INTERVIEW with BEVERLEY CRAVEN
ahead of the
WOMAN TO WOMAN 2019 TOUR
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
20th June 2019
ahead of the
WOMAN TO WOMAN 2019 TOUR
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
20th June 2019
Beverley Craven talks about joining Judie Tzuke and Julia Fordham for their forthcoming Woman to Woman tour
Following a sell out Woman to Woman tour during 2018, and a single that topped the iTunes charts, the second leg of the tour begins in June. It brings together again the formidable talents of Beverley Craven, Judie Tzuke and Julia Fordham. All well known and successful singer songwriters in their own right, they join forces to perform their own individual hits and also new material as a harmony trio.
Beverley Craven is one of the most successful singer/songwriters the UK has ever produced. Best known for her 1991 hit single Promise Me; she’s sold a staggering 4 million albums. Her string of chart successes also includes Memories, Holding On, Woman To Woman and Love Scenes.
Judie Tzuke first shot to stardom thanks to her 1979 Top 20 hit Stay With Me Till Dawn, which was followed by four further Official Singles Chart entries. Judie has seven Top 40 albums under her belt.
Julia Fordham too has a long and illustrious recording career that has taken her all over the world. Previously a backing singer, Julia broke through as a solo artist in 1988 with her ballad Happy Ever After. She’s scored four Top 40 albums, and made the Top 20 in 1991 with her single Love Moves (In Mysterious Ways).
Beverley Craven is one of the most successful singer/songwriters the UK has ever produced. Best known for her 1991 hit single Promise Me; she’s sold a staggering 4 million albums. Her string of chart successes also includes Memories, Holding On, Woman To Woman and Love Scenes.
Judie Tzuke first shot to stardom thanks to her 1979 Top 20 hit Stay With Me Till Dawn, which was followed by four further Official Singles Chart entries. Judie has seven Top 40 albums under her belt.
Julia Fordham too has a long and illustrious recording career that has taken her all over the world. Previously a backing singer, Julia broke through as a solo artist in 1988 with her ballad Happy Ever After. She’s scored four Top 40 albums, and made the Top 20 in 1991 with her single Love Moves (In Mysterious Ways).
Beverley Craven took some time out to chat to me about the forthcoming tour, and how the trio got together.
She tells me, "I felt that we all had a similar style, being introspective singers and songwriters; plus we all had the same agent and our demographic audience was also the same."
As a result it was Beverley's idea to join together as she felt strongly that it would work.
She added, "I'd always been a fan of Judie Tzuke and would have liked to have been her backing singer." She reveals, "I met her once at a charity event and rushed up to tell her that I was her biggest fan, never thinking for one minute that we would end up working together!"
Having made the decision to get together with Judie, she felt that Julia would make a great third person. It also meant that they could play bigger venues and add a 5-piece band to the mix. "There is currently a definite desire for nostalgia with various acts from the past touring and performing," she explains.
All of the women will perform together, harmonising and singing, with each singer taking the lead on their own individual hits, with the other two performing backing vocals for each other. As expected Beverley will play the piano, and Julia plays the guitar. Fans will get to hear all their favourites, with the girls getting to perform three part harmonies on songs such as Julia’s song and most recent hit, Safe. This single was taken from the album Woman to Woman which was released to coincide with last year’s tour. Additionally, Beverley tells me, there will be new material, including Judie’s song If. In between songs, Beverley says that she likes to tell funny stories and talk about the songs. "Some of the songs are so introspective and dark, it's nice to chat and provide a bit of light relief."
She tells me, "I felt that we all had a similar style, being introspective singers and songwriters; plus we all had the same agent and our demographic audience was also the same."
As a result it was Beverley's idea to join together as she felt strongly that it would work.
She added, "I'd always been a fan of Judie Tzuke and would have liked to have been her backing singer." She reveals, "I met her once at a charity event and rushed up to tell her that I was her biggest fan, never thinking for one minute that we would end up working together!"
Having made the decision to get together with Judie, she felt that Julia would make a great third person. It also meant that they could play bigger venues and add a 5-piece band to the mix. "There is currently a definite desire for nostalgia with various acts from the past touring and performing," she explains.
