rick wakeman grumpy christmas stocking tour

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Keyboard player/composer/raconteur  Rick Wakeman CBE’s Grumpy Christmas tours are now as traditional in the festive season as mince pies and pantomime ( “oh yes, they are…” ) and 2022 is no exception.

Audiences can expect music taken across the breadth of Rick’s career, from his work as keyboard player in legendary prog rock band YES to his solo career and session work, plus covers given an unexpected twist and festive tunes uniquely rearranged Wakeman style, performed on grand piano and electric keyboards.  All of this musical virtuosity will, of course, be punctuated by Rick’s typically ridiculous stories, which, as he himself states, always contain an element of truth – it’s up to the audience to decide how much!

This year,  Rick’s Grumpy Christmas Stocking Tour will be taking him to some cities of the UK that he hasn’t visited for several years, kicking off in Croydon on 24 November before visiting Dartford, Newcastle, Liverpool, Poole, Bath, Barnstaple, Swansea, Cheltenham, Birmingham, Cambridge, Stoke-on-Trent, York, Blackburn, Buxton and Ipswich before concluding in Worthing on 21 December.

“ I love Christmas,”  says Rick.  “It’s just as well, as this will be my 74 th  Christmas. I will admit that I don’t remember 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952 very well, but after that, little bits of memory start to trickle back. I’m hoping this will be my best Christmas ever, but if not – well, there’s always next year!”

www.rwcc.com

  RICK WAKEMAN’S GRUMPY CHRISTMAS STOCKING TOUR 2022

Tickets and VIP packages for  Rick Wakeman’s Grumpy Christmas   Stocking Tour are available at:  https://myticket.co.uk/artists/rick-wakeman

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Rick Wakeman announces his Grumpy Christmas Stocking Tour

Rick Wakeman brings festive cheer and possibly the odd joke about sprouts to the UK throughout November and December

Rick Wakeman  CBE has announced his UK Grumpy Christmas Stocking Tour dates for November and December, which you can see below.

The tour sees Wakeman visit some cities of the UK that he hasn’t visited for several years, and will feature music taken from Wakeman's work as keyboard player in legendary prog rock band Yes through to his solo career and session work, plus covers given an unexpected twist and festive tunes uniquely rearranged Wakeman style, performed on grand piano and electric keyboards. And of course all punctuated with that unique Wakeman sense of humour.

“I love Christmas,” says Rick. “It’s just as well, as this will be my 74th Christmas. I will admit that I don’t remember 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952 very well, but after that, little bits of memory start to trickle back. I’m hoping this will be my best Christmas ever, but if not – well, there’s always next year!”

Rick Wakeman Grumpy Christmas Stocking Tour dates: Nov 24: Croydon Ashcroft Theatre Nov 27: Dartford Orchard Theatre Nov 29: Newcastle Tyne Theatre & Opera House Nov 30: Liverpool Philharmonic Hall Dec 2: Poole Lighthouse Dec 3: Bath Forum Dec 4: Barnstaple Queen’s Theatre Dec 5: Swansea Grand Theatre Dec 6: Cheltenham Town Hall Dec 8: Birmingham Town Hall Dec 10: Cambridge Corn Exchange Dec 11: Stoke Victoria Hall Dec 13: York Barbican Dec 14: Blackburn King George’s Hall Dec 16: Buxton Opera House Dec 17: Ipswich Corn Exchange Dec 21: Worthing Assembly Hall

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Writer and broadcaster Jerry Ewing is the Editor of Prog Magazine which he founded for Future Publishing in 2009. He grew up in Sydney and began his writing career in London for Metal Forces magazine in 1989. He has since written for Metal Hammer, Maxim, Vox, Stuff and Bizarre magazines, among others. He created and edited Classic Rock Magazine for Dennis Publishing in 1998 and is the author of a variety of books on both music and sport, including Wonderous Stories; A Journey Through The Landscape Of Progressive Rock.

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Rick Wakeman announces Grumpy Christmas Stocking Tour 2022

He's playing 17 shows this festive period

Prog rock extraordinaire Rick Wakeman has announced his annual Grumpy Christmas Stocking Tour for later this year.

Taking in some UK cities Rick Wakeman hasn’t visited for several years, the tour opens in Croydon on Thursday 24th November and visits Dartford, Newcastle, Liverpool, Poole, Bath, Barnstaple, Swansea, Cheltenham, Birmingham, Cambridge, Stoke-on-Trent, York, Blackburn, Buxton and Ipswich before concluding at Worthing Assembly Hall four days before Christmas.

Tickets go on sale from Planet Rock Tickets at 10am on Friday 17th June 2022.

The Grumpy Christmas Stocking Tour will boast music from Wakeman’s legendary career including Yes and his solo work, plus covers given an unexpected twist and festive tunes uniquely rearranged Wakeman-style.

Alongside the music, Wakeman will orate ridiculous stories from his life in his idiosyncratic style.

“I love Christmas,” says Wakeman. “It’s just as well, as this will be my 74th Christmas. I will admit that I don’t remember 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952 very well, but after that, little bits of memory start to trickle back. I’m hoping this will be my best Christmas ever, but if not – well, there’s always next year!”

