A WELL-KNOWN vocalist, lead guitarist, and composer for the Moody Blues is set to perform in Basingstoke.

Justin Hayward will be in concert at The Anvil on Wednesday, September 21, joined by special guest Mike Dawes.

Having chalked up over fifty years at the peak of the music and entertainment industry, Hayward's voice has been heard the world over. Known principally as the vocalist, lead guitarist, and composer for the Moody Blues, his is an enduring talent that has helped to define an era.

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Now, the singer-songwriter is undertaking a UK tour entitled The Voice of Moody Blues Justin Hayward joined by Dawes, who will perform an opening set, as well as play guitar in Hayward’s band. Dawes is hailed as one of the world’s finest and most creative modern fingerstyle guitarists. 

Justin said: “I’m so very pleased to be back on the road this September, with a set full of old songs and new, as well as the stories around them. With me will be the amazing, award winning guitarist Mike Dawes along with multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Julie Ragins - a renowned recording artist in her own right - and Karmen Gould, the finest young flute player of her generation. We can’t wait to bring our show home”. 

Hayward’s career is now in its fifth decade.  Already established as a songwriter, he joined the Moody Blues in 1966. Hitting his stride immediately with Fly Me High, he followed it with Nights in White Satin, Tuesday Afternoon from the seminal album Days of Future Past, Question and The Voice.  The Moody Blues sold 70 million albums worldwide, which includes 18 platinum and gold LPs, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.  

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Hayward created several solo albums such as Songwriter, Night Flight, Moving Mountains and The View From the Hill.  He hit the Top Ten globally in 1978 with Forever Autumn, created for Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds album.  His Spirits Of The Western Sky (2013) was followed by DVD Spirits…Live, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Video chart.  2016’s All The Way followed, a compilation of solo work and live performances of Moody Blues classics, and 2020’s digital EP One Summer Day/My Juliette.

Don’t miss this rare chance to connect with one of music’s keenest talents and to hear the music that he loves, presented with a truly personal touch.

For more information, visit anvilarts.org.uk.