All of the women will perform together, harmonising and singing, with each singer taking the lead on their own individual hits, with the other two performing backing vocals for each other. As expected Beverley will play the piano, and Julia plays the guitar. Fans will get to hear all their favourites, with the girls getting to perform three part harmonies on songs such as Julia’s song and most recent hit, Safe. This single was taken from the album Woman to Woman which was released to coincide with last year’s tour. Additionally, Beverley tells me, there will be new material, including Judie’s song If. In between songs, Beverley says that she likes to tell funny stories and talk about the songs. "Some of the songs are so introspective and dark, it's nice to chat and provide a bit of light relief."
I ask Beverley how they choose the material for the show. "It was a collaborative mix," she replies, "each of us threw songs into the ring, and then discussed which would be the best fit. It was a struggle to limit the number of songs; I chose my own, but Judie has written so many that it was difficult for her to choose."
Beverley admits that when she first suggested that the trio join up, an album was suggested but she only wanted to tour and perform live, knowing how much the music industry has changed. However, the other two felt that they should produce an album. Much to her surprise the album has become a huge success with the single from it, Safe, going to the top of the iTunes chart and now, of course, she’s glad that they went ahead with it. She says, "The album has had lots of air play which has been great for pulling in audiences for the tour. After we appeared on Michael Ball’s Sunday radio programme at Radio 2 we received lots of great feedback."
She continues, "Although there will be some new material on the tour, I feel it is important for audiences to hear our old favourites". So much so she insists that they have to be performed in the same style and not given a new spin.
She says, "It is important to look out and see the audience transfixed in the memories of when they first heard the songs. I love it when the audience react. Even the band has had to learn the accompaniment as it was played before."
Intriguingly, during the show, there is video footage as a back drop with some silent filmed performances playing so that the girls can sing live to the footage. To enable the film to sync to their singing they use an ear monitor to keep time. It is so precise that some people think the girls are miming, but they only sing live.
Beverley admits that when she first suggested that the trio join up, an album was suggested but she only wanted to tour and perform live, knowing how much the music industry has changed. However, the other two felt that they should produce an album. Much to her surprise the album has become a huge success with the single from it, Safe, going to the top of the iTunes chart and now, of course, she’s glad that they went ahead with it. She says, "The album has had lots of air play which has been great for pulling in audiences for the tour. After we appeared on Michael Ball’s Sunday radio programme at Radio 2 we received lots of great feedback."
She continues, "Although there will be some new material on the tour, I feel it is important for audiences to hear our old favourites". So much so she insists that they have to be performed in the same style and not given a new spin.
She says, "It is important to look out and see the audience transfixed in the memories of when they first heard the songs. I love it when the audience react. Even the band has had to learn the accompaniment as it was played before."
Intriguingly, during the show, there is video footage as a back drop with some silent filmed performances playing so that the girls can sing live to the footage. To enable the film to sync to their singing they use an ear monitor to keep time. It is so precise that some people think the girls are miming, but they only sing live.
The second leg of the Woman to Woman tour begins in June with just thirteen shows, and already several of the venues are sold out with limited availability on others. They are, however, pacing the shows more carefully on this leg of the tour as unfortunately, Beverley's health took a turn for the worse.
"The tour was due to start in May," she explains, "but as I was having treatment for a recurrence of cancer, it had to be postponed until June". She adds, "Judie and Julia have been very supportive."
Beverley is very forthcoming about her cancer and we discuss how, nowadays so many people suffer from breast cancer that it is almost an epidemic. We both feel it must have something to do with lifestyle or hormone treatments such as HRT or contraceptive pills for which there was no long term data on side effects when first introduced. "Now women are suffering the consequences," she sighs.
The treatments for the disease are evolving all the time and Beverley feels that targeted immunotherapy will be the next development.
"I finished my last chemo treatment three weeks ago and am now feeling more like my old self and raring to go!" Adding, "It is important that people can speak openly about cancer and its effects as that can help people to not feel so isolated. Additionally, it can have a positive effect and that can be half the battle."
