five of the biggest chart acts of the decade.

Richard Thompson is one of this country's greatest songwriters and most distinctive guitar virtuosos, capable of breathtaking drama and sublime delicacy, prompting Rolling Stone to hail him as "a perennial dark-horse contender for the title of greatest living rock guitarist." His songs have been covered by everyone from Alison Krauss to Robert Plant.

Formed in 1917, during the First World War, Grimethorpe Colliery Band is a British institution. They will be celebrating their centenary at the Royal British Legions Annual Festival of Remembrance.

Your presence will help us commemorate and celebrate the sacrifices of our Armed forces past and present.

Rob Brydon is perhaps best known for the television shows Gavin and Stacey, Would I Lie To You? and The Trip as well as Marion and Geoff, Human Remains, Little Britain, The Rob Brydon Show, Best of Men, Gangster Granny and Q.I.  His film work includes The Huntsman: Winter’s War, Cinderella and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Last year in London’s West End he starred opposite Sir Kenneth Branagh in The Painkiller.  His other theatre credits include Future Conditional at The Old Vic and A Chorus of Disapproval at The Harold Pinter Theatre.

Rob Brydon’s first stand up shows since his 2009 sell out national tour and West End run.

These 2 Tone legends are teaming up to give fans a rare treat, hitting the road together for a number of dates around the UK and Ireland.

Life-long friends, they are two of the main bands to come out of 2 Tone – a crucial musical and cultural movement which is still as relevant today as it was over 30 years ago.

Following a series of sold-out preview shows in November and December 2016, Russell Brand announces a new stand-up tour of UK and Ireland.

What is real? Who are we? Where did this baby come from?

In Re:Birth, Russell Brand wrestles with these questions while unravelling the matrix of modern media, politics, sex, fatherhood and death. Join one of comedy’s fiercest talents as he tries to make sense of life having just made a new one.

Russell said re the show: "How do we make sense of the madness of our lives once we become parents? What am I going to tell my daughter about conformity and responsibility? What happens if she grows up to be like me or, worse, date someone like me?"

Since rising to fame in 2003, Russell Brand has established himself as one of one of the world’s most celebrated stand-up comedians. His acclaimed tours include 2006’s Shame, 2007’s Only Joking, 2009’s Scandalous (which marked his US live debut) and 2013’s critically acclaimed and hugely successful Messiah Complex, which was also a best-selling DVD.

Aside from stand-up, Russell is also a phenomenally successful broadcaster, actor, author, podcaster, columnist, political commentator as well as a mental health and drug rehabilitation activist.

"Arena-level stand-up that asks us to think as well as laugh." The Guardian

"One of the most impressive sights of the comedy year." The Telegraph

Irish superstar singer and songwriter Imelda May has announced three additional UK tour dates due to phenomenal public demand. 

If you don't know Imelda May, prepare to be blown away. If you are already a fan, get ready to hear her as you never have before. She has found a new groove, exploring blues, soul, gospel, folk, rock, sensitive acoustica, cinematic drama and explosive balladry on a set of the boldest, most personal and intimately autobiographical songs she has ever written. Long celebrated by peers as one of the most sensational singers of contemporary music, Imelda May has made the album of her life.

“This is the unmistakeable sound of an artist finally, thrillingly, finding her own voice.” Evening Standard

“This is a triumphant rebirth.” Daily Mirror

“It’s a hugely effective, beautifully crafted reboot that should open up new audiences and point to future triumphs.” The Sun

Musical virtuoso Jools Holland and his well-renowned Rhythm & Blues Orchestra have announced dates and special guests for their upcoming 2017 Autumn/Winter UK tour, now in its 22nd year.

Joining Jools on stage for the 2017 Autumn/Winter UK tour will be Grammy Award winner José Feliciano, one of the most prominent stars in Latin America and revered musicians in the world. Having worked with the likes of John Lennon and Joni Mitchell in the past, his catalogue of international hits include his covers of The Doors' Light My Fire and the Bee Gees’ And the Sun Will Shine, along with the much-loved Christmas classic, Feliz Navidad. Jools and José will also be recording an album together with the Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, which is scheduled to be released later this year. With his mix of Latin and pop styles and his inimitable guitar playing, it’s no question that José will go down a storm on stage.

Jools Holland says of José Feliciano: "A man whose voice and guitar I’ve idolised all my life. A unique innovator whom I am immensely looking forward to working with".

José Feliciano to Jools Holland: "My gosh! Jools Holland is an icon who’s played a major role in the life of contemporary music throughout the United Kingdom and way beyond. He continues to do so and for that I admire him greatly. Don’t ever deny us of your magic, Jools; it’s an honour to be working (playing!) with you".

