Saturday Afternoon Matinee & Saturday Night – Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre
This unique double-bill brings together two intertwined strands of Midlands music history, led by Bev Bevan and Joy Bevan (formerly Joy Strachan Brain)—husband and wife, lifelong musicians, and central figures in the story of British rock and roots music. Joined by Quill, this special weekend celebrates legacy, longevity, and the Birmingham & Black Country songbook, performed up close in the intimate surroundings of Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre.
In 2024, Bev Bevan celebrated his 80th birthday. Now in his 82nd year, he remains an active, vital presence on stage—still touring, still playing, still telling the story of British rock from the inside. To mark that extraordinary career, Bev has chosen Barnoldswick as one of the venues for a rare double concert, sharing the stage with Quill and fronted by Joy Bevan, founder and lead singer of the band, who are themselves celebrating over 50 years on the road.
Bev Bevan's career reads like a roadmap of British rock history. He began professionally in 1963 with Denny Laine & the Diplomats, opening shows for The Beatles and The Rolling Stones at the height of the British Invasion. After touring Germany with Carl Wayne & the Vikings, he returned to Birmingham and, in 1966, became a founding member of The Move.
The Move were pivotal to the late-60s scene. Their 1967 single "Flowers in the Rain" became the first record ever played on BBC Radio 1 when the station launched, and in 1969 they topped the UK charts with "Blackberry Way."
In 1971, Bev co-founded Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), helping to redefine rock by blending orchestral ambition with pop songwriting. Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, ELO achieved global success, selling 50 million+ albums, producing a run of international hit singles and albums, and touring arenas and stadiums worldwide.
In 1982–83, Bev joined Black Sabbath, touring the USA, Canada and Europe, including headlining Reading Festival—a rare and remarkable crossover that underlined his versatility as a drummer.
Beyond performing, Bev has made lasting contributions to music and community life. In 1986, he helped organise the Heartbeat Concert at Birmingham NEC, raising £1 million for Birmingham Children's Hospital. During the 1990s, he toured globally with ELO Part II, performing with major orchestras including the London Philharmonic, Moscow Symphony, Atlanta Symphony and Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
In the 2000s, Bev hosted radio shows on Saga FM, Smooth FM and BBC WM, received a star on Birmingham's Walk of Stars, and in 2017 was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Along the way, he has played with an extraordinary list of artists including Paul Weller, Marc Bolan, Phil Lynott, Robert Plant, Rick Wakeman, Paul Carrack, Bobby Womack, Del Shannon, The Everly Brothers and Jools Holland.
At the heart of these shows is Joy Bevan, formerly Joy Strachan Brain, founder and lead singer of Quill, and now Bev Bevan's wife. Joy co-founded Quill in the early 1970s and has been the band's creative and emotional anchor ever since. Her distinctive lead vocals, instinctive harmonies and natural stage presence define the Quill sound—one that blends rock, folk and Americana with violin, layered percussion and rich vocal arrangements.
Quill are a six-piece Birmingham band with a touring history spanning more than 50 years. Their live shows draw on favourite songs from 1973 to the present day, shaped by decades of musicianship, storytelling and connection with audiences. Rooted in experience rather than fashion, Quill's performances are warm, accomplished and deeply musical.
Currently, Quill are recording a new album, Midland Beat (working title), celebrating the astonishing creative output of the Midlands. Inspired by artists such as The Moody Blues, Slade, Steve Winwood, Denny Laine, Robert Plant, The Fortunes, The Move, ELO and Black Sabbath, the project pays tribute to a region that has given the world an extraordinary share of its musical heritage. Selected tracks from this album will be performed during the shows.
Across the Saturday matinee and Saturday night performances, Bev and Joy Bevan—joined by Quill—will take audiences on a musical journey through Birmingham and the Black Country. Expect songs from Bev's legendary career alongside Midlands classics by Slade, Wizzard, Duran Duran and more, re-imagined through the Quill sound.
Quill will also pay tribute to Bev's legacy with interpretations of songs such as "Flowers in the Rain," "Blackberry Way," "Telephone Line," and "Don't Bring Me Down." Bev will share stories from his career and answer audience questions, offering rare first-hand insight into six decades at the heart of British music. Limited-edition merchandise will be available at the shows.
Together, Bev Bevan and Joy Bevan, alongside Quill, represent a living link between rock history and the present day—two lifelong careers forged in Birmingham, now united on stage.
This isn't nostalgia. It's living history, performed up close by the people who made it.
Hold tight. It's going to be a hell of a ride.
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