Singing soldiers hit the road

BRITAIN’S first group of serving soldiers to enter the pop charts are once again hitting the road for their third tour of the UK, taking in Horsham’s Capitol on Sunday, January 15.

Join Sergeant Major Gary Chilton, Staff Sergeant Richie Maddocks and Lance Corporal Ryan Idzi on their Message To You tour which takes in Scotland for the first time.

Through the release of The Soldiers’ three albums and their subsequent tours The Soldiers have raised over £500,000 for armed forces charities including Help For Heroes, The Royal British Legion and the ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

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The story began when Ryan Idzi made it through to the bootcamp stages of 2007’s X Factor. Following his appearance on the show ,music entrepreneur Jeff Chegwin and partner Nick Patrick, a Grammy-nominated producer, contacted Ryan with an opportunity that would change his life. Chegwin and Patrick already had their eye on two serving sergeants from the Corps of Army Music, whom they planned to approach with the idea of recording an album. When they spotted Ryan on The X Factor, they knew they had a band.

With Gary Chilton and Richie Maddocks on board alongside Ryan, The Soldiers were formed. Their debut album Coming Home was released in 2009 going top give and has since been certified double platinum.

2010’s follow up album Letters Home and The Soldiers latest album Message To You, which includes the official 2011 Poppy Appeal single I’ve Gotta Get A Message To You’recorded with Robin Gibb, have both been released to similar success.

Gary said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be on the road with The Soldiers on what will be our third UK tour. It means so much to all three of us for all the support that our fans give us year in year out. More importantly, it’s imperative that the charities which we represent are kept in the public eye so that they can continue to give our brave boys and girls the crucial rehabilitation that they so richly deserve.”

Tickets on 01403 750220.

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