Stars line up for autumn 2009 season at Victoria Hall in Stoke-on-Trent

Aug 20 2009 Chester Chronicle

STOKE-on-Trent’s Victoria Hall has announced details of an exciting autumn season for 2009.

Bloc Party will be playing the venue for one night only as part of their Bloctober Tour. The British indie rock band whose hits include Two More Years, Flux, The Prayer and Banquet, will be showcasing material from their latest album, Intimacy.

Rock legends Status Quo will be bringing their Winter 09 Tour to The Victoria Hall in November and the original Bucks Fizz line up of Cheryl Baker, Jay Aston and Mike Nolan will be recreating some 80s magic on stage.

DragonForce are set to become a global metal phenomenon, thanks to the release of their highly anticipated fourth album, Ultra Beatdown. The band will be testing the Victoria Hall’s structural resilience in December.

David Gest brings My Life! A Musical Extravaganza, to the Victoria Hall in October, featuring artists including The Temptations, Peabo Bryson,ŠJimmy Ruffin, Deniece Williams, Freda Payne, Jean Knight and special guest star Percy Sledge.

Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra make a spectacular return in November. Jools has played to over four million people in recent years, with the show becoming a must-see event for fans around the country.

And Kate Rusby has become one of Britain’s foremost music artists. This unmissable concert will take you through all the Rusby classics.

The Victoria Hall remains dedicated to presenting the biggest names in comedy and this autumn is no exception.

Dave Gorman is back on the road with his tour Sit Down, Pedal, Pedal, Stop and Stand Up Tour. In this new show, Dave is covering the extremes of the British mainland and is going back to his roots as a one-man-and-his-mic stand up.

After a sold out UK tour last year, Australia’s answer to Russell Brand, Tim Minchin, lugs his piano back out on the road to give all those who missed out another chance to see his show.

The nation’s favourite impressionist, Alistair McGowan, makes his Victoria Hall debut, resurrecting his legendary celebrity impressions and introducing a host of new, never-before-heard voices.

Irish comic and star of BBC2’s Mock the Week, Ed Byrne, returns with his blisteringly funny, critically acclaimed one man show, Different Class, about marriage, class, the youth of today and anything else that strikes him as humorous.

Following the success of his sell-out spring UK tour, Al Murray The Pub Landlord, will once again be hitting the road, to raise a glass to you, the beautiful British public, while merrily musing over a heady brew of topics including the global financial crisis, London 2012 and his personal crusade to fix Broken Britain.

Look out for a new show from three of Britain’s top grumps, including Jenny Éclair, Wendi Peters and Susie Blake in Grumpy Old Women 2 – Chin Up Britain and madcap comedian Freddie Starr returns for another night of madness and mayhem.

And a Victoria Hall season wouldn’t be complete without comedy genius, Jimmy Carr. Jimmy returns this autumn with his new show, Rapier Wit.

All-star wrestling brings you your favourite wrestlers battling it out against the formidable USA and world stars, and boxing legend Ricky Hatton requests your company for an entertaining evening of funny anecdotes and intriguing personal memories from his fascinating fighting career. Ricky is joined by boxing icon, Frank Bruno.

Don’t forget the Victoria Hall also has a new box office number. Ring 0844 871 7649 for further details on all these shows and more or visit www.ambassadortickets.com/stoke.