You might know and love The Who's rock opera Tommy, but you sure as heck ain't seen it delivered with bluegrass. Until now. The HillBenders, from Springfield, Missouri are bringing their legendary full-length bluegrass version of Tommy, a bluegrass opry'to Milton Keynes as part of IF:Fest.
It has already won over fans Stateside, with Rolling Stone describing the show as 'full of windmilling arms, intricate harmonies and creatively composed layering. The production was intriguing - in a most excellent way'.
This new city show is one of just five dates on this side of the pond, and the 75 minute bluegrass show fuses virtuoso musicianship with rock star vocals, bringing the work to life in a spanking new way, some 45 years after the work first aired.
Original creator of TOMMY, The Who's Pete Townshend apparently loves the Hillbenders' unique version and chatted to them about it when he invited them to see The Who live in concert in Nashville last year - the day after their own sold out performance in the city.
The band also played Roger Daltrey's Teen Cancer America presents North Carolina Cares charity event in Raleigh, NC. So it's safe to assume that Roger has given The Hillbenders the thumbs up too.
"We wanted to pair bluegrass with the other music we grew up with - rock and roll!" says The HillBenders' mandolin player Nolan Lawrence.
See it at The Stables Spiegeltent, South Willen Lake Park on Wednesday, (July 20) at 9.45pm.
To book visit www.stables.org
