Dana Gillespie
Experience an intimate evening with Dana Gillespie at the Temple of Art and Music, featuring an exclusive early listening of her new album "First Love." The event will showcase Dana's enchanting voice through performances of songs from various artists, exploring deep themes such as love, loss, isolation, fame, existentialism, and the search for simplicity. This unique opportunity promises a night of rich musical storytelling in an enchanting setting.
Release Saturday 29th July 2023
Release Friday April 28th
Dana Gillespie: A Life in Music - An Evening of Memories, Stories, and Songs with The London Blues Band post SXSW
May 13th 2023 from 7pm - 12.30am
About this event
Show Format: Live Show / Multimedia Event / After Party
Duration: 3 hours (with a 20-minute intermission), followed by the After Party
Venue: Temple of Art and Music Elephant and Castle
Show Summary:
"Dana Gillespie: A Life in Music" is an engaging and immersive live show that invites audiences to celebrate Dana Gillespie's remarkable 60-year career in the music industry. Divided into four distinct parts, the event will feature a conversation about her journey, a presentation inspired by her autobiography, two sets of live music performances, and a themed after party featuring an exclusive remix of Dana's "Mothership." This unique show format offers fans a chance to delve into Gillespie's fascinating life and enjoy her timeless music in an intimate setting that Dana helped to create.
Part 1: Conversation - The Journey of a Lifetime (30 minutes)
The show will begin with an onstage conversation between Dana Gillespie and the founder of the Temple of Art and Music. Dana will discuss her incredible journey, from her early days as a pop and folk singer to her successful transition into blues music and her iconic role as Mary Magdalene in the original London production of Jesus Christ Superstar. An important highlight of the conversation will be her recent debut at the renowned SXSW festival at the age of 73, showcasing her passion for music and her ability to continue inspiring audiences. Additionally, the conversation will touch upon Dana's innovative approach to music distribution, as she recently released her first NFT record, embracing the cutting-edge technology that is reshaping the industry. This candid discussion will allow the audience to learn more about the experiences and moments that have shaped Dana's career, as well as the challenges and successes she has encountered along the way.
Part 2: Presentation - Stories from the Memoirs "Weren't Born A Man" (30 minutes)
In the second segment, Dana will present a multimedia slideshow inspired by her autobiography "Weren't Born A Man," featuring photographs, memorabilia, and video clips from her storied career. She will share personal anecdotes, recounting her experiences working with legendary musicians like David Bowie, as well as her memories from various film and stage productions. This captivating presentation will offer fans a rare glimpse into the life of a true musical legend and provide a deeper understanding of Dana Gillespie's indelible impact on the world of music and theater.
Part 3: Live Music - The Timeless Tunes of Dana Gillespie (Two 45-minute sets)
After the intermission, Dana Gillespie will take center stage for two sets of live music, showcasing her extraordinary vocal talents and the timeless songs that have defined her career, as well as new songs featured on her latest album, "73: Live at the Tam." The first set will focus on her showcase set from her SXSW debut, while the second set will highlight her blues material and memorable songs such as her No.1 hit "Move Your Body Close To Me," and the spiritual "Om Shakti," which she played in front of one million people. Fans will be treated to an unforgettable evening of music as they journey through Dana's diverse and impressive repertoire, celebrating her 60 years in the music industry.
In Conclusion:
"Dana Gillespie: A Life in Music" promises to be an unforgettable experience for fans, offering a unique opportunity to explore the life and career of this legendary performer. By combining intimate conversations, multimedia presentations, live musical performances, and a themed after party in a setting help designed by Dana herself, this special event will pay tribute to Dana Gillespie's incredible journey and ensure her timeless music continues to inspire and captivate audiences.
Dana performing to 1m people in India
Meet the London Blues Band
May 13th 2023 from 7pm - 12.30am
From Capital of Live Music to Capital of Music with Dana Gillespie
It has been a tremendous honor to have the opportunity to follow Dana Gillespie's remarkable journey in music over the past four weeks as we work on creating a documentary about her life and legacy. As she enters her 60th year in the industry, we have been able to witness firsthand why her influence is so valuable to hundreds of musicians playing at the Temple of Art and Music (TAM), as well as for future generations.
The journey has taken us from the Capital of Live Music in Austin, Texas to the Capital of Music in Vienna, Austria, as we've travelled alongside Dana, watching her spread love and happiness through her passion for music. Reflecting on the past month, we are reminded of her incredible debut as the first Mary in the global hit show Jesus Christ Superstar in August 1972. Watching footage set to her 1972 version of the hit song "I Don't Know How To Love Him" from the original London cast release in 1972 on MCA, we're transported back in time to witness her legacy in the making.
Despite having already delivered 73 albums, Dana's unstoppable drive continues as she works on her 74th and 75th records. Over the past few weeks, we've seen her perform at iconic venues like Jazzland in Vienna, The Piano Bar in Innsbruck, and The Continental Club in Austin, as well as the Temple of Art and Music in London, all of which are a part of her musical legacy.
