South Africa among 17 countries to screen Simply Red concert in cinemas

Not everyone can afford to see their favourite music artist live in concert.

“Being a cinema release, it’s just a wonderful feeling to get to so many people,” said Simply Red lead singer Mick Hucknall, speaking about a concert film of the band’s 40 years being released in cinemas.

“Also synchronised in the cinema watching the show, pretty much as if they were there,” shared Hucknall in a recent post on Instagram.

Holding Back The Years: 40 Years of Simply Red – Live from Santiago captures the band’s performance at the Movistar Arena in Chile, where they played five consecutive sold-out shows to rapturous audiences as part of their Latin American tour leg, which saw them perform to over 140,000 fans.

Selected Ster-Kinekor outlets will host screenings of the doccie concert for only two days, on May 15 and 18.

South Africa is the only African country among the first 17 countries announced to screen the concert.

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Simply Red on tour

Simply Red is currently on a world tour, during which they’ll perform in almost 50 arenas, including two nights at London’s O2 Arena and one night at Wembley Arena in October.

The screening of their performances offers an opportunity to celebrate the band’s 40-year journey. Their hit song Holding Back the Years was part of their debut album, Picture Book, which was released in 1985.

Hucknall remains the only original member of the band following their breakup in 2009.

“After 25 years, I don’t have any more ideas in my head for the group,” Hucknall told Reuters while on tour to promote his solo album in 2008.

“The radio … expects a certain type of sound (from Simply Red). For me, it’s a prison; in my head, I am a different artist,” Hucknall said, speaking in Italian.

Now reflecting on the collective’s 40-year celebration, the lead singer excitedly spoke about their anniversary.

“The intention of this show is to take you on a journey of Simply Red’s career from 1985 to the present day,” shared Hucknall.

“I love performing. What I really enjoyed over the last few years is how the audience is so mixed,” said Hucknall.

“I look out sometimes and see young people, people older than me, because it’s the music that does all the work and brings them together, and they start singing choruses.”

Rosebank Nouveau in Johannesburg; Brooklyn in Tshwane; Watercrest in Hillcrest KZN; Garden Route in George; and at V&A Waterfront in Cape Town are the Ster-Kinekor outlets that will screen the concert.

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