Rick Wakeman’s UK tour dates:

NOVEMBER 2022

Croydon Ashcroft Theatre (at Fairfield halls) – Thu 24th

Dartford Orchard Theatre – Sun 27th

Newcastle Tyne Theatre & Opera House – Tue 29th

Liverpool Philharmonic Hall – Wed 30th

DECEMBER 2022

Poole Lighthouse – Fri 2nd

Bath Forum – Sat 3rd

Barnstaple Queens Theatre – Sun 4th

Swansea Grand Theatre – Mon 5th

Cheltenham Town Hall – Tue 6th

Birmingham Town Hall – Thu 8th

Cambridge Corn Exchange – Sat 10th

Stoke Victoria Hall – Sun 11th

York Barbican – Tue 13th

Blackburn King George’s Hall Wed 14th

Buxton Opera House – Fri 16th

Ipswich Corn Exchange – Sat 17th

Worthing Assembly Hall – Wed 21st

Buy Rick Wakeman tickets

The real locations of rock and metal album covers, including yes' 'going for the one':, ac/dc – ‘dirty deeds done dirt cheap’ (1976).

The sleeve to the international version of AC/DC's 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap' was created by fabled English design group Hipgnosis. The building in the background was a motel on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.

The motel on AC/DC's 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap' cover is now called Hotel H-Wood.

Thunder - 'All The Right Noises' (2021)

Thunder's 13th studio album 'All The Right Noises' from March 2021 features a visually striking outdoor sculpture called the Singing Ringing Tree set against a dramatic skyline.

Located on the Pennine hill range overlooking Burnley in Lancashire, the Singing Ringing Tree is a wind powered sound sculpture that stands 3 metres tall. Designed by architects Mike Tonkin and Anna Liu of Tonkin Liu, the unique sculpture features pipes of galvanised steel that create sounds when the wind hits them. Luke Morley stumbled upon the sculpture when Googling "bizarre musical instruments."

Black Sabbath – ‘Black Sabbath’ (1970)

The seminal and highly eerie cover for Black Sabbath's eponymous debut album 'Black Sabbath' in 1970 was shot at the 15th Century Mapledurham Watermill, located on the banks of the River Thames in Oxfordshire.

A photograph of Mapledurham Watermill, location of Black Sabbath's self-titled debut album 'Black Sabbath.'

Six years after the release of 'Black Sabbath', Mapledurham Watermill featured prominently in the 1976 World War II movie 'The Eagle Has Landed'. Here's actress Jenny Agutter during location filming on 14th June 1976.

The grade II listed building of Mapledurham Watermill has become a mecca for Black Sabbath aficionados around the globe – including children's TV presenter Mr Tumble, aka Justin Fletcher.

Pink Floyd – 'The Division Bell' (1991)

Pink Floyd's longtime album artwork collaborator, the late-great Storm Thorgerson, had two gargantuan metal heads the size of double decker buses made for 'The Division Bell' sleeve and he positioned them in a field near the cathedral city of Ely in Cambridgeshire, which you can see in the background. In 2017, the two heads appeared at the magnificent Pink Floyd exhibition Their Mortal Remains at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

After extensively searching through fields, Bob Egan of the website Pop Spots discovered the exact location of Pink Floyd's 'The Division Bell' sleeve.

U2 - ‘The Unforgettable Fire’ (1984)

U2 recorded their fourth studio album 'The Unforgettable Fire' at Slane Castle in County Meath, Ireland, however they opted for a different castle to adorn the sleeve – Moydrum Castle, east of Athlone in Ireland. Bono, The Edge, Adam and Larry liked the mysticism of the ivy-engulfed ruined castle and thought it suited the music perfectly. The photo was a copy of a picture on the cover of a 1980 book In Ruins: The Once Great Houses of Ireland by Simon Marsden and the band's representatives had to pay an undisclosed fee for the copyright infringement.

The ruined, and now even more overgrown, Moydrum Castle in Ireland in 2020.

Yes – ‘Going For The One’ (1977)

After the legendary Roger Dean designed the band's previous four album sleeves from 1971's 'Fragile' to 1974's 'Relayer', Yes enlisted Storm Thorgerson of Hipgnosis fame for 'Going For The One'. The sleeve retained Dean's Yes logo, and featured a naked man looking towards the Century Plaza Towers in Century City, California against a blue sky.

Designed by Minoru Yamasaki (who also designed the original World Trade Center) and completed in 1975, the visually striking and geometric Century Plaza Towers are 174 metres high and the tallest buildings in California outside of Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Neil Young – ‘After The Gold Rush’ (1970)

Neil Young's third studio album from over half a century ago features a photograph of the musician walking through Greenwich Village in New York. The photographer Joel Bernstein was just 18 years old when he took the photo, and he was said to be "shocked" that Neil Young picked it.

A composite of the 'After The Gold Rush' album cover against the railings. They're located on the northwest corner of Sullivan Street and West 3rd Street, Greenwich Village, New York.

Led Zeppelin – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)

The cover to Led Zeppelin's sixth studio album 'Physical Grafitti' features two side-by-side tenement buildings located at 96 and 98 St. Mark's Place in New York's East Village.

As you can see from this Google street view image, artist Peter Corriston and designer Mike Doud were forced to crop out the top floor of the five-storey buildings so they would fit onto the square sleeve better.

The Rolling Stones' video for their 1981 single 'Waiting on a Friend' was filmed on the front steps of #96 St. Mark's Place in an apparent nod to Led Zeppelin. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards meet on the steps of #96 before walking to the corner of 1st Avenue to the meet with the rest of the band.

Rush – ‘Moving Pictures’ (1981)

Created by long-time Rush collaborator Hugh Syme, the artwork to Rush's 1981 magnum opus 'Moving Pictures' is a very literal translation of the album title. A triple entendre, it features workers moving pictures, then the paintings themselves depict emotional – or moving – scenes, and finally the back sleeve has a film crew making a motion picture of proceedings. The sleeve was photographed outside the Ontario Legislative Building at Queen's Park, Toronto.

