SENSATIONAL SHOW CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF
BILLY JOEL ANNOUNCES 2025 TOUR
SOUTHEND, CLIFFS PAVILION – SUN SEPT 21st 2025
The Billy Joel Songbook
plus
INTERVIEW with Elio below
BILLY JOEL ANNOUNCES 2025 TOUR
SOUTHEND, CLIFFS PAVILION – SUN SEPT 21st 2025
The Billy Joel Songbook
plus
INTERVIEW with Elio below
Following sold out tours across the UK and Europe, celebrated singer-songwriter and pianist Elio Pace and his incredible band are heading to Southend with the sensational award-winning show The Billy Joel Songbook in 2025.
The exciting live show will hit the road throughout September and October visiting 20 theatres across England, Scotland and Wales and includes a date at the Cliffs Pavilion on Sunday September 21.
Tickets are available from https://www.eliopace.com/tours
Paying homage to one of the most iconic musicians, singer-songwriters and composers of the 20th century, The Billy Joel Songbook is billed as the greatest love letter ever to the genius that is Billy Joel.
Transporting the audience through five decades of hits, Elio and his band will perform more than 30 songs from Joel’s vast catalogue of 82 singles including The Longest Time, She’s Always A Woman, An Innocent Man, Uptown Girl, Tell Her About It, The River of Dreams, We Didn’t Start The Fire and Piano Man.
“I’d love for us to play every single but with so many songs in this great man’s back catalogue we’d need a four-hour show,” says Elio. “It’s so exciting to be returning with The Billy Joel Songbook though and I promise we’ll get as many as everyone’s favourite songs on the setlist as possible.”
Over the last three years, The Billy Joel Songbook has played more than 50 sold-out venues in the UK and Ireland alone, and earlier this year, a special recording of the full show at London’s Bloomsbury Theatre on Billy Joel’s 75th birthday, was broadcast via BBC Sounds.
Elio added: “We all feel privileged every time we walk on a stage to perform the music of Billy Joel. His music is timeless, he is a genius composer and, in my opinion, the greatest singer/songwriter of all-time. The fact that so many people want to see us perform this is incredibly humbling.
“We are all delighted we get to take this show on the road yet again revisiting venues we have previously sold out and also travelling to some new towns and cities where we look forward to seeing faces old and new.”
The late broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan was a huge fan describing Elio as “Only sensational,” and in 2010 he was the musical director for BBC Radio 2’s Weekend Wogan performing as the featured artist on all 35 shows broadcast that year.
Singer/songwriter, piano-player, producer and arranger, Elio has performed with a wonderful array of stars including Brian May, Huey Lewis, Glen Campbell, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Lulu, Mike Rutherford, Don McLean, Tom Chaplin, Debbie Reynolds and Martha Reeves to name but a few.
In 2013 and 2014 he was invited to ‘fill Billy Joel’s shoes’, starring in five very special reunion concerts in the USA with Joel’s original 1971-72 touring band. Following on from the huge success of these American shows, Elio embarked upon the debut tour of The Billy Joel Songbook and has continued to sell out theatres ever since.
For more information about The Billy Joel Songbook and to secure your tickets go to https://www.eliopace.com/tours
The Billy Joel Songbook is not affiliated or endorsed by Billy Joel.
The Billy Joel Songbook was written and devised by Elio Pace and Matt Daniel-Baker.
The exciting live show will hit the road throughout September and October visiting 20 theatres across England, Scotland and Wales and includes a date at the Cliffs Pavilion on Sunday September 21.
Tickets are available from https://www.eliopace.com/tours
Paying homage to one of the most iconic musicians, singer-songwriters and composers of the 20th century, The Billy Joel Songbook is billed as the greatest love letter ever to the genius that is Billy Joel.
Transporting the audience through five decades of hits, Elio and his band will perform more than 30 songs from Joel’s vast catalogue of 82 singles including The Longest Time, She’s Always A Woman, An Innocent Man, Uptown Girl, Tell Her About It, The River of Dreams, We Didn’t Start The Fire and Piano Man.
“I’d love for us to play every single but with so many songs in this great man’s back catalogue we’d need a four-hour show,” says Elio. “It’s so exciting to be returning with The Billy Joel Songbook though and I promise we’ll get as many as everyone’s favourite songs on the setlist as possible.”
