WEST Cumbrian-born singer/songwriter Francis Dunnery is set to fill Whitehaven’s Rosehill Theatre two nights on the run when he returns home this weekend.
Francis, who shot to fame as the leader of Cumbrian prog-rock group It Bites, is having to stage a second concert because of the overwhelming demand from people who want to see him play with David Sancious and Dorie Jackson.
All 200 tickets for the concert on Saturday sold out months ago, and the theatre has been inundated with requests from people wanting to put their name down on a waiting list.
Francis has agreed to stage a second concert on the Sunday night to meet demand – and Rosehill bosses say it also looks likely to be a sell-out.
Marketing manager Simon Haworth said: “He has to be one of the most popular acts we have had. He is a local lad done good and with him living in the States he doesn’t come across that often.
“It’s great that he is coming here again and has chosen us, and not gone to another venue. He obviously likes it here.”
Francis, singer Dorie Jackson and David Sancious – who has played with Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Sting and Eric Clapton – went down a storm when they played to a capacity audience at Rosehill in January.
The theatre could have sold the 200 tickets twice over.
Francis is back in his native West Cumbria this weekend for his annual fundraising in aid of the Charlie and Kathleen Dunnery Children’s Fund, which he set up in memory of his parents.
Events include a sponsored walk, football tournament and the money will go to Bookwell School in Francis’s home town of Egremont.
Tickets for the extra gig at Rosehill, which starts at 7.30pm on Sunday, are £15 / £13 / £10, available from the box office on 01946 692422.
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 20, 2005
Published in The Whitehaven News