Defined by its characteristic pink-hue sandstone – giving it the nickname The Pink Palace - the Ontario Legislative Building in Rush's native Canada was completed in 1893. It houses the viceregal suite of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and offices for members of the provincial parliament.

The Who – ‘The Kids Are Alright’ (1979)

The Who's 1979 soundtrack album to the film of the same name features a photograph of Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle and Keith Moon draped in a huge Union Jack flag outside a section of the Carl Schurz Monument at 116th Street and Morningside Drive in New York.

Bob Egan of the website Pop Spots has brilliantly superimposed the artwork onto the monument.

David Bowie - ‘The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars’ (1973)

The artwork to David Bowie's seminal masterpiece 'The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars' depicts of Bowie as Ziggy at 23 Heddon Street in London, outside the home of furriers "K. West". The photograph was taken by Brian Ward in monochrome and recoloured by Terry Pastor.

Here is a 1980s photograph of Heddon Street with the Ziggy Stardust album artwork superimposed on top.

On the 40th anniversary of 'The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars' in 2013 a plaque was unveiled at 23 Heddon Street. Pictured are Spiders from Mars band members Woody Woodmansey and the late Trevor Bolder at the plaque's unveiling.

Led Zeppelin – ‘Houses of the Holy’ (1973)

The otherworldly cover image that adorns Led Zeppelin's fifth studio album 'Houses of the Holy' is a collage of several photographs of two alien-like children (siblings Stefan and Samantha Gates) taken at the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland by Aubrey Powell of Hipgnosis fame.

The 40,000 interlocking and mostly hexagonal basalt columns that make up Giant's Causeway are the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption some 50 to 60 million years ago.

The image on the inner gatefold sleeve of Led Zeppelin's 'Houses of the Holy' was captured at the medieval Dunluce Castle near the Giant's Causeway and depicts a silver man holding up the young girl.

The now ruined Dunluce Castle in Northern Ireland, which was built over half a millennium ago in the Late Middle Ages. It's located on the edge of a basalt outcropping in County Antrim.

KISS - ‘Dressed to Kill’ (1975)

The artwork to KISS's third album depicts Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss and Ace Frehley wearing dodgy suits and standing on the southwest corner of 23rd Street and 8th Avenue looking north in New York City. The photo was taken by esteemed photographer Bob Gruen.

Another Pop Spots image with the KISS 'Dressed to Kill' album cover superimposed over 23rd Street and 8th Avenue.

Pink Floyd - Animals (1977)

Pink Floyd's tenth studio album depicts a floating pig above the imposing Art Deco megastructure of Battersea Power Station in London. Storm Thorgerson designed the sleeve but the idea was the brainchild of Roger Waters who regularly passed the station on journeys into central London from his home.

Located on the south bank of the River Thames, in Nine Elms, Battersea, work on Battersea Power Station was completed in 1955 before it was decommissioned in 1983. The building was converted into flats in 2021 and 2022, and it's currently owned by a consortium of Malaysian investors.

The Clash – ‘The Clash’ (1977)

The Clash's eponymous debut album features artwork designed by Polish artist Rosław Szaybo and a cover photo shot by Kate Simon in an alleyway opposite Camden Market, London.

'The Clash' album cover superimposed on the real alleyway in Camden Town.

Eagles – ‘Hotel California’ (1976)

One of the best-selling records of all time, the Eagles' ubiquitous 1976 album 'Hotel California' is adorned with a photograph of The Beverley Hills Hotel in California. The timeless image was captured by photographer David Alexander while standing 60 feet above Sunset Boulevard on top of a cherry picker.

An aerial photograph of The Beverley Hills Hotel featuring the distinctive turrets and palm trees that appear on the 'Hotel California' cover. Work on the hotel was completed in 1912 and from the 30s to the 70s, the world-famous hotel became synonymous with Hollywood glamour.

Ramones – ‘Rocket To Russia’ (1977)

The photograph hat adorns the Ramones' third studio album was taken by the band's manager Danny Fields at 315 Bowery behind the legendary New York club CBGB.

In image of the exterior of CBGB prior to its closure in 2006 with 'Rocket To Russia' superimposed over it.

Pink Floyd - ‘Wish You Were Here’ (1975)

The photograph of the stuntmen Ronnie Rondell and Danny Rogers for Pink Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here' was taken by Aubrey "Po" Powell of Hipgnosis at The Burbank Studios (now the Warner Bros Studios) in California. Decades before the advent of CGI, one of the stuntmen had to be set on fire wearing a flame-retardant suit and Rondell drew the proverbial short straw.

The Warner Bros Studio complex in Burbank, California in 2020.

Steely Dan – ‘Pretzel Logic’ (1974)

Walter Becker and Donald Fagen's third album features a photograph of a pretzel seller taken by the late Raeanne Rubenstein. The pretzel seller was standing on the west side of Fifth Avenue and 79th Street in New York near the Miners' Gate entrance of Central Park.

A composite picture of the album cover on the real 'Pretzel Logic' location in New York.

Deep Purple – ‘Deep Purple in Rock’ (1970)

The 'Deep Purple in Rock' album cover was the brainchild of the band's manager Tony Edwards, who suggested placing the US Presidents' heads on Mount Rushmore with the heads of the Mark II line-up; Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, Roger Glover, Jon Lord and Ian Paice.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills in Keystone, South Dakota. Created by Gutzon Borglum, the sculpture features the 60-foot (18 m) heads of Presidents George Washington (1732–1799), Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919), and Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865).

