WET Wet Wet frontman Marti Pellow will play York Barbican on March 21 on The Mysterious Tour next year.
His 2017 spring dates will follow the February 10 release of his eighth solo album, the self-penned Mysterious, in the lead-up to St Valentine's Day.
"I'm coming out with my full band and horns for the first time in over a decade and I can't wait to tear your playhouse down," says the Clydesbank singer, who recorded his new record at the Ocean Way Studios in Los Angeles.
Over the summer, the 51-year-old Scot worked with the legendary Tower Of Power horn section and a top-notch rhythm section on ten new Pellow compositions. "We were able to bring some of the musicians from my favourite albums ever made together in a room and create magic – and I'm talking about guys who've worked with Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Diana Ross, The Crusaders, let alone Adele, Madonna and the Stones. Just mind-blowing playing!" says Pellow.
Very Mysterious: Marti Pellow's tour poster for his York Barbican show
"Then Allee Willis, who wrote Earth, Wind & Fire's Boogie Wonderland, joined us to co-write on the songs... and we're channelling some of the funkiest pop you've ever heard. I'm just so proud of this record."
Pellow co-wrote and recorded Mysterious with long-time collaborator, accompanist, programmer and arranger Grant Mitchell, while Lenny Castro, Dean Parks, Herman Matthews and Freddie Washington all played on the album. The track listing will include Sound Of My Breaking Heart; Connection; Just Can't Turn Back Now; Mysterious; Three Wishes; Feels Like I'm In Love; It's You; You Got Me By The Heart and Meet You There.
On The Mysterious Tour, Pellow will combine songs from Mysterious with three decades of material from his solo portfolio and Wet Wet Wet favourites, plus selections from his musical theatre career, in which he has starred in such shows as Chess, Chicago, Jekyll & Hyde, The Musical, War Of The Worlds and Evita.
Marti Pellow playing Che at the Grand Opera House, York, in June 2014
He last performed in York in 2014, in quick succession in the role of Che in Evita at the Grand Opera House in June and leading Wet Wet Wet in the York Racecourse Music Showcase Weekend in July. This summer, he fronted Wet Wet Wet at Scarborough Open Air Theatre on July 30, following up The Big Picture arena tour in February and March that took in Leeds First Direct Arena on March 4.
From December 10 to 31, Pellow will play pantomime sorcerer Abanazar in Aladdin at the Glasgow SECC, where he first took on the villainous role last winter.
His last solo album, Love To Love Volume 2, was released in December 2015 and featured nine classic love songs and a new duet, One True Love, recorded with West End performer Louise Dearman.
Tickets for March 21 are on sale at £44.24, £61.60 or £84 on 0844 854 2757, at yorkbarbican.co.uk or in person from the Barbican box office.
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