Symphonic Rock pioneers Annie Haslam and Jim McCarty will present The History of Renaissance on November 21 and 22 at the Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville, IL/St. Louis), November 28 at the Newton Theatre (Newton, NJ), and November 29 at the Lansdowne Theatre (Lansdowne, PA).
Annie and Jim will share an intimate discussion and visual presentation of the band’s extraordinary history, followed by a Renaissance performance featuring—for the first time—members of both eras of the band performing their classic songs together.
The group had bid farewell with their final tour in October 2024, not expecting to perform live again. Annie, who has been at the forefront of the group’s journey for 50 years, was initially approached to return to the Wildey Theatre for a solo show. After much thought, she invited Jim McCarty to join her—and soon the idea blossomed into a full Renaissance lineup reunion, uniting the co-founder with the enduring voice of the band.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime event of Symphonic Rock at its finest,” Annie shares. “All Renaissance and McCarty fans are invited to experience our coming full circle—that was destined to happen one day!”
A Legacy in Symphonic Rock
Rising from the ashes of the Yardbirds, Jim McCarty and Keith Relf envisioned Renaissance as a fusion of folk, classical, and rock influences. With Annie Haslam’s ethereal five-octave voice joining in 1971, the group grew into a cornerstone of the progressive rock scene. Together with lyricist Betty Thatcher and composers Michael Dunford, John Tout, Jon Camp, and Terry Sullivan, Renaissance created timeless masterpieces.
The band was reborn in 2009 with Annie and Michael Dunford, joined by keyboardist/musical director Rave Tesar and a new generation of musicians. Renaissance went on to tour globally, performing at Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic and at London’s Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Their 1978 single Northern Lights remains a beloved hit.
Annie says she’s “looking forward to singing Face of Yesterday from Jim's band Illusion, which I last performed in Germany in the early ’70s. Such a gorgeous song!” Jim adds, “I’ll be talking with Annie about how the band formed and got that sound. I’m also very pleased to be singing some of my own songs.”
The BandConnect
Renaissance is Annie Haslam (lead vocals), Jim McCarty (acoustic guitar and lead vocals), Rave Tesar (keyboards), Mark Lambert (guitars, vocals), Geoffrey Langley (keyboards, vocals), John Galgano (bass, vocals), and Frank Pagano (drums, percussion, vocals).
Tour Dates
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Fri, Nov. 21 – Wildey Theatre, Edwardsville, IL (St. Louis)
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Sat, Nov. 22 – Wildey Theatre, Edwardsville, IL (St. Louis)
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Fri, Nov. 28 – Newton Theatre, Newton, NJ
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Sat, Nov. 29 – Lansdowne Theatre, Lansdowne, PA
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