Queen – ‘Made In Heaven’ (1995)

Queen's last studio album, released four years after Freddie Mercury's death, features a photograph at dusk of Irena Sedlecká's Mercury sculpture located at Lake Geneva in Montreux, Switzerland.

The iconic Freddie Mercury statue overlooking Lake Geneva in Montreux. Standing three metres high, the sculpture was unveiled several years after Freddie's death by Montserrat Caballé and Freddie's mother Jer.

Black Sabbath – ‘The Best of Black Sabbath’ (2000)

Black Sabbath's 2000 compilation album 'The Best of Black Sabbath' features a black-and-white photograph of four water-filled stone graves on the cover.

The stone graves date back to around the 11th Century and they're located at the ruined St Patrick's Chapel in Heysham, Lancashire overlooking Morecambe Bay. Photography by Twitter user @gdpreston __ .

Led Zeppelin – ‘Led Zeppelin IV’ (1971)

The block of flats that can been seen on the back sleeve of the gatefold to 'Led Zeppelin IV' is Salisbury Tower, a 20-storey tower block on Middleway View in the Ladywood district of Birmingham. Completed in 1968, the tower is 57 metres tall and contains 116 flats.

Birmingham's Salisbury Tower from the Led Zeppelin 'IV' back sleeve in August 2020.

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• rick wakeman

Live Performances

Rick Wakeman is at his best in front of an audience, as we're sure many of you know. This page contains details of all forthcoming performances worldwide. We also try where possible to list appearances on TV and radio.

You can also checkout Rick's Previous Tours or an archive of selected Tour Programmes

The Final Solo Tour

Rick will be embarking on a tour of the U.S. and South America with a series of solo piano concerts for the last time in 2024. Rick, who has become almost as well known for his intimate piano shows as his prog rock extravaganzas, has decided that after a career spanning over 50 years, he is calling a halt to lengthy American one-man show tours, in order to concentrate on composing, recording and collaborating with other musicians.

As an exclusive gift for fans, on these shows Rick will be premiering a brand new piece of music, "Yessonata", a 30 minute instrumental work featuring YES themes and melodies, woven into sonata form.

Rick says, "I always planned to stop touring by my 77th birthday – for those of you who wish to send me a card, it's 18th May! – but there is so much to fit in before then that I'm having to make plans now and so my final one-man shows will have to cease by that date. I have thoroughly enjoyed performing the various one-man shows, but it's time to call it a day. I intend to throw in the best of what I have done in the past, plus a few new surprises on the way, and possibly even the odd guest joining me on the odd occasion. The plan is not to perform at the same venue twice throughout this period, so whatever venue you are hopefully thinking of coming to, it will be the last performance there – and I am taking this opportunity of thanking everyone and anyone who has supported me over the last 53 years!"

More dates later in 2024 will be announced in due course, please do not contact the site asking about future dates.

Please also read Rick's further statement about this tour.

Yuletide Christmas Show

After a year off, Rick's traditional Christmas tour returns in November and December 2024 with an all-new show!

" There's an old expression which goes 'If it ain't broke, then don't fix it' ", says Rick, " and in most cases, that's absolutely correct. However, I've decided that in spite of the success of the tried and tested formula for my solo Christmas tours over the last few years, it's time for a rethink, and so the one-man show becomes a three-man show – well, two male and one female, to be entirely accurate. "

With a stage set-up of two keyboards and a grand piano, Rick will be joined by two very special guests: his son and fellow keyboard player Adam Wakeman and Mollie Marriott, daughter of the late Steve Marriott, both of whom performed so brilliantly with him as part of the English Rock Ensemble on his Return Of The Caped Crusader tour in February.

The tour will start in Portsmouth on 23 November 2024 and then visit High Wycombe, St Albans, Folkestone, Leicester, Basingstoke, Evesham, Croydon, Bradford, Worthing, Ipswich, Bexhill, Poole, Guildford and Bath before concluding at London's Cadogan Hall on 20 December.

The new line-up will give Rick much more range and flexibility in the material he is able to perform, which will be a mixture of old and new from his back catalogue, some traditional Christmas songs and an unexpected piece of audience participation!

Expect hilarious banter from Wakemans Senior and Junior, as Adam tries to control his father's gentle 'unwokeness', fabulous soaring vocals from Mollie and virtuosic performances from a pair of musicians widely acknowledged as two of the most outstanding keyboard players in the business.

Rick says it will be an evening of festive fun with a difference. Adam says he's worried what his father means by that. Mollie says, whatever, she'll probably side with Rick, as he's paying the wages! In other words, a Christmas show not to be missed!

Tickets for The Rick Wakeman Yuletide Christmas Show 2024 go on sale at 10am on Friday 1 March.

No tour currently scheduled.

One off Appearances

Fairport's cropredy convention.

Rick and the English Rock Ensemble will be headlining the first day of Cropredy on Thursday 8th August 2024, their first appearance since 2010. Tickets are now available .

Nothing currently scheduled.