José Feliciano joins a long line of acclaimed recording artists that have joined Jools’ tour as special guests in the past. These include Solomon Burke, Lulu, KT Tunstall, former Spice Girl Melanie C, Yazoo singer Alison Moyet, 60s pop icon Sandie Shaw, along with most recently from Jools’ 2016 tour, ska pioneers Pauline Black and Arthur
‘Gaps’ Hendrickson from The Selecter.

Also featuring in the shows will be fan favourites Ruby Turner, Louise Marshall and Beth Rowley on vocals, along with the supreme Rhythm & Blues Orchestra with original Squeeze member Gilson Lavis on drums. Master of ceremonies for the shows, Jools, will be performing tracks spanning his entire solo career along with pieces taken from his recent instrumental album Piano, released in December 2016, as well as songs from his new collaboration with José Feliciano.

With a huge collection of boogie-woogie tracks from multiple decades, a night at one of the UK’s most popular tours is for sure a memorable one!

Support from Philippa Hanna
Featuring Special Guest Carly Paoli 

Following a huge UK sold out tour this year, Britain’s Got Talent winners Collabro have announced dates for their third nationwide tour.

Collabro are the world’s most successful musical theatre group. They met in 2014 above a pub in London for their first rehearsal and only a month later went on to rouse the whole of the Hammersmith Apollo into a standing ovation during their first ever public performance of Stars in their first audition for Britain’s Got Talent. Having won their semi-final heat with over 63% of the votes, they then won the overall competition with one of the biggest majorities ever and subsequently signed to Simon Cowell’s label Syco, becoming label mates with the likes of One Direction, Little Mix, Susan Boyle and Il Divo.

In the two years since the competition, Collabro have released a number one debut album Stars, and their follow up album Act Two peaked at number two in the charts in the summer of 2015. They have performed at the Royal Variety Performance, twice on Britain’s Got Talent including the ten-year grand final compilation of past contestants, and have become enormously successful internationally. Notably, they have performed for over 30 million people in Japan on Music Station on two separate occasions, completing a tour and winning a gold disc award for top international artist alongside Sam Smith and Meghan Trainor. They have also completed two tours of America alongside with a major record deal stateside.

Collabro, now made up of Jamie Lambert, Michael Auger, Matt Pagan and Thomas Redgrave, have already performed to seven million people on Soccer Aid 2016 to critical appraise and excellent reviews as a four piece. Excited for the future the band are looking forward to releasing their third album HOME in early 2017 and will be embarking on tours of Canada, Japan and America before their heading back to the UK for their major tour next winter.

Join Dan Schreiber, Andrew Hunter Murray, Anna Ptaszynski and James Harkin on the first leg of their brand new UK tour as they serve up their pick of the most bizarre, extraordinary and hilarious facts known to man.

The award-winning podcast No Such Thing As A Fish gets 1.2 million downloads a week, has been transformed into the spin-off topical BBC2 TV series No Such Thing As The News and was named one of iTunes’s top ten most downloaded podcasts of 2016.

"Knowledge-packed and riotously funny." The Times

"This intelligent quartet serve as a welcome reminder that comedy does not have to be dumb." Evening Standard

*may contain strong language and adult themes

Start your Christmas celebration in style with singing sensation Katherine Jenkins, as she performs a magnificent concert of seasonal music and songs.

Mark Vincent special guest
Anthony Inglis conductor
London Concert Orchestra

A Beauty of a Panto...A Beast of a Show!

After breaking box office records last year, De Montfort Hall today announces their star studded line up for this year's spectacular family pantomime Beauty and the Beast.

Richard ‘Dick' McCourt of children's TV's Dick and Dom fame will star alongside the star of ITV's Heartbeat, David Lonsdale and Leicester's very own singing sensation Sam Bailey; who returns for a second year. Also returning again is everyone's favourite pantomime dame, Martin Ballard, from BBC Radio Leicester.

Children's television star Richard McCourt has been part of the BAFTA Award winning duo Dick and Dom for twenty years and has appeared in some of the most popular shows in CBBC history including Dick and Dom in Da Bungalow, The Legend of Dick and Dom and Absolute Genius amongst others.

David Lonsdale is an accomplished singer and theatre actor but is probably best known for his TV work in the role of David Stockwell in the long running TV series Heartbeat and as a teenage Peter Barlow in Coronation Street.

Leicester's Sam Bailey shot to fame in 2013 when she won X-Factor and proceeded to have a Christmas number one as well as a number one album. Since then Sam has gone from strength to strength, releasing her second album in 2016 as well as touring as Mama Morton in Chicago and this year sees her touring the UK in her Sing My Heart Out tour.