Her lovely daughters have been a continual support, together with her best friend and boyfriend, who all go to the hospital with her for her treatments, arriving mob handed.
When the tour ends, Beverley will take some time out and then in November will be boarding a cruise ship for the Caribbean, where she will be performing three shows. Her daughters will go with her as, Beverley tells me they have been so helpful during her cancer treatment. Then in 2020, the plan is to take her own show on tour, with a couple of musicians and play more intimate gigs.
"The tour was due to start in May," she explains, "but as I was having treatment for a recurrence of cancer, it had to be postponed until June". She adds, "Judie and Julia have been very supportive."
Beverley is very forthcoming about her cancer and we discuss how, nowadays so many people suffer from breast cancer that it is almost an epidemic. We both feel it must have something to do with lifestyle or hormone treatments such as HRT or contraceptive pills for which there was no long term data on side effects when first introduced. "Now women are suffering the consequences," she sighs.
The treatments for the disease are evolving all the time and Beverley feels that targeted immunotherapy will be the next development.
"I finished my last chemo treatment three weeks ago and am now feeling more like my old self and raring to go!" Adding, "It is important that people can speak openly about cancer and its effects as that can help people to not feel so isolated. Additionally, it can have a positive effect and that can be half the battle."
Her lovely daughters have been a continual support, together with her best friend and boyfriend, who all go to the hospital with her for her treatments, arriving mob handed.
When the tour ends, Beverley will take some time out and then in November will be boarding a cruise ship for the Caribbean, where she will be performing three shows. Her daughters will go with her as, Beverley tells me they have been so helpful during her cancer treatment. Then in 2020, the plan is to take her own show on tour, with a couple of musicians and play more intimate gigs.
With the tour date approaching, Beverley says that it has given her something to focus on. "I'm looking forward to it. Julia and Judie are constantly in touch discussing plans for the tour and it is such a change to have female camaraderie on a tour."
There will be a week of rehearsal in the last week of May before they head for their first date in Buxton.
Before she goes, Beverley quickly adds that she does have one small gripe when on stage and that is, she loves performing live, but wishes that people wouldn’t film bits on their phones during the show.
"It's a distraction - I'd rather the audience got to feel the songs and experience the emotion rather than filming us and putting it online. The quality is never great anyway!"
On a truly positive note, she tells me that through this tour, she’s become really genuine friends with Julia and Judie.
"The relationship the audience see on the stage is real," she confides, concluding, with a laugh, "The most difficult decision at the moment seems to be what to wear!"
Interview Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
Edit: Kim Tobin
Wtwlive.com
The trio performs at the Cliffs Pavilion 20th June 2019 – 01702 351135
Tickets £41.50, £39.00, £36.50
VIP meet and greet package available - Prime Seating,-Meet and Greet -Photo Opportunity and a Signed Lithographic Print - £79.00
www.southendtheatres.org.uk Box Office 01702 351135
There will be a week of rehearsal in the last week of May before they head for their first date in Buxton.
Before she goes, Beverley quickly adds that she does have one small gripe when on stage and that is, she loves performing live, but wishes that people wouldn’t film bits on their phones during the show.
"It's a distraction - I'd rather the audience got to feel the songs and experience the emotion rather than filming us and putting it online. The quality is never great anyway!"
On a truly positive note, she tells me that through this tour, she’s become really genuine friends with Julia and Judie.
"The relationship the audience see on the stage is real," she confides, concluding, with a laugh, "The most difficult decision at the moment seems to be what to wear!"