Previous Tours/Appearances

These are the tours that have been listed on RWCC since 1996. For earlier dates, you can try setlist.fm

• The Return Of The Caped Crusader (Feb)
• His Music and Stories USA (Mar-Apr)
• The Even Grumpier Old Rock Star Tour USA Leg 2 (Feb-Mar)
• Rick Wakeman and The English Rock Ensemble UK Tour (Mar-Apr)
• Grumpy Christmas Stocking Tour (Nov-Dec)
• The Even Grumpier Old Rock Star Tour USA Leg 1 (Oct-Nov)
• The Not Quite As Grumpy As Last Xmas Tour (Nov/Dec)
• Piano Odyssey (May-Nov)
• Grumpy Old Rock Star USA & Canada (Sep-Oct)
• YES featuring ARW 50th Anniversary (Jun-Sep)
• Piano Odyssey (Sep-Nov)
• Christmas Piano Odyssey (Dec)
• Yet Another Evening with Rick Wakeman (Jan-May)
• YES Featuring ARW (Mar-Jul)
• Piano Portraits (May-Nov)
• YES featuring ARW North America (Aug-Oct)
• Yet Another Evening With Rick Wakeman Part Two (Feb-Dec)
• ARW in North America (Oct-Dec)
• Yet Another Evening With Rick Wakeman (Jan/Apr)
• A Very Intimate Evening (Jan/Dec)
• Journey to the Centre of the Earth UK (Apr/May)
• The English Rock Ensemble in South America (Oct/Nov)
• Edinburgh Fringe (Aug)
• A Very Intimate Evening (Apr-Oct)
• A Very Intimate Evening (Mar-Dec)
• A Very Intimate Evening (Feb-Dec)
• Anderson Wakeman USA Tour (Oct-Nov)
• A Very Intimate Evening (Jan-Dec)
• Anderson Wakeman Project 360 (Oct-Nov)
• Grumpy Old Picture Show (Apr-May)
• Rick Wakeman and The English Rock Ensemble in Canada (Aug)
• Grumpy Old Picture Show (Oct-Nov)
• Anderson and Wakeman Live in Concert UK (Oct-Nov)
• The Grand Piano Tour USA (Jun-Jul)
• Rick was on tour with YES on the 35th Anniversary Tour (Apr-Sep)
• Rick Wakeman and the NERE Out There (Apr-May)
• Rick was on tour with YES on the Full Circle Tour (Jun-Oct)
• The Other Side of Rick Wakeman (Oct-Nov)
• Rick was on tour with YES on the Full Circle Tour (Jul-Dec)
• Rick Wakeman Back Again (Mar-Apr)
• An Evening with Rick Wakeman (Feb-Apr)
• The English Rock Ensemble in South America (Sep)
• An Evening with Rick Wakeman (Oct-Nov)
• The Half a Century Tour (May-Jun)
• Words and Music Tour 98 (Mar-Apr)
• The New Gospels in California (Mar)
• The Piano Tour (Apr-May)
• The Six Piece at Ronnie Scotts (Jul)
• The It's Nearly Xmas Tour (Oct-Nov)
• Wot's On TV Tonite Tour (Apr-Jun)
• The Six Piece Tour (Oct-Nov)
• The Piano Tour (Nov-Dec)

In addition to the above formal tours, this is a list of one off dates .

Previous Tour Programmes

These tour programmes are presented as PDF files. My thanks go to the contributors of these programmes.

Contributors: Paul Chandler, John Chivers, Martin Cook, Paulo Edson, Graham Johnson, Eddie Lee, Eddie McFadden, Brian Neeson, Craig Smith, Derek Wales

• Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1974)
• Journey at Crystal Palace (1974)
• North American Tour (1974)
• King Arthur at Wembley (1975)
• Journey in Australia (1975)
• Japanese Tour (1975)
• Rick Wakeman Em Concerto in Brazil (1975)
• Rick Wakeman in Concert (1976)
• No Earthly Connection (1976)
• Rick Wakeman in Concert at Sun City (1981)
• Journey in Durban (1981)
• The Daily Error (1981)
• Silent Nights (1985)
• Southbank Pops '87 (1987)
• Rick Wakeman 20 Years (1989)
• Ere We Go Again (1990)
• Classical Connections II (1992)
• Wakeman with Wakeman (1992)
• Rick & Adam Wakeman - Alone at Last (1994)
• Wot's On TV Tonite (1996)
• The Piano Tour (1996-7)
• It's Nearly Christmas Tour (1997)
• The New Gospels (1997)
• An Evening with Rick Wakeman (2000)
• Back Again (2001)
• The Ultimate Experience Live in Gloucester (2013)
• Piano Portraits (2017)
• Piano Odyssey (2018)
• Piano Portraits Live at Lincoln Cathedral (2018)
• The Grumpy Old Christmas Show (2019)
• Grumpy Old Rock Star Tour USA (2019)
• Journey at the Royal Festival Hall (2019)

Rick Wakeman's Grumpy Christmas Stocking Tour

Keyboard player/composer/raconteur rick wakeman cbe’s grumpy christmas tours are now as traditional in the festive season as mince pies and pantomime (oh yes, they are…) and 2022 is no exception..

Audiences can expect music taken across the breadth of Rick’s career, from his work as keyboard player in legendary prog rock band YES to his solo career and session work, plus covers given an unexpected twist and festive tunes uniquely rearranged Wakeman style, performed on grand piano and electric keyboards. 

All of this musical virtuosity will, of course, be punctuated by Rick’s typically ridiculous stories, which, as he himself states, always contain an element of truth – it’s up to the audience to decide how much!

“I love Christmas - it’s just as well, as this will be my 74th Christmas. I will admit that I don’t remember 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952 very well, but after that, little bits of memory start to trickle back. I’m hoping this will be my best Christmas ever, but if not – well, there’s always next year!” Rick Wakeman

VIP Meet & Greet Experience Premium top price ticket within the first 3 rows Meet and greet with Rick Wakeman Photo opportunity Exclusive Rick Wakeman Christmas Gift Rick Wakeman Christmas Tote Bag VIP Tickets: £143.50

• Duration: 2hr 10mins
• Price: £41.50 (VIP £143.50)

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Music, Reviews and More…

RICK WAKEMAN ANNOUNCES GRUMPY CHRISTMAS STOCKING TOUR

Picture by: Lee Wilkinson

Rick Wakeman , keyboard player – extraordinaire announces dates for his Grumpy Christmas Stocking Tour later this year.

