A tough act to follow

IT'S has been quite a year for rock and pop gigs at Plymouth Pavilions, with a jam packed programme that ranged from classic artists including Chris Rea and The Moody Blues, to buzz bands of the moment such as The Hoosiers and Scouting for Girls.

The venue also championed new up and coming bands including Pendulum and The Pigeon Detectives, who both put on killer shows.

High profile names included Bjork and Will Young along with Kelly Clarkson and Avril Lavigne delivering sell out gigs with all the "showmanship" and big budget sets you expect from across the Atlantic.

For those who like a bit of rock, debuts from Bullet For My Valentine, Korn and Pendulum did not disappoint; whilst the now annual visit from McFly, Sugababes, Jools Holland and The Australian Pink Floyd Show all added to a fantastic year in music.

"Mark Ronson's Valentine's Day gig has to be one of my personal highlights of the year," says Pavilions publicity officer Robert Maltby. "The stage was crammed with every musician and instrument going; and it felt more like a festival line-up of great artists, rather than just a solo gig. The Pavilions date fell in between Mark receiving a Grammy and performing at the Brits to an audience of millions, picking up Best British Male Solo Artist – Plymouth really felt a big part of all the 'Ronson mania'!

"The Feeling once again delivered a fantastic evening full of pure pop anthems," continues Robert, "and what better way to make your audience feel part of the show than the lead singer, Dan, performing a solo in the balcony before walking through the packed Arena with his fellow band mates in true marching band style.

"Then Will Young rounded off the year with a gig that proved that he was still the original and best Pop Idol. Opting for a more minimal stage set, Will just let the vocals do the talking and delivered some of the best vocals of the year."

Looking forward to 2009, the Spring programme is all confirmed. New to the Pavilions, Elbow will deliver a knockout show featuring tracks from their Mercury Award winning album Seldom Seen Kid, if their sublime Hall For Cornwall offering earlier this year was anything to go by.

Eighties legends Ultravox are bringing their "comeback" tour to the city – in what Robert believes will be a highlight of the new year.

"The last time Ultravox played together was at Live Aid in 1985," says Robert, "so this really will be a case of history in the making and we're very proud to have them as one of only 14 shows in their 'comeback' tour."

Popera star Rhydian, last year's X Factor finalist is another first for the Pavilions and is expected to "fill the slot G4 left behind."

Robert names Paul Weller as the act he is most looking forward to seeing this spring:

"A real British icon, he's always a huge favourite here and is playing the venue as one of only four UK gigs scheduled for 2009. It's a huge testament to his pulling power that last time he played the Pavilions on the same night as George Michael's arena show at Home Park, yet he still packed the place out.

"Keane and Lemar are going to be highlights too. We're near the end of Keane's UK tour before they head off to Mexico and Brazil so it looks like being a really special show. Lemar has been to the city four times and each time his show gets bigger and better. Last time it was definitely aimed at the ladies: lots of bling and shirt ripping!

"The quality of the sound at Pavilions shows is entirely down to the touring sound engineers. If you want to hear it at its best go see Aussie Pink Floyd.

"Then we have Status Quo, rescheduled from October, so hugely successful at doing the no nonsense rock formula, whose recent Christmas single was their 75th! And Kenny Rogers, who has been in the business 50 years is a US icon up there with Elvis and The Beatles."

Robert explains that the success of the Pavilions in attracting high profile artists to what is often one of the smaller venues on the circuit is down to a combination of factors: "It's based on building really strong relationships with the promoters which we have done over the past five or six years, but it's also about the exceptionally warm reception the artists receive from crowds in the South West.

"They genuinely seem to like coming here."

Look out for the Pavilions spring brochure which is available from January 12 and find out more details about the complete spring programme at www.plymouthpavilions.com