THE ORCHESTRA: Starring ELO & ELO Part II Former Members (Wilmington)

Schedule

Fri, 19 Sep, 2025 at 08:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

515 Wagoner Drive Wilmington NC 28403 | Wilmington, NC

Advertisement
THE ORCHESTRA: Starring ELO and ELO Part II Former Members - Blue Skies Forever Tour
Classic Rock / Rock / Pop
presented by MaxxMusic

TICKETS [https://uncwarts.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=2080]


THE ORCHESTRA: Starring ELO and ELO Part II Former Members


The story starts in 1970 in Birmingham, England, where the Electric Light Orchestra began their journey as one of the world’s most popular rock bands. Their music was characterized by a fusion of Beatlesque pop, classical arrangements, and futuristic iconography.
Mik Kaminski joined the band in 1973 with his legendary blue violin. The classic lineup of ELO solidified in 1974 with the addition of bassist/singer Kelly Groucutt and orchestrator Lou Clark, who augmented the band’s unique orchestral rock sound with his inventive classical arrangements. Mik, Lou, and Kelly played their way onto an astonishing library of hit records that sold more than 50 million copies. The albums include Eldorado, Face the Music, A New World Record, Out of the Blue, Discovery and Xanadu.
After the original line-up of ELO broke up in 1986, drummer Bev Bevan created ELO Part II in 1988 with English guitarist Pete Haycock, American keyboardist and songwriter Eric Troyer, and ELO former members Kaminski, Clark, Groucutt, and cellist Hugh McDowell. The band later recruited English guitarist Phil Bates to fill out the lineup. Groucutt, Bates, and Troyer were all accomplished lead and harmony singers which provided an abundance of vocal riches that pushed the band’s classic sound into fresh sonic territory. Phil Bates left ELO Part II in 1998 and was replaced by American singer, songwriter, and guitarist Parthenon Huxley.
In late 1999 drummer Bevan retired and was replaced with American drummer Gordon Townsend. The band began touring as THE ORCHESTRA in 2000. The new lineup released a brilliant album called No Rewind. The album features original songs by Kaminski, Troyer, Huxley, and Groucutt, as well as a stunning interpretation of “Twist and Shout.”
Nine years later in 2009, THE ORCHESTRA bassist and congenial front man, Kelly Groucutt, suddenly passed away the day after performing a concert with the group in Berlin, which was a devastating shock to the band and to class rock fans around the world. His boyhood home features a plaque honoring Kelly’s accomplishments with ELO. THE ORCHESTRA recruited occasional ELO Part II member and former Styx bassist, guitarist, songwriter, and singer Glen Burtnik to fill Kelly’s spot center stage.
While Lou Clark’s multi-talented son, Louis Clark Jr., worked with ELO Part II in the 90s, he became a permanent band member with THE ORCHESTRA in 2015. The father and son team lived the dream of performing together onstage around the world until 2021 when Louis Clark Sr. passed away. Louis Jr. now carries on in his late father’s role as orchestral keyboardist and symphonic conductor, along with the occasional romp on cello and guitar.
These days multi-instrumentalist Cliff Hillis joins the band on select shows and brings an extra layer of vocals, guitar, and sometimes bass to THE ORCHESTRA’s dynamic sound.
In 2024, the documentary No Rewind: The Orchestra Starring ELO Former Members was released, providing rare behind-the-scenes band footage, stories of life on the road, and performances of each song from the album No Rewind. Edited together in a music video style, the film is a fast-moving reveal of how this iconic band has earned its place in rock and roll history.
Over the years the members of THE ORCHESTRA have played ELO’s greatest hits to millions of fans in over fifty countries.

Advertisement

Where is it happening?