The announcement follows his small UK tour with the English Rock Ensemble earlier this year.

Rick’s Grumpy Christmas tours are now as traditional in the festive season as mince pies and pantomime ( “oh yes, they are…” ) and 2022 is no exception. Taking in some UK cities Rick Wakeman hasn’t visited for several years.

The tour kicks off off in Croydon on 24 November before visiting Dartford, Newcastle, Liverpool, Poole, Bath, Barnstaple, Swansea, Cheltenham, Birmingham, Cambridge, Stoke-on-Trent, York, Blackburn, Buxton and Ipswich before concluding in Worthing on 21 December.

Audiences can expect music taken across the breadth of Rick’s career, from his work as keyboard player in legendary prog rock band YES to his solo career and session work, plus covers given an unexpected twist and festive tunes uniquely rearranged Wakeman style, performed on grand piano and electric keyboards.  All of this musical virtuosity will, of course, be punctuated by Rick’s typically ridiculous stories, which, as he himself states, always contain an element of truth – it’s up to the audience to decide how much!

“I love Christmas,”  says Rick.  “It’s just as well, as this will be my 74 th  Christmas. I will admit that I don’t remember 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952 very well, but after that, little bits of memory start to trickle back. I’m hoping this will be my best Christmas ever, but if not – well, there’s always next year!”

Tickets and VIP packages for Rick Wakeman’s Grumpy Christmas Stocking Tour are available HERE

DannyStoakes

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Rick Wakeman’s Grumpy Christmas Stocking Tour

PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS A PAST EVENT ~ SEE THE MAIN EVENTS PAGE FOR NEW EVENTS

Category : Christmas Seasonal

Event Tags : Christmas , Poole Events

Interested in this event? Add a reminder to your Calendar

Date : Fri, 2nd December 2022

Time : 7:00pm - 10:00pm

Location : Lighthouse, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Booking Required : Advised

Price : £36.50

Find Tickets and More Information

Grumpy Christmas Stocking Show

Rick’s Grumpy Christmas tours are now as traditional in the festive season as mince pies and pantomime (oh yes, they are…) and 2022 is no exception.

Audiences can expect music taken across the breadth of Rick’s career, from his work as keyboard player in legendary prog rock band YES to his solo career and session work, plus covers given an unexpected twist and festive tunes uniquely rearranged Wakeman style, performed on grand piano and electric keyboards. All of this musical virtuosity will, of course, be punctuated by Rick’s typically ridiculous stories, which, as he himself states, always contain an element of truth – it’s up to the audience to decide how much!

This year, Rick’s Grumpy Christmas Stocking Tour will be taking him to some cities of the UK that he hasn’t visited for several years, kicking off in Croydon on 24 November before visiting Dartford, Newcastle, Liverpool, Poole, Bath, Barnstaple, Swansea, Cheltenham, Birmingham, Cambridge, Stoke-on-Trent, York, Blackburn, Buxton and Ipswich before concluding in Worthing on 21 December.

“I love Christmas,” says Rick. “It’s just as well, as this will be my 74th Christmas. I will admit that I don’t remember 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952 very well, but after that, little bits of memory start to trickle back. I’m hoping this will be my best Christmas ever, but if not – well, there’s always next year!”

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All Setlists

• All setlist songs  ( 605 )

Years on tour

• 2024  ( 16 )
• 2023  ( 22 )
• 2022  ( 34 )
• 2021  ( 29 )
• 2020  ( 1 )
• 2019  ( 49 )
• 2018  ( 29 )
• 2017  ( 19 )
• 2016  ( 12 )
• 2015  ( 15 )
• 2014  ( 28 )
• 2013  ( 3 )
• 2012  ( 7 )
• 2011  ( 9 )
• 2010  ( 7 )
• 2009  ( 8 )
• 2008  ( 11 )
• 2007  ( 10 )
• 2006  ( 5 )
• 2005  ( 4 )
• 2004  ( 1 )
• 2003  ( 22 )
• 2002  ( 2 )
• 2001  ( 17 )
• 2000  ( 18 )
• 1999  ( 1 )
• 1998  ( 1 )
• 1997  ( 5 )
• 1996  ( 6 )
• 1995  ( 1 )
• 1994  ( 3 )
• 1993  ( 19 )
• 1992  ( 7 )
• 1991  ( 5 )
• 1990  ( 7 )
• 1989  ( 2 )
• 1988  ( 5 )
• 1987  ( 4 )
• 1986  ( 1 )
• 1985  ( 12 )
• 1984  ( 2 )
• 1981  ( 17 )
• 1980  ( 20 )
• 1979  ( 4 )
• 1977  ( 1 )
• 1976  ( 25 )
• 1975  ( 56 )
• 1974  ( 23 )

Show all tours

• An Evening with Rick Wakeman  ( 2 )
• Final Solo Tour  ( 13 )
• Grumpy Christmas Stocking Tour  ( 17 )
• Grumpy Old Christmas Show 2019  ( 11 )
• Grumpy Old Rock Star Tour 2019  ( 24 )
• Journey to the Centre of the Earth  ( 7 )
• Live with Symphony Orchestra  ( 6 )
• No Earthly Connection  ( 1 )
• North American Tour '74  ( 20 )
• Piano Odyssey  ( 21 )
• Piano Odyssey 2019  ( 12 )
• Piano Portraits Tour 2017  ( 14 )
• Rick Wakeman - His Music & Stories  ( 19 )
• Solo Piano Show  ( 3 )
• The "Half a Century" Tour (1999)  ( 1 )
• The English Rock Ensemble in South America 2012  ( 2 )
• The Even Grumpier Old Rock Star Tour  ( 26 )
• The Myths & Legends of King Arthur and the Knights Of The Round Table  ( 38 )
• The Not Quite As Grumpy As Last Xmas Tour  ( 16 )
• The Other Side of Rick Wakeman  ( 9 )
• The Piano Tour  ( 1 )
• Avg Setlist
• Concert Map

