Brad Kella announces first ever headline UK tour

Brad recently joined the Lang Lang Foundation…

Beginning at Glasgow’s Oran Moor on 16 September, Brad will also perform in Manchester and Birmingham before its finale at London’s iconic Union Chapel. Tickets for the tour go on general sale on Friday 9th May at 10am from Ticketmaster.

One of music’s most extraordinary, inspiring and freethinking talents, Brad’s career has taken off since he was named the winner of Channel 4’s The Piano by superstar pianists Lang Lang and Mika. He has signed with the independent record label Modern Sky, appeared at Classic FM Live at the Royal Albert Hall and performed his own sell-out show at Liverpool’s famed Philharmonic Hall.

Brad could ‘create an album a day, just because I love creating music,’ he says – and he’s poured his heart into his debut album, titled ‘Phoebe’s Melody’ in honour of his two daughters, who gave Brad ‘a huge amount of determination to get to a situation where I record an album’.

Playing his own pieces for eight hours from memory, he recorded it in London’s RAK studios, in collaboration with top string players and British orchestrator Rosie Danvers, who has worked with the likes of Coldplay, Jay-Z and Adele. ‘The album is something I’m so proud of. It’s sounding much bigger and better than I could have anticipated. Each piece is a reflection of a moment in my life, a step-by-step musical illustration.

‘My music is melodically beautiful, and with this album I’ve created a whole line of melodies which I truly believe are going to be used for great things, whether it’s in advertisements or even movies,’ says Brad, who names the legendary film composers Danny Elfman and Hans Zimmer as well as the neo-classical piano star Ludovico Einaudi among his major influences.

A self-taught musician, Brad has his own unconventional approach that sets him apart in a classical world ruled by scores and traditions. He puts that down to playing from his heart and soul, rather than from reading printed music.

‘If I read music, that means I’m sat in front of someone else’s music, which immediately takes away huge amounts of creativity in the process,’ he says. ‘It puts me under immense pressure when I have to go on for a concert in front of thousands with no music in front of me. I think the pressure of it sparks amazing moments during the performance. Sometimes I’ll change a certain melody on the spot, and no one is expecting it.’

And Brad has big ambitions. He recently performed two sold out performances at the Purcell Room on the Southbank; his debut headline London shows. Brad is currently supporting Gary Barlow on a UK tour over the coming months. Recently, he has also recently been announced as an ambassador for the Lang Lang Foundation, where he has aligned with their commitment to inspire young musicians from all backgrounds and advocating for access to music education, particularly for those in underserved communities

Brad is passionate about the power of music – and of the joy that creativity brings to people’s lives. Yet even with his new-found success, not every moment has been easy. ‘I’ve been playing with musicians who grew up in better circumstances than I ever did, and always had money for lessons. I feel like I’m in a foreign environment a lot of the time. But I don’t ever want to become something I’m not because of the people around me. I’m never going to change who I am because I think that’s what’s got me here today.’

Liverpudlian virtuoso pianist Brad Kella announced his first ever headline UK tour, ahead of the release of his debut album  ‘Phoebe’s Melody’, which will hit outlets on the 6th June on Modern Sky UK. Fans who pre-order the album from Brad’s website will receive a presale link to purchase tickets ahead of the general sale.

Solo and supporting tour dates can be found on the next page…