“Nothing to see down here -
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Hudson Lewis and Tony Kirk joined forces in 2006 to form the exciting duo “Lewis and Kirk”.
Since they formed L&K have continued to grow and performed successfully throughout the North of England and Humberside at weddings, private functions, New Year and Christmas parties as well as corporate events.
I was raised on soul music, cartoons, science fiction, and chips.
Whatever I put my hand at I tried to be the best I could. I have tried to play many musical instruments though when I realised within two weeks I wasn’t perfect, I would drop it. When I was young I always wanted to be a performer. We lived in a terraced house with the front room and dining room knocked through and partitioned off with a curtain. This was my stage. At first I did stand up routines for my family, (stolen from the Jasper Carrot album my Mother had). Then I tried my hand at being a magician (very bad one, but my mother loved it!). This was where I realised it was actually funnier to do things wrong than getting it right. And I preferred to make people laugh.
At junior school I was asked if I would do a small piece as Rigsby from Rising Damp, in a small routine called "when I am much much older...” I wanted to use Brylcream to slick back my hair but my Granddad said I would have to wash my hair afterwards and so I decided just to wet it instead! As I grew up and became a teenager, due to the place where I lived, being an actor or singer was ridiculed, no one had the same interests as me, football was the only thing that boys did. If I could have played football or even had an interest in it then maybe I would have agreed. Many years passed and I was happy working and earning a living but something was always missing, tugging at me.
In 1996 I saw an advert in the local paper looking for a lead singer of a 13 piece soul band. Soul was my main music, Otis Redding, James Brown, Sam and Dave etc. I decided I would go along and audition. When I arrived I was told to sing "try a little tenderness". I knew the song well, but I had never sung it in front of anyone let alone an audience and with a microphone! I was terrified! I sang, and I would love to say I sang like an angel, but it was more like a wounded duck, waiting to be put out of my misery! I prayed they would stop playing, which after a lifetime they did. Needless to say I was thanked very politely then told to leave. But this did not deter me. A few weeks later the same advert appeared so I applied again. Upon my arrival they recognised me; they told me that seeing as I was here I might as well "have a go". I had nothing to lose, so I sang with all my heart and they loved it. I was in; I was the lead singer of a band!
We toured around the UK and even performed at the FIMU Festival (Federation Internationale de Musique) in Belfort France in front of 9000 people which was also televised, (it's the weirdest thing saying "merci" to so many people). In 1999 the band disbanded due to relationships, marriages and pregnancies etc so I joined a few other bands, then in 2001 I got the opportunity to be an entertainer in Cyprus. For the first time I had to sing solo. It was an amazing experience and a year later I moved to Tenerife and then in 2003 to Zante. When I returned home to the UK I continued as a solo artist and won a few competitions on the way. Wanting to spread my wings a bit further I joined the Caxton Theatre in Grimsby and appeared as the tramp "Merluche" in the play "trap for a lonely man". Also in this play, as the lead role, was Tony Kirk!
We got on well and had many of the same interests, star wars, Jack Daniels, and singing! He told me he was in a band called "Revolution” and I should come along and have a look. So one night I did just that and went along to see them. I was amazed! The band was so tight and Tony’s voice was incredible. The first thing I thought was “I want to manage this band” and over the course of the play which we were in at the time, (which was around three months) Tony and I became great friends. He asked my advice on moving to Tenerife as a solo artist and I told him that it was a great opportunity and he should at least give it a go. Several months later I received an email from Tony asking what I thought of being in a duo. My immediate thought was, yes! So when Tony arrived back in England we got together to rehearse whenever we could and in August 2006 we hired the Caxton Theatre for our first ever show as "Lewis and Kirk" in the “Unleashed Show”. The night was an amazing success with standing room only.
Singing with Tony is such a pleasure. Not only is he a fantastic singer and entertainer that I admire, but he is also my closest friend. On stage with him is so full of surprises and it always gives me great pleasure to try and put him off while he's singing. I believe that if people have as much fun as we do, then we set out to do exactly what we wanted, and that is to entertain. I hope you enjoyed reading this and if you made it to the end, thank you for taking the time, and I’ll buy you a drink at our next show.
