QUEEN OF PUNK PATTI SMITH TO PLAY BATH
Legendary American singer-songwriter Patti Smith will be bringing her band to The Bath Forum as part of next year’s The Bath Festival. This is a rare 2020 UK appearance for the Queen of Punk, who is also celebrated for her work as a poet, photographer and activist.
We are very excited to have worked in partnership with The Forum to secure the booking, which adds Bath to the list of worldwide dates that Patti Smith and her band are playing in 2020. The Forum last played host to the iconic performer in 2012 when she and her band staged a sell-out gig which won rave reviews. Patti Smith and band will return to The Forum on Friday 22 May at 8pm, as part of the ten-day Bath Festival of music and books.
Patti Smith has been an artist for more than four decades, winning fans of all generations for her music, her writing and campaigning on social and environmental issues. Her memoir Year of the Monkey was the winner of the National Book Award. She said recently of her newest fans: “Young people used to bring records to my shows – now they bring books.”
Patti Smith grew up in New Jersey, heading for New York aged 20 where she quickly became part of the emerging punk scene, whose haunts included the Chelsea Hotel and CBGB music club. Her first album was the critically acclaimed Horses in 1975 and she has since gone on to record ground-breaking songs over 11 studio albums. Her 1978 UK hit Because The Night, remains the song that people most associate with her.
In a career that includes four Grammy nominations, a Golden Globe nomination, alongside accolades and honours, Patti Smith continues to mesmerise audiences with her stage performances. She played the Saturday night slot at the Cambridge Folk Festival in 2018. Many artists cite Patti Smith as an influence, including Madonna, Michael Stipe of REM, KT Tunstall, Courtney Love and Marilyn Manson.
Tickets for this unique event will go on early release. Bath Festivals patrons and members booking begins from Thursday 28th November, while general release opens on Monday 9 December. For more information about becoming a member visit www.bathfestivals.org.uk/support-us .
Tickets are available from: www.thebathfestival.org.uk , 01225 463362 or in person from Bath Box Office, 2 Terrace Walk, Bath BA1 1LN. Tickets are priced from £27.50 to £44 (including ticket fees).
Check out the event page here
Look out for the full Bath Festival 2020 line-up of music and books events which will be unveiled in February.
Photo credit: Steven Sebring