515 Wagoner Drive Wilmington NC 28403, 515 Wagoner Rd, Wilmington, NC 28403, United States

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

UNCW

Host or Publisher UNCW

It's more fun with friends. Share with friends

Discover More Events in Wilmington

Fri, 19 Sep at 07:00 pm Ziggy Marley in Wilmington

Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College

CONCERTS MUSIC
Trombone Shorty, Abraham Alexander in Wilmington
Fri, 19 Sep at 07:00 pm Trombone Shorty, Abraham Alexander in Wilmington

Greenfield Lake Amphitheater

CONCERTS MUSIC
Ziggy Marley & Burning Spear - Do The Reggae Tour at Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College
Fri, 19 Sep Ziggy Marley & Burning Spear - Do The Reggae Tour at Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College

Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College

REGGAE TRIPS-ADVENTURES
Ziggy Marley at Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College
Fri, 19 Sep at 07:30 pm Ziggy Marley at Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College

Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College

TRIPS-ADVENTURES
Trombone Shorty Afterparty w\/ Spare Parts
Fri, 19 Sep at 10:00 pm Trombone Shorty Afterparty w/ Spare Parts

1756 Carolina Beach Road, Wilmington, NC, United States, North Carolina 28401

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Ziggy Afterparty @ WTF
Fri, 19 Sep at 10:00 pm Ziggy Afterparty @ WTF

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Wilmington NC

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Ziggy Marley with Burning Spear
Fri, 19 Sep at 11:30 pm Ziggy Marley with Burning Spear

CFCC's Wilson Center - Wilmington

TRIPS-ADVENTURES
16th Annual LIB Volleyball Tournament
Sat, 20 Sep at 10:00 am 16th Annual LIB Volleyball Tournament

Capt'n Bill's Backyard Grill & Volleyball Facility

SPORTS TOURNAMENTS
Auditions for the rocky Horror Show
Mon, 11 Aug at 07:00 pm Auditions for the rocky Horror Show

120 S 2nd St, Wilmington, NC, United States, North Carolina 28401

ROCKY-HORROR-PICTURE-SHOW ART
The Wood Brothers, Mason Via in Wilmington
Thu, 14 Aug at 06:00 pm The Wood Brothers, Mason Via in Wilmington

Greenfield Lake Amphitheater

ENTERTAINMENT CONCERTS
The Wood Brothers at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
Thu, 14 Aug The Wood Brothers at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater

Greenfield Lake Amphitheater

Bumpin Uglies and Kash'd Out w\/ Logan Rex
Thu, 14 Aug at 07:00 pm Bumpin Uglies and Kash'd Out w/ Logan Rex

1002 Princess St., Wilmington, NC, United States, North Carolina 28401

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Three Dog Night at Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College
Thu, 14 Aug Three Dog Night at Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College

Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College

DOG TRIPS-ADVENTURES
The Wood Brothers with Mason Via
Thu, 14 Aug at 10:00 pm The Wood Brothers with Mason Via

Greenfield Lake Amphitheater

Three Dog Night
Thu, 14 Aug at 11:00 pm Three Dog Night

CFCC's Wilson Center - Wilmington

DOG TRIPS-ADVENTURES
Filth @ Port City Pile Up | Wilmington, NC
Fri, 15 Aug at 06:30 pm Filth @ Port City Pile Up | Wilmington, NC

Reggies 42nd Street Tavern

CONCERTS MUSIC
The Red Clay Strays at Live Oak Bank Pavilion
Fri, 15 Aug The Red Clay Strays at Live Oak Bank Pavilion

Live Oak Bank Pavilion

TRIPS-ADVENTURES
Girl Gone Bad: Van Halen Tribute with Rose Rebellion!
Fri, 15 Aug at 08:00 pm Girl Gone Bad: Van Halen Tribute with Rose Rebellion!

The Eagle's Dare

PARTIES ENTERTAINMENT
Thurston Howell: Yacht Rock Spectacular w\/ The Business End
Sat, 16 Aug at 05:00 pm Thurston Howell: Yacht Rock Spectacular w/ The Business End

1002 Princess St., Wilmington, NC, United States, North Carolina 28401

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Overtyme - FREE LIVE MUSIC @ Sunset Live Music Series
Sat, 16 Aug at 06:00 pm Overtyme - FREE LIVE MUSIC @ Sunset Live Music Series

18 Harnett St , Wilmington, NC, United States, North Carolina 28401

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

What's Happening Next in Wilmington?

Discover Wilmington Events