LORNA MARSH Legendary musician Rick Wakeman is to swap his trademark heavy rock for a gentler sound when he performs a family-friendly Christmas concert at Norwich Cathedral.

LORNA MARSH

Legendary musician Rick Wakeman is to swap his trademark heavy rock for a gentler sound when he performs a family-friendly Christmas concert at Norwich Cathedral.

The internationally acclaimed Yes keyboardist, known for his tirades against the commercial trappings of the festive season in the television programme Grumpy Old Men, will be ditching the Scrooge hat at the special event in aid of Norfolk Churches and the cathedral itself.

Cathedral Sounds, which takes place on the evening of Wednesday, December 19, is sponsored by the EDP and will feature an eclectic mix of music but is aimed at putting everyone from the very young to the very old in the Christmas spirit.

Mr Wakeman, who lives in Norfolk, said he will perform a mixture of traditional festive music and new arrangements.

He will be supported by a number of guest musicians, and a choir, in an event he bills as an evening of family-orientated fun and music.

"It will have a traditional theme but with a lot of twists", he said.

The classically trained pianist added: "This will be a really special evening of music and everyone from kids to grannies will leave with a smile on their face.

"I actually love Christmas I just don't like the fact that it starts in September and the pressure on people to do this thing and get that thing.

"I don't think people have lost the meaning of Christmas, I just think it starts too early and there is too much peer pressure. I wanted to do this concert so that people, who hopefully will already be in the Christmas spirit, will leave with that little bit more.

"The idea came from talking to Garry Coaley, of City Living Developments. I was talking to him about the fact I wanted to do a special church concert every couple of years as I support churches and he was the one who suggested Norwich Cathedral, I would never have thought of it.

"I thought that was great because I only live 20 miles down the road so I could go back for the night.

"Cathedrals are such fantastic places and even more so at Christmas and there is something quite special about a concert in a cathedral at Christmas.

"I thought it would be great to mix known music with some unknown music and above all I hope it will be fun."

The event is also supported by Dunbar Bank and Paper Mill Yard-developer will raise funds for Norwich Cathedral and the Norfolk Churches Trust.

Tickets will be available via Norwich Theatre Royal later in the month costing from £15 (£10 for concessions) to £25. Call the Theatre Royal box office on 01603 630000.

www.cathedralsounds.co.uk