Over the last three years, The Billy Joel Songbook has played more than 50 sold-out venues in the UK and Ireland alone, and earlier this year, a special recording of the full show at London’s Bloomsbury Theatre on Billy Joel’s 75th birthday, was broadcast via BBC Sounds.
Elio added: “We all feel privileged every time we walk on a stage to perform the music of Billy Joel. His music is timeless, he is a genius composer and, in my opinion, the greatest singer/songwriter of all-time. The fact that so many people want to see us perform this is incredibly humbling.
“We are all delighted we get to take this show on the road yet again revisiting venues we have previously sold out and also travelling to some new towns and cities where we look forward to seeing faces old and new.”
The late broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan was a huge fan describing Elio as “Only sensational,” and in 2010 he was the musical director for BBC Radio 2’s Weekend Wogan performing as the featured artist on all 35 shows broadcast that year.
Singer/songwriter, piano-player, producer and arranger, Elio has performed with a wonderful array of stars including Brian May, Huey Lewis, Glen Campbell, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Lulu, Mike Rutherford, Don McLean, Tom Chaplin, Debbie Reynolds and Martha Reeves to name but a few.
In 2013 and 2014 he was invited to ‘fill Billy Joel’s shoes’, starring in five very special reunion concerts in the USA with Joel’s original 1971-72 touring band. Following on from the huge success of these American shows, Elio embarked upon the debut tour of The Billy Joel Songbook and has continued to sell out theatres ever since.
For more information about The Billy Joel Songbook and to secure your tickets go to https://www.eliopace.com/tours
The Billy Joel Songbook is not affiliated or endorsed by Billy Joel.
The Billy Joel Songbook was written and devised by Elio Pace and Matt Daniel-Baker.
INTERVIEW
‘Billy Joel’s music changed my career and my life. It’s more important than ever to celebrate his artistry now.’
“Only sensational” (Sir Terry Wogan)
“Elio rocks” (Brian May)
“Elio is tremendous...I'm a big fan.” (Huey Lewis)
“Only sensational” (Sir Terry Wogan)
“Elio rocks” (Brian May)
“Elio is tremendous...I'm a big fan.” (Huey Lewis)
“Billy Joel’s music taught me how to play piano, how to sing, how to communicate with an audience,” says Elio Pace in tribute to the iconic singer songwriter, whose music he celebrates in The Billy Joel Songbook tour.
“He has always had an incredible ability in knowing he’s a star, but to still make you feel like you’re listening to him play in your front room - that is a truly wonderful skill.”
Elio is currently planning his latest tour, bringing Joel’s music to audiences across the UK in September and October this year, and March and April 2026.
But preparations briefly stalled earlier this year, when Billy Joel initially announced he would be postponing, then later cancelling his UK dates.
Elio was shocked to hear his ‘musical hero’ had been diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (a condition caused by excess fluid in the brain, which can lead to neurological symptoms).
“It was awful news to hear, as we were all so looking forward to those two UK shows this summer,” Elio said. “Hearing the words ‘brain disorder’ associated with the man whose music changed my career and my whole life, was so, so sad.
“I wasn’t sure how I felt about the news, or how to respond to it, for a few weeks. In that time, I saw so many messages of love from fans to Billy on social media, and I was receiving messages from friends about it too.
“Then we had our first show after the news came out, and it was very much on my mind how to approach it.
“But the people coming to our show were coming out to celebrate Billy’s music, his artistry, and that fact had not changed with the news of Billy’s health issues.
“They want to hear those songs being played, and if it’s not Billy, and it’s not us, then who would it be?
“It’s probably more important we have this show out on the road now than ever because we all are, and always have all been, huge fans of Billy’s work.
“From the bottom of my heart, I truly believe that Billy Joel is the greatest singer/songwriter of all time. So, I’m honoured that it’s me who gets to do the show. It’s an honour and privilege to be the guy behind the piano, singing these songs.
“I’m a strong believer that the power of music is medicine. It really is. Music is important and I’m extremely proud to be a musician.
“When we acknowledged Billy’s situation in Paris, the audience reaction was so positive in sending good vibes so we will be talking about it on the tour – in honour of Billy and to ensure the shows really are a celebration of his music.”
Elio has long maintained that The Billy Joel Songbook is not a ‘tribute show’ in the way that that title has come to describe a type of show, and that it’s about celebrating an incredible body of work while at the same time retelling Billy’s incredible story.
