Arts & Culture Bars & Nightlife Business Development Family Featured Music & Events Travel, Shopping & Leisure Fara Illich June 7, 2011

The Phoenix Symphony is about to shut down for the summer but not before staging a megawatt tribute to the most successful composer in pop music history.

KishmanThis Friday and Saturday, the Symphony enlists Tucson singer-songwriter Tony Kishman for “Live & Let Die: A Paul McCartney Tribute,” with a pair of 8 p.m. concerts at Symphony Hall.

The concert features tribute artist Tony Kishman performing hits from Sir Paul through the Beatles and Wings eras, with songs like “Eleanor Rigby”, “Live and Let Die”, and “Let it Be” alongside The Phoenix Symphony. Pre-concert lobby activities will transport patrons back to the 1960s and 70s with a groovy mood of peace, love and music.
Tucson native and singer-songwriter Tony Kishman began his musical career in the early 1970s. Starting in 1979, Kishman played bass and guitar for six years as Paul McCartney in both the national and international tours of Beatlemania. He joined the classic supergroup, Wishbone Ash for a tour of Europe and the recording of the group’s 18th album.

Kishman will perform hits from Sir Paul through the Beatles and Wings eras, with songs like “Eleanor Rigby,” “Live and Let Die,” and “Let it Be” with orchestral support from the Symphony.

Starting in 1979, Kishman played bass and guitar for six years as Paul McCartney in both the national and international tours of Beatlemania. He later joined the supergroup Wishbone Ash.

These concerts will be a celebration of an artist who has written or co-written over 188 charted records, with 91 Top 10 singles and 33 No. 1s. Tickets start at $18 and can be purchased by calling the Phoenix Symphony Box Office at (602) 495-1991 or by visiting their web site.

June 10 / Jethro Tull

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of their seminal release, Aqualung, Ian Anderson and company play an 8 p.m. show at Comerica Theatre. Tickets are $40-$65, call (800) 745-3000 or visit livenation.com

 June 15  / Bruno Mars

The Hooligans In Wonderland Tour featuring Janelle Monae visits Comerica Theatre for a 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets are $32 to $45, call (800) 745-3000 or visit livenation.com

 rushJune 16 / RUSH

Arguably Canada’s greatest gift to rock music, RUSH’s legendary lineup of Geddy Lee, Neil Peart and Alex Lifeson visit US Airways Center for a 7:30 p.m. show that will include the band performing its entire Moving Pictures album. Tickets are $59.25 to $105.25, call (800) 745-3000 or visit ticketmaster.com

June 19 / Luis Miguel

The legendary Mexican singer and winner of four Latin Grammy Awards visits Comerica Theatre for a 7:30 p.m. show presented by Ranch Markets. Tickets are $32 to $89.75, call (800) 745-3000 or visit livenation.com

June 21 / Alison Krauss

One of the most influential bluegrass-country artists of the modern era (and at the time of her first Grammy win in 1991, the youngest to ever do so), Krauss and her amazing band visit Comerica Theatre for a 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets are $56.50 to $74, call (800) 745-3000 or visit livenation.com

June 30 / NKOTBSB

We saved the best for last, ladies. The most powerful boy bands of the last 25 years, New Kids On the Block and Backstreet Boys, share one stage at US Airways Center for a 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets are $69.50 to $89.50, call (800) 745-3000 or visit ticketmaster.com