One of Britain’s all-time great rock singers is making an exclusive, one-off appearance at the Gloucester History Festival.
The former Led Zeppelin frontman, Robert Plant, will be sharing his fascination with the myths, legends and heritage of the place he calls a ‘weird corner of England; but is it England?’ The haunting and beautiful Welsh Marches run along the England/Wales border and are dotted with Anglo-Saxon treasures, Iron Age hillforts and Arthurian tales, and they have captivated Plant since he was a small boy growing up in Halesowen.
He’ll be appearing on stage at Gloucester’s 13th century Blackfriars Priory on 17th September alongside the Oxford historian and TV presenter Janina Ramirez and the acclaimed author Martin Wall whose latest book ‘West: Tales of the Lost Lands’ includes a foreword by Plant. The rock star’s lyrics and music were often inspired by his memories of the western Midlands of England and he paints a vivid picture of the Marches, which run from Gloucestershire to Cheshire: ‘Back and forth across the Saxon dyke our fathers’ fathers moved; Border people live with the rub of change in their language, their inflections, their humour and superstitions… this is the land I love.’
Robert Plant was a founding member of Led Zeppelin in 1968 and the group’s lead singer, before launching a successful solo career in 1980. He’s also forged celebrated collaborations with Genesis drummer Phil Collins, former Led Zeppelin bandmate Jimmy Page and the American bluegrass-country singer Alison Krauss. His best-loved work as a lyricist, songwriter and performer includes ‘Big Log’, ‘Ramble On’, ‘Dazed and Confused’, ‘Stairway to Heaven’ and ‘Whole Lotta Love’.