The latest tour marks Elio’s 11th year of touring The Billy Joel Songbook, and Elio and the band have something special in store for their long-term fans.
“When I created the show with a friend of mine, we went over every song for hours, days, weeks, looking for the opening number, the closing, first act close, every moment of the show,” Elio explained.
“We wrote that set list in 2014, and in all the years since – we’ve only ever changed the odd song or two… Until now! This year, we’re taking out four songs which have been there since the beginning – not Piano Man, Uptown Girl, anything like that… But of course, there will be someone who says ‘he’s got rid of my favourite’.
“Having recorded the album shows, and after playing venues like The London Palladium – as well as the show being hosted on BBC Sounds for the best part of six months after BBC Radio Wales recorded it fully for broadcast last year, it felt like the right time to mix it up a bit and to offer something fresh.”
Elio has been a fan of Billy Joel and his music since discovering his work as a teenager – a moment he describes as being like a light switching on, and an instant influence over everything he did as a musician.
“I was 16 or 17 at sixth form college in Hampshire, when I fell in love with Billy Joel’s music,” he said. “I was already music mad, already gigging, even at that age but from that moment, I envisaged, one day, singing my favourite Billy Joel songs on stage.”
He forged a successful career as a musician in his own right, touring with Albert Lee, Shakin’ Stevens and Suzi Quatro, as musical director for Bill Kenwright musicals, starring in West End jazz musical Song Of Singapore, and appearing as Sir Terry Wogan’s featured-artist and musical director for BBC Radio 2’s Weekend Wogan, before turning his attentions to The Billy Joel Songbook – a journey which began in 1993, when he spoke to a contact.
“I pitched the whole concept for a show called Piano Man,” Elio explains. “He looked through it and said he could see my passion, that it was a brilliant idea, but he said at that time we were too soon because Billy was still touring.
“But 20 years later, almost to the month, in 2013, I started booking shows for The Billy Joel Songbook.”
Since then the show has built up a loyal following across the country, from initial audiences of a few dozen people, to The London Palladium in 2024.
As a true musician, Elio’s emphasis with The Billy Joel Songbook is always first and foremost the music – and it’s from this point that he has such great respect for Billy Joel.
“I always tell people, and it’s really important to me to make this distinction, I am not a Billy Joel ‘tribute artist’ – I’m not out there on stage with a goatee or black glasses pretending to be Billy Joel” he said. “I’m out there as me, paying tribute to the music, and celebrating the music and the musician with my world-class band and telling his story.
“I’m there telling you how much I love this songbook, reminding you how much of the music you also love but may have forgotten – or never even realised – that it was Billy Joel’s work. Songs like She’s Always A Women, Allentown, New York State Of Mind… They are classic Billy Joel songs, but you forget that.
“I just have this absolute bee in my bonnet about getting this under-rated genius out there to get the credit he should. Billy’s popularity has definitely risen in the UK during the past 10 years.
“When we started out, Billy Joel hadn't toured anywhere around the world for years and really wasn't in the public eye or in the media like he had been.
“The Billy Joel Songbook starting in 2014 coincided with Billy beginning his monthly residency at Madison Square Garden in New York. However, there was no ‘Billy Joel show’ travelling around theatres in the UK, or the world for that matter.
“We were the very first and if we have played even a small part in helping to bring Billy’s music back to people’s ears and reminding everyone of his genius, then that makes me very proud.
“The greatest rock and roll songbook in the history of popular music, in my humble opinion, should never be allowed to die and as long as I can keep doing it, I will continue to do my part in sharing the Joel love to everyone, far and wide.”
“He has always had an incredible ability in knowing he’s a star, but to still make you feel like you’re listening to him play in your front room - that is a truly wonderful skill.”
Elio is currently planning his latest tour, bringing Joel’s music to audiences across the UK in September and October this year, and March and April 2026.
But preparations briefly stalled earlier this year, when Billy Joel initially announced he would be postponing, then later cancelling his UK dates.
Elio was shocked to hear his ‘musical hero’ had been diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (a condition caused by excess fluid in the brain, which can lead to neurological symptoms).
“It was awful news to hear, as we were all so looking forward to those two UK shows this summer,” Elio said. “Hearing the words ‘brain disorder’ associated with the man whose music changed my career and my whole life, was so, so sad.
“I wasn’t sure how I felt about the news, or how to respond to it, for a few weeks. In that time, I saw so many messages of love from fans to Billy on social media, and I was receiving messages from friends about it too.
