With “An Evening of Francis Rossi’s Songs from the Status Quo Songbook and more…” Francis Rossi promises a refreshing take on some of his most loved and enduring material, and indiscreet fresh tales from across the incredible career of one of Rock’s great performers and raconteurs.
Francis Rossi is embarking on a 34-date tour of the UK from April to June 2025, with a brand new show billed as “An Evening of Francis Rossi’s Songs from the Status Quo Songbook and More…” These shows will feature songs that he has not ever played before in this format and offer first hand backstage tales about appearing over 100 times on Top Of The Pops, why they went on first at Live Aid, life with Rick Parfitt, the hits, fellow stars, and misadventures across the world, all cut through with Francis’ wit and humour. A strictly limited amount of VIP tickets will be available at each show, and will include: a pre-show Meet & Greet with Francis, personal photo opportunity (please bring your own phone/camera for this), signing opportunity for one of your own items, one of the best seats in the house for the show, and an exclusive tour merchandise item.
Francis will performing many of his signature hits that made the Quo name, plus some personal favourites and deeper cuts, and he’ll be telling more stories about his incredible life in music. Think you know Francis? Not yet you don’t… The story starts with ‘Pictures of Matchstick Men’ but continues right up to the present day. Francis will mostly be playing his Acoustasonic guitar which, as he says, “is basically a Telecaster but is more compatible with a show of this nature – it still has the ring and sound of a Tele”.
As well as the continuing success with Status Quo – the band have a fully packed calendar of shows once again this year – Francis has been enjoying taking his one-man show out on the road. These new 2025 shows promise lots more music, but plenty of talk too. The shows will lift the curtain on what life is really like in one of Britain’s biggest and best bands, and also provide some context for all the crazy stuff that has happened along the way.
Francis himself says, “This is a brand new show, I have been experimenting with the catalogue and I know what works best. It’s been fascinating and I have been amazed how well some songs work in a lower key, or with a different arrangement. In 2025 there will be plenty of songs included that I haven’t done before: ‘Army’, ‘Dirty Water’, ‘Don’t Waste My Time’, ‘Roll Over Lay Down’; even ‘Down Down’ – which I was very surprised to find worked this way, but it’s fantastic. These shows are a real treat for me, they suit my voice really well, and I don’t have to yell. Plus I know people enjoy the likes of ‘Caroline’, ‘Paper Plane’, ‘Break The Rules’, ‘What You’re Proposin’’ and ‘Rockin’ All Over The World’ so I’ll be putting those in again too! This show lays out the story of Quo – some of the things that have happened I can barely believe myself – and it tells my own story too.”