Average setlist for tour: Grumpy Christmas Stocking Tour

Note: only considered 5 of 17 setlists (ignored empty and strikingly short setlists)

• In the Bleak Midwinter Play Video
• Amazing Grace / Morning Has Broken Play Video
• Just a Memory Play Video
• Deck the Halls / Ding Dong Merrily on High / And You and I / Wonderous Stories Play Video
• Merlin the Magician Play Video
• Jane Seymour / Catherine Howard Play Video
• The Dance of a Thousand Lights Play Video
• Sea Horses Play Video
• Gone but Not Forgotten Play Video
• The Creek Play Video
• Space Oddity / Life on Mars? ( David Bowie  cover) Play Video
• Help! / Eleanor Rigby ( The Beatles  cover) Play Video
• Silent Night ( Joseph Mohr & Franz Gruber  cover) Play Video
• Clair de lune ( Claude Debussy  cover) Play Video

Show Openers

Main set closers, show closers, encores played.

This feature is not that experimental anymore. Nevertheless, please give feedback if the results don't make any sense to you.

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Rick Wakeman

Useful information

When will i get my tickets.

Wednesday 30 November 2022 8pm Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Keyboard player/composer/raconteur Rick Wakeman CBE’s Grumpy Christmas tour is now as traditional in the festive season as mince pies and pantomime (oh yes, they are…) and 2022 is no exception.

Audiences can expect music taken across the breadth of Rick’s career, from his work as keyboard player in legendary prog rock band YES to his solo career and session work, plus covers given an unexpected twist and festive tunes uniquely rearranged Wakeman style, performed on grand piano and electric keyboards. All of this musical virtuosity will, of course, be punctuated by Rick’s typically ridiculous stories, which, as he himself states, always contain an element of truth – it’s up to the audience to decide how much!

'I love Christmas...it's just as well, as this will be my 74th Christmas. I will admit that I don’t remember 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952 very well, but after that, little bits of memory start to trickle back. I’m hoping this will be my best Christmas ever, but if not – well, there’s always next year!' Rick Wakeman

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Rick Wakeman's Grumpy Christmas Stocking Tour

Tue 29 Nov All Day Rick Wakeman's Grumpy Christmas Stocking Tour

Event Details

A must-do for all the Scrooges and Grinches out there, catch Rick Wakeman’s Grumpy Christmas Stocking Tour when it swings by Tyne Theatre & Opera House this

A must-do for all the Scrooges and Grinches out there, catch Rick Wakeman’s  Grumpy Christmas Stocking Tour  when it swings by Tyne Theatre & Opera House this November!

After all, who says Christmas must be full of upbeat festive feels and fun? The former YES keyboardist and self-confessed grump will perform unique musical arrangements and recount hilarious stories from his own life – all in his own inimitably crabby style!

All Day (Tuesday)

Tyne Theatre and Opera House

117 Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4AG

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• Rick Wakeman’s Grumpy Christmas Stocking Tour

Kilimanjaro

Rick wakeman's grumpy christmas stocking tour.

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Age Guidance:

Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult

140 minutes

• Description

Renowned keyboardist Rick Wakeman CBE is coming to Worthing!

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Christmas gift guide to Moscow surroundings

Visitors from America and Western Europe might be surprised to discover that Russia celebrates Christmas on January 7th. That’s because the Russian Orthodox Church follows the Julian calendar. After the end of the Soviet Union, some Russians have begun celebrating Christmas on December 25 in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. But many Russians still observe the tradition of fasting on January 6th, breaking the fast with a large feast on Christmas Eve after the first star has appeared in the sky.

During the Soviet era, Christmas and religious traditions were banned in Russia. Santa Claus was replaced by Ded Moroz, or, Grandfather Frost, an old man with a long white beard who would bring gifts to children on New Year’s instead of Christmas. According to Russian tradition, Ded Moroz is accompanied by his granddaughter, Snegurochka, the Snowmaiden, who helps him on his journey to give presents to children.

Although the tradition of having a Christmas tree, known as a yolka in Russian, was also banned during Soviet times, Russians got around this by having New Year’s trees from which they hung homemade decorations. Today, the restrictions of the Soviet Union have faded into history, and during the Christmas season visitors to Russia can even purchase Christmas ornaments in the shape of matryoshka dolls, or religious icons that depict nativity scenes.

Heading counterclockwise around the Golden Ring this holiday season, northeast of Moscow, your first stop will most likely be the city of Vladimir, home to some of Russia’s most striking churches and cathedrals. The Vladimir region is known for its fine crystal. Stop by the Crystal, Lacquer Miniatures, and Embroidery Museum ( 2 Bolshaya Moskovskaya ) for an overview of traditional crafts before visiting the gift shop in the museum to browse the crystal selection. Vladimir Chic ( 2 Dvoryanskaya ) also sells local glass and crystal work.

Typical souvenirs are also for sale in Vladimir’s old town, especially by the Golden Gate, a triumphal arch and defensive tower that is one of the last-remaining parts of the wall that once surrounded ancient Vladimir and a sure stop on any tour of the Golden Ring.

