Rogers-Lowell Area News

Yes Brings The Royal Affair Tour to the Walmart AMP

Iconic British rock band Yes is bringing their North American concert tour, The Royal Affair to the Walmart AMP on Sunday, July 21, as part of the Cox Concert Series. This must-see British rock show also features Asia with the return of founding member Steve Howe, John Lodge of The Moody Blues and Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy with guest vocals by Arthur Brown.

Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, April 5 at noon. Tickets prices range from $30 to $99.50 plus applicable fees. Purchase four lawn tickets at the same time, and get the Lawn 4-Pack at a discounted ticket price of $22.50 each.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 479.443.5600 or by visiting www.amptickets.com.  In-person purchases can be made at the Walton Arts Center Box Office in Fayetteville 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon until 4 p.m. on Saturday, or at the Walmart AMP Box Office in Rogers, which is now open for the season. Hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and noon until 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Yes is Steve Howe (guitar – joined 1970), Alan White (drums since 1972), Geoff Downes (keyboards - first joined in 1980), Jon Davison (vocals since 2011) and Billy Sherwood (guitar/keyboards in the 1990s and the late Chris Squire’s choice to take over bass/vocals in 2015), with Jay Schellen on additional drums.

Progressive rock pioneers and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, Yes triumphed last year with their acclaimed #YES50: Celebrating 50 Years of Yes Tour.

Ross Biossoneau of Local Spins said of the anniversary tour, “The current configuration [of Yes] hearkens back to its heyday while striving to remain contemporary…Yes was always perceived as a band that combined otherworldly lyrics and vocals with superb instrumental prowess. This version remains as muscular as ever, and Howe has emerged as an honest-to-God guitar hero, as opposed to simply the brilliant guitarist he’s always been.”

Look for Yes to perform songs from throughout their storied career, one of rock music’s most prized bodies of work, and their set will honor the memory of Yes members Chris Squire and Peter Banks.

“Yes is delighted to headline this celebration of British music which has been so warmly received in America over the past five decades,” Howe said.

Asia will play their signature songs and pay tribute to their late founding member John Wetton. A portion of their set will feature original guitarist Howe in a special performance. Asia will also introduce its new line-up featuring guitarist/lead vocalist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal and bassist Billy Sherwood.

John Lodge’s set will encompass his classic hits by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Moody Blues and pay tribute to the band’s recently departed member Ray Thomas.

Carl Palmer will honor the memory of his fellow Emerson, Lake and Palmer members Keith Emerson and Greg Lake, with vocals by British vocalist Arthur Brown.

As part of the evening’s British theme, there will be a tribute to John Lennon by White of Yes. White was the drummer on Lennon’s solo material including the recording of “Imagine.”

About Yes:
Founded in 1968 by the late Chris Squire and Jon Anderson, Grammy-award winning recording artists Yes has created some of the most important and influential music in rock history, such as iconic pieces “Roundabout,” “Close to the Edge,” “I’ve Seen All Good People,” “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” “Starship Trooper,” and countless others. The band’s albums, including Fragile, Close to the Edge, Tales from Topographic Oceans, Relayer, Going For the One and 90125, have been certified multi-platinum, double-platinum, platinum, and more by the RIAA, and have sold over 50 million records total during the band’s long and successful career that has so far spanned over five decades. Among the world’s most influential, ground-breaking, and respected progressive rock bands, Yes continues creating masterful music that inspires musicians, fans and music lovers around the world.