SUNDAY AFTERNOON MATINEE ADDED — DUE TO PHENOMENAL DEMAND
Due to overwhelming demand, we are proud to announce that a second show has now been added in the form of a very special Sunday Afternoon Matinee — and this promises to be one of those rare, once-in-a-lifetime musical encounters that simply cannot be replicated.
Bringing together two towering figures of British rock, Russ Ballard (Argent) and Robert Hart (Bad Company / Manfred Mann's Earth Band), this unique performance strips everything back to its purest form — acoustic guitar, piano, and two of the most distinctive voices in modern music.
There are artists who have hits… and then there are artists whose songs become woven into the very fabric of our lives. Between them, Ballard and Hart have spent over half a century not simply performing music, but writing the soundtrack to generations — songs that have filled arenas, dominated airwaves, and stood the test of time.
Russ Ballard's story begins in the early 1960s, immersed in a world of melody and musical curiosity, absorbing everything from classical piano to the first sparks of rock and roll. As the British beat boom took hold, Ballard was already emerging as a formidable talent, cutting his teeth with bands such as The Roulettes and Unit 4 + 2 before stepping into the spotlight as a founding member of Argent. It was here that he helped define a sound — bridging the melodic sophistication of the 60s with the power and ambition of the 70s — delivering enduring classics like "Hold Your Head Up" and "God Gave Rock and Roll to You."
Yet even that was only the beginning. When Ballard stepped away from the band, what followed was a songwriting career of extraordinary reach and influence. His catalogue reads like a roll call of classic rock history — "Since You Been Gone" and "I Surrender" (Rainbow), "Winning" (Santana), "You Can Do Magic" (America), "New York Groove" (Ace Frehley), and "Liar" (Three Dog Night). As one critic famously noted, "Russ Ballard is one of the UK's most quietly influential songwriters — his songs aren't just hits, they're landmarks." Another review simply states, "If you've listened to rock music over the last fifty years, you've already been living in Russ Ballard's world."
Alongside him stands Robert Hart — a vocalist whose career has been defined by integrity, power, and an unwavering commitment to the craft. Emerging in the 1980s and working with legendary producer Bernard Edwards, Hart quickly established himself as a singer of rare quality, blending soul, rock, and storytelling into a voice that commands attention. His journey would take him across the Atlantic, into major label success, film soundtracks, and international acclaim — but it was in 1992 that he stepped into one of rock's most formidable roles, becoming lead vocalist for Bad Company.
Not merely filling shoes, Hart made the role his own — writing, recording, and touring worldwide, fronting the band with authority and presence. Albums such as Company of Strangers showcased both his vocal power and songwriting depth, while critics praised his ability to honour the band's legacy while pushing it forward. "A voice that doesn't imitate the past, but stands shoulder to shoulder with it," wrote one reviewer at the time.
His story continued through collaborations with Kenney Jones in The Jones Gang, work alongside Ronnie Wood, and projects with members of Whitesnake via The Company of Snakes. Since 2011, Hart has fronted Manfred Mann's Earth Band, delivering iconic songs such as "Blinded by the Light" and "Davy's on the Road Again" with what many describe as "a voice that is both timeless and completely his own." Among musicians, he is often referred to simply as "a singer's singer."
And now — after decades spent at the very centre of the global music industry — these two remarkable artists come together in a setting that could not be more different from the stages they are used to.
Not arenas. Not festivals.Not behind walls of amplifiers.
But here — at Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre.
An intimate listening room where every note hangs in the air, every lyric finds its mark, and every audience member becomes part of the experience. This is what BMAAC has become known for — "one of the UK's most unique grassroots venues," where artists don't just perform… they connect.
Stripped back to acoustic guitar and piano, this is where the songs return to their origin. Where stories are told as they were written. Where the distance between artist and audience disappears completely.
A lifetime of music… told face to face.
If you want to witness two of rock's great storytellers in their purest form — this is your moment.
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