Quay Arts presents the exciting Al Bowlly’s Croon Manifesto at Quay Arts on Thu 29 Jul in the Anthony MInghella Theatre at 8pm.

Roll up the carpet and push back the chairs! Untied Artists in collaboration with brilliant Island band The Gramophone Party bring you a rip-roaring evening of music, theatre and dance in celebration of Britain's greatest singer of the 1930s dance band era.

A celebration of Britain's greatest singer of the dance band era, this show offers an insight into a pre-pop pioneer, delves into the seamier side of between the wars hedonism, and then gives the audience a chance to put on their dancing shoes and get their rocks off ballroom-style.

The title of the piece is inspired by Bowlly's book "Modern Style Singing" in which he issues a rallying call to embrace the new media of his day, the microphone. The tender, expressive and intimate vocal style he championed marked a turning point in musical history and brought about an entire change of focus from bandleader to singer.

Arguably the first ever ‘pop star’, his life is ripe for revisiting. He had a rock and roll lifestyle before rock was invented, a fiery temper, a penchant for globe-trotting, a rollercoaster career, tried to make it Stateside, and psychosomatically lost his voice. Like so many pop icons he lived fast and died young.

An inspiration to generations of singers and artists, Al Bowlly’s songs have featured in the cult films Amelie, The Shining and Dennis Potter’s seminal Pennies From Heaven.

Featuring hits like ‘The Very Thought Of You’, ‘My Woman’, we promise an evening to remember. Wear the gladdest of your gladrags, and once you’ve listened to the finer points of 'Al Bowlly's Croon Manifesto', put it to the test on the dancefloor. Booking essential, tickets selling fast!

Performance Date/Time: Thu 29 Jul 8pm Doors 7pm

Location: Anthony Minghella Theatre, Quay Arts

Ticket Price: £10 / *£9 Box Office 01983 822490