“Then we had our first show after the news came out, and it was very much on my mind how to approach it.
“But the people coming to our show were coming out to celebrate Billy’s music, his artistry, and that fact had not changed with the news of Billy’s health issues.
“They want to hear those songs being played, and if it’s not Billy, and it’s not us, then who would it be?
“It’s probably more important we have this show out on the road now than ever because we all are, and always have all been, huge fans of Billy’s work.
“From the bottom of my heart, I truly believe that Billy Joel is the greatest singer/songwriter of all time. So, I’m honoured that it’s me who gets to do the show. It’s an honour and privilege to be the guy behind the piano, singing these songs.
“I’m a strong believer that the power of music is medicine. It really is. Music is important and I’m extremely proud to be a musician.
“When we acknowledged Billy’s situation in Paris, the audience reaction was so positive in sending good vibes so we will be talking about it on the tour – in honour of Billy and to ensure the shows really are a celebration of his music.”
Elio has long maintained that The Billy Joel Songbook is not a ‘tribute show’ in the way that that title has come to describe a type of show, and that it’s about celebrating an incredible body of work while at the same time retelling Billy’s incredible story.
The latest tour marks Elio’s 11th year of touring The Billy Joel Songbook, and Elio and the band have something special in store for their long-term fans.
“When I created the show with a friend of mine, we went over every song for hours, days, weeks, looking for the opening number, the closing, first act close, every moment of the show,” Elio explained.
“We wrote that set list in 2014, and in all the years since – we’ve only ever changed the odd song or two… Until now! This year, we’re taking out four songs which have been there since the beginning – not Piano Man, Uptown Girl, anything like that… But of course, there will be someone who says ‘he’s got rid of my favourite’.
“Having recorded the album shows, and after playing venues like The London Palladium – as well as the show being hosted on BBC Sounds for the best part of six months after BBC Radio Wales recorded it fully for broadcast last year, it felt like the right time to mix it up a bit and to offer something fresh.”
Elio has been a fan of Billy Joel and his music since discovering his work as a teenager – a moment he describes as being like a light switching on, and an instant influence over everything he did as a musician.
“I was 16 or 17 at sixth form college in Hampshire, when I fell in love with Billy Joel’s music,” he said. “I was already music mad, already gigging, even at that age but from that moment, I envisaged, one day, singing my favourite Billy Joel songs on stage.”
He forged a successful career as a musician in his own right, touring with Albert Lee, Shakin’ Stevens and Suzi Quatro, as musical director for Bill Kenwright musicals, starring in West End jazz musical Song Of Singapore, and appearing as Sir Terry Wogan’s featured-artist and musical director for BBC Radio 2’s Weekend Wogan, before turning his attentions to The Billy Joel Songbook – a journey which began in 1993, when he spoke to a contact.
“I pitched the whole concept for a show called Piano Man,” Elio explains. “He looked through it and said he could see my passion, that it was a brilliant idea, but he said at that time we were too soon because Billy was still touring.
“But 20 years later, almost to the month, in 2013, I started booking shows for The Billy Joel Songbook.”
Since then the show has built up a loyal following across the country, from initial audiences of a few dozen people, to The London Palladium in 2024.
As a true musician, Elio’s emphasis with The Billy Joel Songbook is always first and foremost the music – and it’s from this point that he has such great respect for Billy Joel.
“I always tell people, and it’s really important to me to make this distinction, I am not a Billy Joel ‘tribute artist’ – I’m not out there on stage with a goatee or black glasses pretending to be Billy Joel” he said. “I’m out there as me, paying tribute to the music, and celebrating the music and the musician with my world-class band and telling his story.
“I’m there telling you how much I love this songbook, reminding you how much of the music you also love but may have forgotten – or never even realised – that it was Billy Joel’s work. Songs like She’s Always A Women, Allentown, New York State Of Mind… They are classic Billy Joel songs, but you forget that.
“I just have this absolute bee in my bonnet about getting this under-rated genius out there to get the credit he should. Billy’s popularity has definitely risen in the UK during the past 10 years.
“When we started out, Billy Joel hadn't toured anywhere around the world for years and really wasn't in the public eye or in the media like he had been.
“The Billy Joel Songbook starting in 2014 coincided with Billy beginning his monthly residency at Madison Square Garden in New York. However, there was no ‘Billy Joel show’ travelling around theatres in the UK, or the world for that matter.
