Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 10/20/2025
Photo by Anne Leighton
Symphonic Rock Pioneers Annie Haslam and Jim McCarty will present the History of Renaissance on November 21st and 22nd at the Wildey Theatre, Edwardsville, Illinois (St. Louis), on November 28th at the Newton Theatre, NJ, and on November 29th at the Lansdowne Theatre, PA, in 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.
Renaissance had their farewell tour last October 2024 and did not expect to perform live again. Annie, who's been at the forefront of the group's story for 50 years, recently was approached by an Edwardsville/St Louis promoter to return to the Wildey Theatre for a 'one woman" show! After much deliberation, the idea grew into something bigger when Annie contacted Jim McCarty to be a part of the show and then return to the full Renaissance lineup, the band he, initially, co-founded.
A once in a lifetime event of Symphonic Rock at its finest! "All Renaissance and McCarty fans are invited to experience our coming full circle," Annie says enthusiastically, "that was destined to happen one day!"
Rising from the ashes of the Yardbirds, Jim McCarty and long-time musical partner Keith Relf envisioned a Renaissance as fusing folk and classical influences with the bluesy rock they'd been playing and giving birth to a new musical direction. When Annie Haslam joined the band in 1971 to sing with her ethereal 5-octave voice, the group became more popular, especially with the progressive rock scene. After Jim left, the line up continued notably with Annie, this combined the poetic emotional words of Betty Thatcher and the timeless musical masterpieces that were created by Michael Dunford, John Tout, Jon Camp and Terry Sullivan.
Renaissance was reborn in 2009 with Annie and Michael Dunford at the helm, along with keyboard player/musical director Rave Tesar, and a new generation of musicians.
Renaissance has toured throughout the world and has performed at Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and at the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Chorale Society. Renaissance had a top ten hit in the UK with their song "Northern Lights" that still demands airplay to this day.
Annie is "looking forward to singing 'Face of Yesterday' from Jim's band Illusion, which I last performed on a tour of Germany in the early '70s. Such a gorgeous song! I'm also excited to be performing with Jim," who is equally thrilled, stating, "I'll be talking with Annie about how the band formed and got that sound. Also very pleased to be singing some of my own songs."
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).
UPCOMING SHOWS
Friday, Nov. 21 The Wildey Theatre, Edwardsville, IL (St. Louis)
Saturday, Nov. 22 The Wildey Theatre, Edwardsville, IL (St. Louis)
Friday, Nov. 28 The Newton Theatre, Newton, NJ
Saturday, Nov. 29 Lansdowne Theatre, Lansdowne, PA
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