Just 63 kilometers from Vladimir lays the nearby city of Gus-Khrustalny , the ‘Crystal Goose,’ also home to a rich glass and crystal making tradition. You can visit the glassmaking factory in Gus-Khrustalny and buy gifts ranging from plates and vases to decanters, or visit the outlet store back in Moscow ( 4 Ilyinka ) just east of the Kremlin.

North of Vladimir, you’ll arrive in Suzdal, one of the Golden Ring route’s more tranquil towns. Suzdal boasts a number of small bazaars and stands outside the main tourist sites where visitors can purchase local honey mead, called medovukha, along with traditional crafts, like a pair valenki, or Russian woolen boots, which make an ideal Christmas gift for friends and family back home. The shopping stands outside Suzdal’s Museum of Wooden Architecture and Peasant Life ( Ul. Pushkarskaya ) are also highly recommended. Market Square ( Torgovaya Pl ) houses a number of shops where visitors can search for arts and crafts.

Following the Golden Ring north of Suzdal, many tours will stop in the city of Kostroma, a former trading outpost on the immense Volga River. One of the city’s highlights is the Museum of Linen and Birchbark ( 38 Tereshkova ), where visitors can view exhibits on traditional Russian crafts woven from flax and bark. A gift shop in the basement sells tablecloths, napkins, baskets, linen dolls, and traditional clothing typical of the region.

South from Kostroma, stop in the city of Rostov-Veliky for enamel jewelry, a craft which allows artists to produce small paintings on metal that are then fired to produce a thin glaze over the image. Rostov became famous for its tradition of enamel work. Today, visitors can purchase rings, earrings, bracelets, brooches, and jewelry boxes in the gift shop of the Rostov Enamel factory ( 3 Borisoglebskoye Highway ).

While you’re in Rostov, visit the House of Crafts ( 16 Vtoraya Tolstovskaya Naberezhnaya ) for local pottery and the Souvenirs shop ( 5 Ul. Kamennyi Most ) for ushanka hats—Russian fur caps with earflaps—paintings, and samovars for tea lovers.

The last two stops on a tour of the Golden Ring are the cities of Pereslavl-Zalesskiy and Sergiev Posad. Pereslavl is most famous for its embroidery work, available at the Art Salon ( 12 Ul. Sovetskaya ) along with souvenirs made of wood and stone. Nearby Sergiev Posad is considered the place where Russia’s matryoshka dolls were first invented, and was the chief production center of the dolls before Soviet times. Visit the city’s Toy Museum ( 123 Pr. Krasny Armii ) to get a better sense of the birthplace of one of Russia’s most recognizable toys, then head over to the market alongside the Trinity Monastery of St. Sergius—one of the city’s most important sites—to load up on matryoshka dolls, painted eggs, and icons before going home.

If you’ll be in the Golden Ring during New Years, the city of Vladimir hosts an impressive Christmas fair, with an iceskating rink and performances by local artists, in the main square ( Sobornaya Pl ). In most other Golden Ring cities you’ll find similar events in the center square as Christmas nears.

Most shops and markets in the Golden Ring are open year round. If you’re coming to Russia for a short period of time, whether in winter or summer, consider a trip to this stunning part of the country, and bring an extra bag if you plan to go shopping for Christmas gifts.

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Moscow Metro 2019

Will it be easy to find my way in the Moscow Metro? It is a question many visitors ask themselves before hitting the streets of the Russian capital. As metro is the main means of transport in Moscow – fast, reliable and safe – having some skills in using it will help make your visit more successful and smooth. On top of this, it is the most beautiful metro in the world !

. There are over 220 stations and 15 lines in the Moscow Metro. It is open from 6 am to 1 am. Trains come very frequently: during the rush hour you won't wait for more than 90 seconds! Distances between stations are quite long – 1,5 to 2 or even 3 kilometers. Metro runs inside the city borders only. To get to the airport you will need to take an onground train - Aeroexpress.

RATES AND TICKETS

Paper ticket A fee is fixed and does not depend on how far you go. There are tickets for a number of trips: 1, 2 or 60 trips; or for a number of days: 1, 3 days or a month. Your trips are recorded on a paper ticket. Ifyou buy a ticket for several trips you can share it with your traveling partner passing it from one to the other at the turnstile.

On every station there is cashier and machines (you can switch it to English). Cards and cash are accepted. 1 trip - 55 RUB 2 trips - 110 RUB

Tickets for 60 trips and day passes are available only at the cashier's.

60 rides - 1900 RUB

1 day - 230 RUB 3 days - 438 RUB 30 days - 2170 RUB.

The cheapest way to travel is buying Troyka card . It is a plastic card you can top up for any amount at the machine or at the ticket office. With it every trip costs 38 RUB in the metro and 21 RUB in a bus. You can get the card in any ticket office. Be prepared to leave a deposit of 50 RUB. You can get it back returning the card to the cashier.

SamsungPay, ApplePay and PayPass cards.

One turnstile at every station accept PayPass and payments with phones. It has a sticker with the logos and located next to the security's cabin.

GETTING ORIENTED

At the platfrom you will see one of these signs.

It indicates the line you are at now (line 6), shows the direction train run and the final stations. Numbers below there are of those lines you can change from this line.

In trains, stations are announced in Russian and English. In newer trains there are also visual indication of there you are on the line.

To change lines look for these signs. This one shows the way to line 2.

There are also signs on the platfrom. They will help you to havigate yourself. (To the lines 3 and 5 in this case). 

Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

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