We are excited to share her journey with the world through the rockumentary we're creating. We encourage you to watch the music teaser featuring clips from Dana's journey over the last month and witness for yourself the passion and dedication that have allowed her to continue making music for 60 incredible years.
Dana Gillespie SXSW 2023 at Continental Club
London's very own blues legend, Dana Gillespie, is about to make waves at SXSW 2023 as an official showcase artist. With over five decades of experience under her belt, Gillespie has captured the hearts of audiences with her raw and soulful sound, as well as her electrifying performances.
Fresh from her successful European tour, Gillespie is all set to return to the US with The London Blues Band by her side. And what better way to celebrate this homecoming than with the release of her 73rd double album, "73: Live at The Tam". Recorded live at London's Temple of Art and Music venue on her 73rd birthday, this album is set to be yet another highlight of Gillespie's already illustrious career.
With her powerful vocals and the band's scorching blues riffs, "73: Live at The Tam" perfectly captures the raw energy and sheer joy of a Dana Gillespie performance. This is a must-have album for any true blues fan.
But here's the kicker - the album won't be available on mainstream channels like Spotify until the summer of 2023. Instead, "73: Live at The Tam" will be released as a one-of-a-kind NFT collection on Opensea during SXSW 2023. So mark your calendars and get ready to experience the soulful sounds of Dana Gillespie and The London Blues Band like never before.
SXSW 2023 Showcase:
Who is Dana Gillespie?
Tam, the visionary behind the Temple of Art and Music, presents the extraordinary life of Dana Gillespie. Born in 1949, Dana moved from the countryside to central London during a blues revival in her mid-childhood. At 16, she began recording singles for Pye, and by 1968, she was signed by Decca, leading to two LPs, the second of which she wrote entirely herself, called Box Of Surprises.
At the turn of the decade, Dana's talent led her to become part of the original London cast of two prominent musicals - Catch My Soul and Jesus Christ Superstar. At the same time, she was part of a team of session singers that recorded soundalike versions of pop hits for Avenue Records, alongside Elton John, David Byron, and Madeline Bell. Dana and her childhood friend David Bowie were both managed by Tony Defries and his MainMan company.
In 1973, Dana released her third album, Weren’t Born A Man, produced by Bowie, Mick Ronson, Robin Cable, and Dana herself, at Trident Studios on RCA. The follow-up, Ain’t Gonna Play No Second Fiddle, came out in 1974, and Dana embarked on a US tour in support of it. However, while working on demos for her third RCA album, MainMan disbanded, and she was unable to record while still in contract. Consequently, Dana returned to the UK and pursued gigs and acting jobs, where she appeared alongside the likes of Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, and Denholm Elliott.
In 1982, Dana resumed her recording career with Blue Job, a collection of early 20th-century bawdy blues numbers. She then released Solid Romance in 1984, which spawned an international hit, ‘Move Your Body Close To Me’, before fully committing to the blues. She founded and ran the Mustique Blues Festival with Basil Charles OBE for two decades, and in 1997, she joined the UK leg of Bob Dylan’s tour as a ‘special guest’. Today, Dana tours worldwide, including India, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and Britain, and she frequently performs with the London Blues Band at venues such as the 606 Club, Chelsea, and The Temple of Art and Music, Elephant & Castle. Her latest albums include Under My Bed and Deep Pockets, both released by Ace Records in 2019 and 2021, respectively. Her Decca recordings have been anthologized as London Social Degree, while her RCA recordings were compiled as What Memories We Make. Overall, Dana Gillespie's life and work have been full of adventure, creativity, and talent, making her a true icon in the world of music and entertainment.
Love Potion No.9 Dana Gillespie presents BBC Seaside Special ft. Grace Jones
"If you want to see what disco was like in the 70s then watch me, and also Grace Jones, leaping about in France, all for the BBC’s Seaside Special filmed in St.Malo. I was singing Love Potion No.9, a Lieber and Stoller song from 1959 originally done by the Clovers and later on the Searchers had a hit with it in 1964. For Bowie fans you might be interested to know that my dress was designed by Ann Proctor who made quite a few of David’s outfits. I’ve still got this little orange number hanging in my cupboard!! Yet another mad trip down Memory Lane….." Dana Gillespie Feb 21st 2023, London.
About SXSW Austin, Texas, USA
SXSW stands for South by Southwest, which is an annual festival and conference that takes place in Austin, Texas. The event was founded in 1987 and has since grown into one of the largest gatherings of creative professionals in the world. SXSW features a wide range of activities, including film screenings, music performances, keynote speeches, and interactive events. It has become a platform for artists, musicians, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs to showcase their work and network with industry professionals. SXSW has also become known for its innovative and cutting-edge programming, making it a must-attend event for anyone in the creative industries.