Gary Barlow today announced that his second single ‘Face To Face’, a massive duet with his long time friend and inspiration Sir Elton John, will be released on January 20th. The news come after Gary announced last night that he will be seeing in 2014 with a live performance from Central Hall, Westminster which will be broadcast on BBC1 to bring in the New Year as the clock strikes midnight.
The video for ‘Face To Face’ will premiere on VEVO on Monday November 25th at 8am. This follows the release of his first single ‘Let Me Go’, currently #6 on the National Radio Airplay Chart and due out on November 17th.
‘Face To Face’ is a glowing collaborative performance from a certified British hit song maker and a Multi-BRIT and Grammy award winning global musical legend; it puts Gary side by side with one of the greatest and most successful artists of our generation. The single is assured, classic song writing from Gary (alongside John Shanks who produced Beautiful World and The Circus) with a timeless quality about it that will no doubt see it firmly embedded on radios nationwide for decades to come.
‘Face To Face’ is the second instalment from Gary’s first solo studio album in over 14 years entitled ‘Since I Saw You Last’, due to be released through Polydor Records on November 25th. Mr Barlow, who has been jointly responsible for some of the biggest pop songs in British music history, drew on past works from legendary songsmiths like Johnny Cash, Burt Bacharach and Rod Temperton for inspiration to write this record.
The song and video for ‘Face To Face’ were recorded and filmed in only four hours at Abbey Road Studios earlier this year. The vocal performances for the song were recorded in only a handful of takes with the video being shot simultaneously by Chris Howe and produced by Ben Winston; Ben also shot the video for Gary’s first single as well as working with him on the Diamond Jubilee documentary ‘Gary Barlow: On Her Majesty’s Service’.
Gary wrote all the songs for ‘Since I Saw You Last’ in London and recorded them mainly between his own Future Studios and producer Steve Power’s TOP Studios, with the strings arrangements captured at Abbey Road Studios. Gary’s last solo album ‘Twelve Months, Eleven Days’ was released in 1999, with his debut solo record ‘Open Road’ hitting the No.1 spot in May 1997.
Gary will embark on a headline arena tour in April 2014, his biggest shows ever, which will kick off in Glasgow on April 2nd and finish in Nottingham on the 17th. Gary also recently curated and hosted BBC Children In Need Rocks 2013 where he brought some of the biggest names from the music industry together for a two day concert.
The two concerts at London’s Eventim Apollo that featured the likes of Kings Of Leon, Agnetha Faltskog, Robbie Williams, Dizzee Rascal, Madness, Barry Manilow, Ellie Goulding, Little Mix and Rizzle Kicks, will help to change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across the UK. Please visit bbc.co.uk/pudsey for full details.
Full list of tour dates below:
April 2014
2 Glasgow The SSE Hydro
3 Leeds First Direct Arena
5 London The O2
8 Birmingham LG Arena
9 Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
11 Liverpool Echo Arena
12 Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
14 Manchester Phones 4u Arena
17 Nottingham Capital FM Arena
Gary also announced last night that he will be seeing in 2014 with a live performance from Central Hall, Westminster which will be broadcast on BBC1 to bring in the New Year as the clock strikes midnight. Watched by millions each year, this very special show will give 1500 fans the chance to be part of the ultimate NYE celebration.
Gary will perform two sets with a break for midnight when he will be counting down the fireworks on the roof of Central Hall overlooking Big Ben. A big screen in the concert hall will show the countdown and the amazing firework display before Gary sees in the New Year with his second set of the night. The show, countdown and fireworks will all be broadcast live. Full details below:
Gary Barlow In Concert
New Year’s Eve
Central Hall Westminster, London
All tickets are £75 plus booking fee and go on sale Friday 22nd November @ 9.30am
www.gigsandtours.com / www.ticketmaster.co.uk
Max 6 tickets per person
Doors 9.30pm, ends approx 1am