PROCOL HARUM have announced a 50th anniversary show in London next March, reports Teamrock.com.

Led by founding member, singer, pianist and composer Gary Brooker since 1967, the British symphonic outfit will celebrate 50 years since the release of their single A Whiter Shade Of Pale with a concert at the city’s Royal Festival Hall on March 3.

They’ll also be accompanied by a full orchestra and the English New Chamber Choir conducted by David Firman.

The show will see PROCOL HARUM “Dip into their vast catalogue and cannon of worldwide hits accompanied by the orchestra to bring to the stage the magic that they have always retained, taking influences from diverse strands of popular music including blues, R&B, soul, baroque, and classical. There will also be a few new surprises too.”

The statement continues: “As one of the 20th century’s most illustrious British rock groups, this 50th anniversary show will allow fans both old and new to hear their iconic songs performed in the beautiful symphonic soundscape their music so richly deserves.”

The current lineup features bassist Matt Pegg, drummer Geoff Dunn, guitarist Geoff Whitehorn and Hammond organ player Josh Phillips, who have worked with a number of artists including Jethro Tull, Jimmy Page, Van Morrisson, Paul Rodgers and Pete Townsend.

Tickets can now be purchased via Ticketmaster.

Esoteric Recordings are proud to announce the release of a newly re-mastered and expanded edition of the classic 1968 self-titled debut album by PROCOL HARUM. Released in January 1968, the record followed on from the huge international success of the band’s debut single “A Whiter Shade of Pale” and the follow up single “Homburg”. One of the finest releases of the era “Procol Harum” captured the exquisite song writing of Gary Brooker and Keith Reid and the excellence of the musicians in the group, namely Gary Brooker (voice, piano), Robin Trower (lead guitar), David Knights (bass guitar), B.J. Wilson (drums) and Matthew Fisher (Hammond organ). The overall result was a collection of songs that would prove to be truly ground breaking, despite only having being released in Mono at the insistence of producer Denny Cordell.

Released in the UK in December 1968, “Shine on Brightly” followed on from the huge international success in 1967 of the band’s debut single ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ and the follow up single “Homburg” and built on the creative path begun on Procol Harum’s self-titled debut album issued in January 1968. Gary Brooker (voice, piano), Robin Trower (lead guitar), David Knights (bass guitar), B.J. Wilson (drums) and Matthew Fisher (Hammond organ) took the music of the band to new heights with this, their second album. Dominated by the 17-minute epic suite ‘In Held ‘Twas in I’, Procol Harum re-wrote the rule book of popular music with the material written and recorded for “Shine On Brightly”.

Released in June 1969, A Salty Dog followed on from the superb albums PROCOL HARUM and SHINE ON BRIGHTLY. One of the finest releases of the era “A Salty Dog” saw the exquisite song writing of Gary Brooker and Keith Reid honed to perfection on highlights such as the album’s title track, “The Devil Came From Kansas”, “Wreck of the Hesperus”, “The Milk of Human Kindness” and more. Recorded at Abbey Road studios, the album captured the excellence of the musicians in the group, namely Gary Brooker (voice, piano), Robin Trower (lead guitar), David Knights (bass guitar), B.J. Wilson (drums) and Matthew Fisher (Hammond organ).

Released in June 1970 and hailed by many fans as one of the finest albums released by the band, HOME saw the exquisite song writing of Gary Brooker and Keith Reid reach new heights on pieces such as “The Dead Man’s Dream”, the epic “Whaling Stories”, “About to Die” and more. Produced by Chris Thomas, the album captured a new line-up of the band featuring Gary Brooker (voice, piano), Chris Copping (bass guitar, organ), Robin Trower (lead guitar), and B.J. Wilson (drums).