Irish Music legend Gilbert O’Sullivan is set to grace Liverpool’s iconic Philharmonic Hall on Monday 14th October at 7.30pm as part of his UK Tour. The 77-year-old superstar, famed for hits such as Alone Again, Clair and Get Down, will be performing his classics alongside tracks from his latest album, Songbook.
Tickets to see the multi-award winning maestro are almost sold out, with just a handful still available. A rare opportunity to witness Gilbert perform his timeless hits from previous decades, it’s also an introduction to his latest work ‘Songbook’ — a newly recorded, stripped-down journey through 12 songs from Gilbert O’Sullivan’s illustrious career.
He was the superstar who topped the UK and US single charts in the 70s with songs of endearing tunefulness, unabashed sentiment and existentialist musings. Today, Irish singer-songwriter Gilbert O’Sullivan continues to be regarded with tremendous affection and his songs remain well-loved around the world.
Gilbert O’Sullivan was born Raymond Edward O’Sullivan in 1946 in Ireland. He moved to Swindon, England with his family aged 7 and after a formal education became a student at Swindon Art College, specializing in graphic design.
But he had another love – music – and after forming and joining local bands as a drummer/vocalist, he started writing his own songs, heavily influenced by The Beatles as writers and Bob Dylan as a performer. Calling himself Gilbert, with a very distinctive image, two singles released by CBS Records and one with the Major Minor label, got little attention.
Undeterred, he sent a demo tape to Gordon Mills, the man behind Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck, who impressed with his song writing, became his manager. The result was his first single on the MAM label, Nothing Rhymed, became a UK Top Ten hit in 1970.
More hit singles and a debut album Himself followed. But it was 1972’s Alone Again (Naturally) that sealed his fame, topping the USA charts for six weeks and garnering three Grammy nominations. Soon after, he got his first three British number one hits with Clair, Get Down and the LP Back to Front.
Gilbert was named “Songwriter of the Year” at the 18th Ivor Novello Awards, embarked on an 18-city UK tour and a USA tour, performed sold-out concerts, clocked another UK Top 10 hit with Why Oh Why Oh Why and in 1974 won a third Ivor Novello award.
Fast forwards to 2024, and Gilbert has released his latest album “Songbook,” a newly recorded, stripped down journey through 12 songs from Gilbert O’Sullivan’s illustrious career. The favourite hits Alone Again (Naturally), Clair, What’s In A Kiss, Nothing Rhymed and many more well known songs that are loved and have never aged.
Irish Music legend Gilbert O’Sullivan is set to grace Liverpool’s iconic Philharmonic Hall on Monday 14th October at 7.30pm as part of his UK Tour. The 77-year-old superstar, famed for hits such as Alone Again, Clair and Get Down, will be performing his classics alongside tracks from his latest album, Songbook.
Gilbert O’Sullivan / The Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool / Mon 14th Oct 2024, 7.30pm
