Rick Wakeman live @Fortezza Vecchia

It is a very nice late summer concert that closes the “away” schedule of The Cage. Friday, September 20th is a must-see concert for all fans of great rock; the appointment with one of the milestones of progressive rock is at Fortezza Vecchia in Livorno for what will be (perhaps) the last tour in Italy of the English keyboardist.
Thanks to XLR Produzioni and Menicagli Pianoforti arrives in Livorno An evening of YES music and other favorites, the tour of one of the most representative musicians of progressive rock and the flourishing musical season of the 70s, the English keyboardist Rick Wakeman. Born outside London in 1949, Wakeman is one of the musicians who have been able to make rock history: a composer of great talent, he has been part of the legendary Yes, with some interruptions, from ’71 to a few years ago, signing masterpieces such as Fragile or Close to the edge, and has built a brilliant solo career with records that have sold millions of copies, such as The six wives of Henry VIII or Journey to the centre of the Earth. Wakeman comes from The Last Solo Tour, the long tour across Europe, United States, and South America with which, a few months ago, he announced his retirement from stages all over the world. A break from big live performances that came after more than 50 years of career and will allow the artist to focus on composition, recording, and collaboration with other musicians. There have been and (perhaps) there will be small exceptions, like this one in Livorno. What is certain, however, is that it will be increasingly difficult to listen to this great artist live, who boasts, among other things, collaborations with musicians of the caliber of David Bowie, Lou Reed, Elton John. Just to name a few. In 2017, Rick Wakeman entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. While his latest solo work, The Red Planet, dates back to 2020.

“I have always planned to stop touring by my seventy-seventh birthday, but there’s so much to add before then that I have to make plans now and so my last personal shows will have to stop by that date – the artist explains in a note -. I intend to add the best of what I have done in the past, as well as some new surprises coming. The plan is not to perform at the same place twice during this period, so whatever place you hope to come, it will be the last performance there and I am taking this opportunity, thanking everyone who has supported me over the past 53 years! ”

The concert at Fortezza Vecchia will see the performance of many historical songs by Yes, as well as unpublished solo compositions, such as Yessonata, a 30-minute “sonata” made up of old melodies from the English group: a truly unmissable opportunity to close this long musical season of the Livorno summer with a gem.