Lee's first day off from playing Emmett Forest in Legally Blonde was put to extremely good use - performing a special one-off concert at the beautiful Kilworth House Theatre, near Lutterworth. He was joined by special guest, the lovely Laura Wright, who supported him on some of his UK tour dates earlier this year, and backed by a four-piece band led by his trusted MD, Duncan Waugh.Kilworth House Theatre is an open air venue, set in woodlands, with both stage and seating under sweeping canopies, offering a unique environment in which to enjoy an evening's entertainment. And this was quite simply a superb evening's entertainment!
Lee rather charmingly confessed to being "absolutely petrified" because he was able to see the faces of his audience for once and later happily informed us, as the daylight faded, that the spotlights had now rendered us invisible once more! But his nerves certainly did not affect his performance - he delivered much of his 2011 tour set, with the addition of two of the musicial theatre numbers he performed to great acclaim at his last concert in Dublin - 'Why God' and 'Bring Him Home' - and an extra track from his first album - 'The Best Is Yet To Come', doing so with the rich, powerful vocals and passionate, emotional delivery we have come to expect.
Laura joined him for two duets, and sang four solo numbers, including two from her new album - 'The Last Rose' - her voice is wonderfully pure and I wish her every success with the album.
The highlight of the evening, however, was undoubtedly Lee's first ever performance of 'Gethsemane', which I felt privileged to witness. He spoke first of how he had waited seven years to sing it, wanting to be the right age and at the right point in his career to do it justice. Whatever his reasons for waiting - the time and place that he finally chose to perform it were absolutely right. It was breathtaking.
I didn't think it was possible to be any more thankful than I already was that my aquaplaning adventures on route to the concert turned out to be a mere flirtation with death and not a firm appointment, but the thought that I might very well have missed that magical moment is not one on which I wish to dwell!
The full setlist for the evening can be found HERE along with band credits and a few extras you might enjoy.
Grateful thanks to Kilworth House Theatre for these pictures, originally published on their Facebook page.
Lee's full concert schedule (including past appearances) can be found at - CONCERT DATESLast updated: 16 July 2016