Sam said "I'm so excited to be back on home turf at De Montfort Hall again this year. I absolutely love Beauty and the Beast too so it's a double bonus for me. I had a great time last year and I can't wait to see everyone again this Christmas".

No Leicester panto would be complete without BBC Leicester broadcaster Martin Ballard who's donning the dame's frock once again, as he returns for his seventh pantomime season at De Montfort Hall.

Join us for our 2017 panto

Paul Carrack, legendary Sheffield-born singer, songwriter and former frontman of Ace, Squeeze and Mike & The Mechanics returns to the road with his band in early 2018, performing in 23 venues across the UK.

Performed by the Russian State Ballet of Siberia
Accompanied by The Orchestra of the Russian State Ballet

This most famous of fantasy ballets for all the family begins as night falls on Christmas Eve. As snowflakes fall outside, the warm glow of the open fire sends flickering shadows across the boughs of the Christmas tree and all the presents beneath. When midnight strikes we are swept away to a fairy-tale world where nothing is quite as it seems, toy dolls spring to life, the Mouse-king and his mouse-army battle with the Nutcracker Prince and we travel through the Land of Snow to an enchanted place where the magic really begins...

The critics said… "the scenery turned the stage into a winter wonderland."

The Russian State Ballet and Orchestra of Siberia
Formed in 1981, the Russian State Ballet of Siberia has quickly established itself as one of Russia’s leading ballet companies and has built an international reputation for delivering performances of outstanding quality and unusual depth. The soloists and corps de ballet are superb, and never fail to delight audiences with their breathtaking physical ability and dazzling costumes.

Sergei Bobrov Artistic Director
Anatoly Tchepurnoi Music Director and Chief Conductor
"It is always a pleasure to bring the unique traditions of Russian Ballet to British audiences. Touring across the UK with a full company of dancers as well as highly skilled musicians is always exciting, for me, it is very special to have the power of a symphony orchestra bringing the choreography to life on stage.." Sergei Bobrov

On March 16th 1958, Buddy Holly and The Crickets played two shows at the De Montfort Hall, headlining a variety bill hosted by ‘the comedian with the modern style’, Des O’Connor.

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Buddy’s only ever visit to our shores, the UK’s first and best-loved Buddy Holly tribute act, Buddy Holly & The Cricketers, revisit Leicester on the same date in 2018 with a very special show backed by the English Rock and Roll Orchestra.

Following the huge worldwide success of the Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Buddy Holly and The Cricketers present Buddy’s music and other rock ’n’ roll greats as you have never heard them before. This truly remarkable evening of classic rock ’n’ roll will have you dancing in the aisles and shouting for more.

Buddy Holly and the Cricketers have thrilled audiences all over the world for more than quarter of a century and featured some of the finest international actor musicians in the business. So don’t miss out on the concert of a decade. Make your Heartbeat a little faster with the show that has thousands of fans the world over saying: “I can’t believe it’s not Buddy!”

Dance like you’ve never danced before!

Flashdance - The Musical tells the inspiring and unforgettable story of 18 year old Alex, a welder by day and ‘flashdancer’ by night, who dreams of going to the prestigious Shipley Dance Academy and becoming a professional dancer.  When a romance complicates her ambitions, she harnesses it to drive her dream.

Peppa Pig and friends are back in the brand new live show Peppa Pig's Adventure!

Join Peppa as she gets ready to go on an exciting camping trip to the woods with George and her school friends, including Pedro Pony, Suzy Sheep and Gerald Giraffe. With lunch-boxes packed and Daddy Pig driving the bus, Peppa and friends are excited about their outdoor adventure, full of games, laughter and live music!

The happy campers soon settle down to sleep and listen to the gentle pitter patter of rain. Safe and warm inside their tents the excited group can look forward to morning time, when there will be lots of muddy puddles to play in!

Killer Queen have been performing their tribute to Queen’s concert since 1993. Their expert musicianship, extraordinary energy and accurate portrayal of the world’s greatest live band have rightfully earned Killer Queen the title of Queen tribute royalty.

Thrilling sell-out audiences across the globe from the UK to Moscow and in 2016 their first tour of USA, Killer Queen recreates the high energy, powerful phenomenon that was Queen live.

Fronted by Patrick Myers as Freddie Mercury, Time Out described Patrick’s resemblance to Freddie Mercury as "Spooky,” his uncanny likeness was further proven when he recorded a number one hit single singing as Freddie Mercury on Fat Boy Slim's record The Real Life.

This quality, combined with a powerful 3 1/2 octave tenor range, expert musicianship and dynamic stage presence, has captivated audiences the world over.

“This guy is not to be missed” The Official Brian May Website