Steve Overland and Jim Kirkpatrick annual Christmas gig

STEVE OVERLAND AND JIM KIRKPATRICK Two Night Christmas special

For the last three years Steve & Jim have been doing a two night stint at Barnoldswick Music and Arts Centre, they love the intimacy, its a chance to hear all those great FM and solo songs stripped right back in this very intimate two man acoustic show.

Steve Overland career is now in its 5th decade, Without doubt one of the great British Rock Singers. His vocals and song writing have lead the way over the years with bands like Wildlife, FM, The Ladder, Shadowman, and his own group, Overland.

Overland's early career began in his home region of East Anglia, where he and his brother Chris formed the band Wildlife in 1980. The group signed to Chrysalis Records, who released the band's debut album, Burning, in 1980. The band moved labels to the Led Zeppelin owned Swan Song Records and was managed by Peter Grant. Their 1983 self-titled follow up album, featured Simon Kirke on drums.

Steve formed FM, with former Wildlife members Pete Jupp and Chris Overland.

FM's first album, issued in 1986 on Portrait Records, was named Indiscreet. The band's next album, Tough It Out, was released in 1989 with financial backing from Epic Records.

From 1986 to 1989 Steve and FM achieved commercial success, scoring UK Chart hits with "Frozen Heart", "Bad Luck", and the non-album release, "Let Love Be the Leader".

Steve and FM toured alongside Bon Jovi, Tina Turner and Meat Loaf.

They left Epic Records and signed to Music for Nations for their third album, Takin' It to the Streets. The album displayed a shift towards a more straightforward rock approach.

FM's fourth album, Aphrodisiac, followed in 1992 and is considered a landmark album.

The next album Dead Man's Shoes followed. Steve Overland disbanded FM and formed the band So! with Wishbone Ash bass player, Bob Skeat.

Steve Overland has recorded prolifically throughout the 2000s (decade), with the bands The Ladder, Shadowman, and latterly, with his solo albums, Break Away and Diamond Dealer.

In 2007, Steve and FM reformed headlining Firefest IV. This reunion led to a more permanent incarnation with Jim Kirkpatrick. Overland and Kirkpatrick had been a song writing team independently of the band prior to Jim joining FM. FM still continue to tour extensively in the UK and throughout Europe, as headliners along with Thin Lizzy, Journey, Foreigner and Europe. Steve has continued to release FM albums including Metropolis, Rockville, Rockville II, Heroes and Villains and Atomic Generation.

Overland also had a run appearing in the Broadway show Dreamtime, which had a successful run at the Ed Sullivan Theatre.

Steve continues to juggle a very lucrative and productive career, constantly raising the benchmark and is regarded up there alongside Robert Plant, David Coverdale and Paul Rodgers.

The ultimate Acoustic Rock Show.

------

Jim Kirkpatrick one of the UK's most renowned guitarists and Songwriters.

With over three decades of professional experience Jim has become one of the most in demand session player, writer and performers and is becoming recognised as one of the UK's premier slide, blues and rock guitar players.

Jim has been the lead guitarist with legendary British classic rock band FM since 2008 appearing on the albums 'Metropolis', 'Rockville', 'Rockville 2', 'Heroes and Villains' and 'Indiscreet 30'. Jim has also co-written the bands UK radio hits 'Hollow', 'Bring Back Yesterday', 'Crave', 'Better Late Than Never', 'Story of My Life' and "Shape I'm in' all of which were playlisted on BBC Radio 2. 'Crosstown Train', 'Bad Addiction', 'Better Late Than Never', 'Cold Hearted', 'Runaway Train' 'That Girl', 'Digging Up the Dirt', 'Some days I Only Wanna Rock & Roll', 'Black Magic', 'Synchronised' and 'Superstar' have all been playlisted on Planet Rock along with several others.

As a prominent member of FM Jim has toured the UK and Europe extensively over the last two decades playing at some of the world's biggest and most prestigious rock festivals including Download and Graspop as well as many others) and has also shared the headline bill alongside Thin Lizzy, Journey, Foreigner, Kiss, Whitesnake and Heart.

His debut solo album 'Changed Priorities' in 2006 received critical acclaim.

Jim has also played guitar for singer/songwriter Thea Gilmore on and off since 2003 and toured Europe and the USA with her extensively as well as appearing on many of her albums.

Jim has been onstage right-hand man to former Whitesnake guitarist and hit songwriter Bernie Marsden since 2006 recently collaborating with on many recording projects.

More recently Jim was headhunted by Gerry McAvoy one of the founding and constant members of the late great Rory Gallagher band. Jim also tours alongside Gerry in 'Band of Friends' Performing the legendary Irish guitarist's legacy.

Jim can also be found playing many gigs touring the UK and Europe with Rhino's Revenge (a band fronted by Status Quo's bass player John 'Rhino' Edwards).

Jim's last album 'Ballad of A Prodigal Son' released in 2020 was received with amazing critical success.

Jim and Steve are a force that you have to see and hear to believe. Their collective careers have been amazing and this acoustic set will try and highlight some amazing moments to date.