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British musician Mike Oldfield was still in his teens when he
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recorded his first studio album, the iconic number one chart
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topper Tubular Bells.
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Welcome to theater first with Alex first.
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It was the first release on Richard Branson's fledgling
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label Virgin Records and went on to sell more than 40 million
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copies sales surged when Tubular Bell's opening theme was used in
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the soundtrack on the Oscar winning horror film, The
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Exorcist. That was 1973. This year marks the 50th anniversary
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of the release of the seminal album.
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The two sides of which run for a combined total of 49 minutes and
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16 seconds. Tubular Bells For Two sees, Daniel Holdsworth and
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Tom Bamford recreate those evocative sounds as they juggle
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more than 20 instruments live on stage. As one would turn over
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their record. The boys take a short breather and chat to us
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about their journey.
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Nearly 15 years ago, Daniel and Aidan Roberts ventured into the
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unknown at a pub in the Harbor City as part of Sydney Fringe,
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someone from Art Center Melbourne saw them and booked
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them for a week long gig in the Fairfax studio. The show has now
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been performed nearly 500 times in close to 20 countries
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throughout the UK, Europe, the United States, Australia and New
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Zealand.
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Tom Bamford replaced Aidan Roberts in the lineup in 2017,
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featuring a wide variety of styles from gentle to raucous.
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The lads are rushed off their feet as they dash around a sea
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of instruments. The stage is set up with the large golden pipes
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as its most appropriate centerpiece, keyboards, guitars,
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bass, drums, flute, and more are all part of the repertoire which
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ranges from the melodic to the frenzied.
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It's an inspired show. It unfolds with good humor. Watch
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for the flute being flung in front of a devoted audience
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which appreciates the musicianship and the spectacle
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just like Oldfield himself who did something decidedly left
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field.
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Five decades ago, Tubular Bells For Two, started with the
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unconventional and continues to resonate both the album and this
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rendition of it. Make for superb listening. And watching
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Australian tour dates can be found at Tubular Bells For Two
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dot com. Jump on board for according to the boys, 2023 will
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be their last hurrah replicating the complete sounds of Tubular
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Bells. You've been listening.
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To theater first with Alex first available at Apple Podcasts,
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Google Podcasts, Spotify, Iheart Radio or your favorite podcast
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player. You can also stream on demand at bites dot com.
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This has been another quality podcast production from bits dot
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com.