DARE – UP CLOSE, ACOUSTIC AND PERSONAL

Darren Wharton • Vinny Burns • Nigel Clutterbuck
Two Intimate Nights with One of the UK's Most Loved Melodic Rock Bands

Three seasoned rock veterans come together for two exclusive Up Close and Personal evenings celebrating four decades of music from Dare — a band whose melodic power, Celtic atmosphere and heartfelt songwriting have earned them a fiercely loyal following across the UK and Europe.

At the heart of it all is Darren Wharton, whose journey into rock history began at just 18 when he joined Thin Lizzy as their keyboard player. Wharton contributed to Chinatown (1980), became a full member on Renegade (1981), and co-wrote the opening track "Angel of Death." By Thunder and Lightning (1983), he had an even greater songwriting presence, including co-writing the band's final single, "The Sun Goes Down." His collaboration with Phil Lynott extended beyond Lizzy — he played on The Philip Lynott Album (1982), delivering the memorable piano solo on "Old Town."

When Thin Lizzy dissolved in 1983, Wharton forged his own path, forming Dare in 1985. Their debut album Out of the Silence (1988), produced by Mike Shipley, is still widely regarded as a melodic rock classic — praised for its sweeping production and emotionally charged songwriting. Over the years Dare evolved from polished AOR into a richer, more Celtic-influenced sound, particularly after Wharton's move to North Wales in the early '90s. Albums such as Calm Before the Storm, Belief, Sacred Ground and 2022's Road to Eden demonstrate a band that has matured without losing its melodic core. Sacred Ground reached No.1 in the Amazon UK Rock Chart and also topped Amazon rock charts in Germany, Spain and Italy, earning strong reviews across Europe. Wharton has often said he "lives and breathes this music," a statement borne out by his four decades of relentless touring and recording.

Alongside him stands founding guitarist Vinny Burns, one of Britain's most respected melodic rock players. Burns' soaring, emotive guitar style was central to Dare's early identity on Out of the Silence and Blood from Stone. Beyond Dare, his résumé reads like a who's-who of British rock, including work with Asia, Ultravox, Ten, Bob Catley, FM, Hugo, The Ladder, Phoenix Down and his own project Burns Blue with Sam Blue. A gifted songwriter as well as guitarist, Burns blends technical precision with lyrical phrasing, giving Dare's music its distinctive melodic lift. He also operates his own recording facility, continuing to produce and develop music beyond the stage.

Completing the trio is bassist Nigel Clutterbuck, whose association with Dare stretches back to the early 1990s. Clutterbuck played on Blood from Stone and returned to the band in 2014, bringing back the rhythmic backbone that helped shape the group's classic era. Though less publicly profiled than his bandmates, Nigel's playing is integral to Dare's sound — steady, melodic and instinctively supportive of the band's layered arrangements. His musicianship provides the grounding force beneath Wharton's sweeping keyboards and Burns' expressive guitar work.

Dare's story also intertwines once more with Thin Lizzy history. In 2010, Wharton rejoined a reformed Thin Lizzy alongside Scott Gorham and Brian Downey, touring extensively until 2013. When new material was recorded, it was ultimately released under the name Black Star Riders, with Wharton co-writing the title track "All Hell Breaks Loose" and "Blues Ain't So Bad." It was yet another chapter linking his past with his present — heritage and forward momentum walking hand in hand.

These special Up Close and Personal concerts will feature classic Dare songs spanning their entire career, alongside selections connected to Wharton's Thin Lizzy years and highlights from Burns' broader catalogue. Expect stories from the road, insights into songwriting sessions, stripped-back arrangements and the rare intimacy that only seasoned musicians can deliver when the spotlight is close and the room is listening.

Two nights. Three architects of British melodic rock. Four decades of songs.

We dare you not to be there.