JUST one week remains until The Divine Comedy frontman and prolific TV composer Neil Hannon plays a gig in Uttlesford.
Next Friday (Feb 24), the singer and multi-instrumentalist is coming to Felsted School as part of its six-month Olympiad extravaganza.
The founder and sole constant member of the indie-pop band, best known for quirky 1999 single National Express, Neil’s accomplishments extend far beyond his adventures in the limelight.
He’s been a key player behind the scenes of many films and TV shows, providing the main theme for hit Channel 4 sitcoms Father Ted and The IT Crowd.
Neil also wrote throwaway number My Lovely Horse for an episode of the former, in which the main characters try to write a song for a Eurovision-style competition.
On top of that, the Northern Ireland-born musician penned opening track So Long And Thanks For All The Fish for 2005’s big-screen adaptation of Douglas Adams’ cult sci-fi comedy The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
His songs have also appeared in the BBC’s reboot of Doctor Who – including new song Love Don’t Roam, which was written specially for the show’s 2006 festive episode The Runaway Bride.
Outside of his television work, Neil has been a guest artist on albums and at live shows with such diverse acts as Air, Keane and Tom Jones. More recently, he has branched out into theatre with a 2011 musical based on Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons.
Also lined up to appear at Felsted’s Olympiad is high-flying classical cellist and composer Julian Lloyd Webber, who is patron of the independent secondary’s music school. He is playing an exclusive one-off concert on March 2.
Neil Hannon’s event starts at 7.30pm and tickets are £16.50. See www.felsted.org/olympiadbooking or ring (01371) 822600.