Interview Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
Edit: Kim Tobin
Wtwlive.com
The trio performs at the Cliffs Pavilion 20th June 2019 – 01702 351135
Tickets £41.50, £39.00, £36.50
VIP meet and greet package available - Prime Seating,-Meet and Greet -Photo Opportunity and a Signed Lithographic Print - £79.00
www.southendtheatres.org.uk Box Office 01702 351135
Tickets are on sale now for the Woman to Woman 2019 Tour from all venues, and the Woman to Woman website, details of which are below….
www.southendtheatres.org.uk
www.southendtheatres.org.uk
Dates & Venues for the Woman to Woman Tour 2019 are as follows –
June 2 Buxton Opera House (Buxton)
https://buxtonoperahouse.org.uk/event/woman-to-woman-judie-tzuke-beverley-craven-julia-fordham
June 5 Wyvern Theatre (Swindon)
https://swindontheatres.co.uk/Online/tickets-woman-to-woman-swindon-2019
June 7 Cadogan Hall (London)
http://www.cadoganhall.com/event/woman-to-woman-180413/
June 8 The Lowry (Salford) – Orchestral Show
https://tickets.thelowry.com/Online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=D31B670E-C036-432E-8352-DDA76B5CAE42
June 12 City Hall (Sheffield)
https://www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk/Online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=22035DCF-390E-4EA2-8C5E-1CC8C62F5C23&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=9D7BC08B-8A22-4739-88E3-B510FDC9997D
June 14 Royal Hall (Harrogate)
https://www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/Woman-to-Woman-Judie-Tzuke-Beverly-Craven-and-Julia-Fordham
June 15 Town Hall and Symphony Hall (Birmingham)
https://www.thsh.co.uk/event/woman-to-woman-judie-tzuke-beverley-craven-julia-fordham-orchestral-show
June 18 The Stables (Milton Keynes)
https://stables.org/event/woman-to-woman-3
June 20 Cliffs Pavilion (Southend-on-Sea)
https://southendtheatres.org.uk/Online/tickets-woman-to-woman-southend-2019
June 21 The Apex (Bury St. Edmunds)
https://www.theapex.co.uk/whats-on/details.cfm?id=389347&ins=501791
June 22 The Stables (Milton Keynes) ***SOLD OUT***
June 24 Theatre Royal (Brighton)
https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/woman-to-woman-judie-tzuke-julia-fordham-and-beverley-craven/theatre-royal-brighton/
June 26 St. David’s Hall (Cardiff)
https://www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk/whats-on/rock-pop/woman-to-woman/
Visit www.wtwlive.com for more information.
June 2 Buxton Opera House (Buxton)
https://buxtonoperahouse.org.uk/event/woman-to-woman-judie-tzuke-beverley-craven-julia-fordham
June 5 Wyvern Theatre (Swindon)
https://swindontheatres.co.uk/Online/tickets-woman-to-woman-swindon-2019
June 7 Cadogan Hall (London)
http://www.cadoganhall.com/event/woman-to-woman-180413/
June 8 The Lowry (Salford) – Orchestral Show
https://tickets.thelowry.com/Online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=D31B670E-C036-432E-8352-DDA76B5CAE42
June 12 City Hall (Sheffield)
https://www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk/Online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=22035DCF-390E-4EA2-8C5E-1CC8C62F5C23&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=9D7BC08B-8A22-4739-88E3-B510FDC9997D
June 14 Royal Hall (Harrogate)
https://www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/Woman-to-Woman-Judie-Tzuke-Beverly-Craven-and-Julia-Fordham
June 15 Town Hall and Symphony Hall (Birmingham)
https://www.thsh.co.uk/event/woman-to-woman-judie-tzuke-beverley-craven-julia-fordham-orchestral-show
June 18 The Stables (Milton Keynes)
https://stables.org/event/woman-to-woman-3
June 20 Cliffs Pavilion (Southend-on-Sea)
https://southendtheatres.org.uk/Online/tickets-woman-to-woman-southend-2019
June 21 The Apex (Bury St. Edmunds)
https://www.theapex.co.uk/whats-on/details.cfm?id=389347&ins=501791
June 22 The Stables (Milton Keynes) ***SOLD OUT***
June 24 Theatre Royal (Brighton)
https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/woman-to-woman-judie-tzuke-julia-fordham-and-beverley-craven/theatre-royal-brighton/
June 26 St. David’s Hall (Cardiff)
https://www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk/whats-on/rock-pop/woman-to-woman/
Visit www.wtwlive.com for more information.