“We were the very first and if we have played even a small part in helping to bring Billy’s music back to people’s ears and reminding everyone of his genius, then that makes me very proud.
“The greatest rock and roll songbook in the history of popular music, in my humble opinion, should never be allowed to die and as long as I can keep doing it, I will continue to do my part in sharing the Joel love to everyone, far and wide.”
Elio Pace continues to thrill audiences around the world with his soulful voice and amazing piano playing.
His critically acclaimed, self-penned debut album, ‘A Seat At My Table’, captured the attention and hearts of music lovers everywhere and his Christmas single, ‘What A Day’, labelled a modern classic by celebrated broadcasters and commentators, features on worldwide radio playlists every December.
Throughout 2010, Elio appeared live-on-air to millions as the ‘featured artist’ on BBC Radio 2's 'Weekend Wogan' and in 2013 and 2014, he was invited to ‘fill Billy Joel’s shoes’, starring in five very special reunion concerts in the USA with Joel’s original 1971-72 touring band. Following on from the huge success of these American shows, Elio embarked upon the debut tour of his brand-new show, 'THE BILLY JOEL SONGBOOK®'; the world’s first EVER national, theatre concert tour of Billy Joel songs. Shortly afterwards, Elio and the band were featured in Sky Sports’ TV and online BAFTA-winning coverage of the 2015 Ashes cricket tournament with two specially re-written versions of Billy Joel’s ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’.
Elio is one of those rare artists that appeals to all generations. His appearance on BBC's flagship hit children's show 'ZingZillas' as "the greatest Boogie Woogie player in the land" turned him into a household name... well at least to every CBeebies-loving under five-year-old and their parents! From Elstree Studios to the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Radio 2's 'Elvis Forever' to 'Proms In The Park' and from The Bitter End in New York to the BBC Radio Theatre in London, Elio thrills wherever he performs.
In 2018, Elio released his hugely-anticipated double CD album and DVD 'THE BILLY JOEL SONGBOOK® LIVE' and in 2019 he released his second live double CD album and DVD within a year, ‘ELIO PACE presents ELVIS PRESLEY: The World Premiere, 16 August 2017’.
Elio's sensational concert film 'THE BILLY JOEL SONGBOOK® LIVE' won a prestigious award at The 17th Annual Independent Music Awards for 'Best Overall Long Form Music Video' in New York City on 22 June 2019.
His critically acclaimed, self-penned debut album, ‘A Seat At My Table’, captured the attention and hearts of music lovers everywhere and his Christmas single, ‘What A Day’, labelled a modern classic by celebrated broadcasters and commentators, features on worldwide radio playlists every December.
Throughout 2010, Elio appeared live-on-air to millions as the ‘featured artist’ on BBC Radio 2's 'Weekend Wogan' and in 2013 and 2014, he was invited to ‘fill Billy Joel’s shoes’, starring in five very special reunion concerts in the USA with Joel’s original 1971-72 touring band. Following on from the huge success of these American shows, Elio embarked upon the debut tour of his brand-new show, 'THE BILLY JOEL SONGBOOK®'; the world’s first EVER national, theatre concert tour of Billy Joel songs. Shortly afterwards, Elio and the band were featured in Sky Sports’ TV and online BAFTA-winning coverage of the 2015 Ashes cricket tournament with two specially re-written versions of Billy Joel’s ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’.
Elio is one of those rare artists that appeals to all generations. His appearance on BBC's flagship hit children's show 'ZingZillas' as "the greatest Boogie Woogie player in the land" turned him into a household name... well at least to every CBeebies-loving under five-year-old and their parents! From Elstree Studios to the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Radio 2's 'Elvis Forever' to 'Proms In The Park' and from The Bitter End in New York to the BBC Radio Theatre in London, Elio thrills wherever he performs.
In 2018, Elio released his hugely-anticipated double CD album and DVD 'THE BILLY JOEL SONGBOOK® LIVE' and in 2019 he released his second live double CD album and DVD within a year, ‘ELIO PACE presents ELVIS PRESLEY: The World Premiere, 16 August 2017’.
Elio's sensational concert film 'THE BILLY JOEL SONGBOOK® LIVE' won a prestigious award at The 17th Annual Independent Music Awards for 'Best Overall Long Form Music Video' in New York City on 22 June 2019.