Folk/Rock Legend Al Stewart Coming to Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

Thousand Oaks -- One of the biggest names in rock and folk music, Al Stewart, will be performing at the intimate Scherr Forum on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 7:30 pm.

Stewart came to stardom as part of the legendary British folk revival in the sixties and seventies, and developed his own unique style of combining folk-rock songs with delicately woven tales of the great characters and events from history. He is perhaps best known for his hit "Year of the Cat" from the platinum album of the same name and the platinum follow up album "Time Passages." Stewart's career spans four decades as a key figure in British music.

In 1965, Stewart moved to London and became the emcee at the famed Les Cousins folk club, rubbing shoulders with young talents like Paul Simon and Cat Stevens. He started writing and performing his own songs, first at Les Cousins, later at other folk clubs and colleges across England, frequently appearing with folk-oriented groups like the Incredible String Band, Fairport Convention, and The Pentangle.

Stewart's first album, Bedsitter Images, was released in England in 1967, followed by 1969's Love Chronicles, which featured Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and Richard Thompson on lead guitars and a 19-minute title song that recounted his romantic adventures.

After several more albums written in autobiographical mode, Al shifted his lyrical gaze outward, into history, literature and current events, an approach debuted on 1973's Past, Present & Future (released on the Janus label in 1974). The follow-up, Modern Times, cracked the US Top 40 album charts in 1975 and drew Stewart and his backing band to the States for a full-length tour.

With groundwork laid and touring dues paid, Stewart's next album exploded in America: Year of the Cat, released in 1976, spawned two Top 20 hits (the title song and "On the Border"), and itself became a million-selling record.

Single tickets are priced at $49 - $39 with group discounts available. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or through the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Box Office, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard. For more information call 805-449-ARTS (2787) or visit www.civicartsplaza.com.

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