Performing is in Tony’s blood and his love of entertaining started very young at age 7. School plays and musicals followed through his youth and music started to become a big part of his life, especially his love of heavy metal. It wasn’t until he was 19 that things really started to happen. Tony joined the Caxton theatre in Grimsby purely by chance when one of the directors was looking for someone to play Charley in the stage version of the Darling buds of May.
After appearing in several plays and musicals Tony once again by chance got his first break. In 1997 he landed the role of Elwood Blues in the national theatre tour of The Blues Brothers in concert. Since then he has formed and joined many bands over the years both cover and original bands. In 2001 he joined Revolution, a popular and well established rock and pop band playing gigs throughout the UK, Europe and the Middle East.
As well as singing Tony is also a professional actor in the motion capture industry,
providing the movements for top selling Playstaion and X-
“I feel very lucky to have achieved what I have in my life. Everything good that
has happened to me has all been by chance. This business is based very much on luck
and being in the right place at the right time. I was definitely in the right place
when I joined forces with Mr Lewis. We have real on stage chemistry, which is something
you cannot teach. It’s so hard to find a singing partner who’s not just a great
talent but who’s also your best friend. We have incredible fun on stage because
we’re friends. Sometimes I laugh so hard it hurts. I feel I’ve achieved a lot already
but I’m certainly not done yet. Lewis and Kirk have come along so quickly and I
know deep down we are meant for something special -
Lewis & Kirk were formed in the spring of 2006, although the duo had been working towards this collaboration for almost a year. Hudson Lewis and Tony Kirk first met at Caxton Theatre where they were both performing in the same play, “Trap For A Lonely Man”. Realising they both had quite a lot in common, both coming from a musical background, both being lead singers in various bands and solo artistes, they soon became good friends and the idea of Lewis and Kirk took root.
On August 12th 2006, Lewis & Kirk unveiled their “UNLEASHED” show at the Caxton Theatre in Grimsby. Expecting only a handful of fans to turn out, the theatre was packed full of people wanting to see what all the hype in the Grimsby Evening Telegraph was about.
They were not disappointed! Neither were the local newspaper reporters and photographers, who jumped around and sang just as much as the crowd. The show was packed full of everything, from rock to soul, from pop to rock and roll, blues brothers and swing. Everything was in there and the show was relentless. Lewis & Kirk were born!
Since that first show Lewis & Kirk have gone on to perform at many clubs, pubs and hotels across the midlands and region, including many private and corporate functions, i.e. weddings, birthdays and charity events.
Lewis and Kirk opened the Grimsby Evening Telegraph Fun Day in Cleethorpes in 2007 and the NHS Centenary event at the Millennium Club Humberston.
The “Swing Out Show” was brought about by the success of the swing section of the “Unleashed” show.
Although that section only comprised of four songs, (“Mac The Knife”,” Aint That A Kick In The Head” and the duets “Me And My Shadow” and ”Well Did You Eva?”).
Every time the hats are put on, the ties tied and the whisky poured, the crowd instantly warm to the swagger, coolness and tongue in cheek performances of both Lewis and Kirk.
Now with a show of over twenty swing songs, an onstage bar and a twinkle in their eye’s, Lewis and Kirk produce their own inimitable and memorable performances of probably the coolest songs ever written.
In the words of Lewis and Kirk......... “Let’s swing out baby, and take it to Vegas!”
Some of the artists covered in the ‘swing out’ show
- The Rat Pack
- Frank Sinatra
- Dean Martin
- Sammy Davis Jnr
- Michael Buble
The following is taken from the “What’s on Section” of the Grimsby Evening Telegraph, is one of many accolades they received. The article by Trevor Ekins dated Tuesday 16th December 2008 is reproduced by kind permission of the Grimsby Evening Telegraph.
“Adding A Warm Feeling To The Festive Season”
“On Friday and Saturday, somewhat unbelievably, The Caxton Theatre Grimsby, became The Sands in Las Vegas for two performances of Lewis and Kirk Swing Out.
Local performers Tony Kirk and Hudson Lewis presented their tribute to the Rat Pack and, as reported, they are keen to stress their cabaret style show is a homage to the era and not an attempt at impersonation. The stage was appropriately set to reflect the reputations of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr with a bar in one corner, while a Christmas tree occupied the other.
From the bar, exotic cocktails were dispensed to some lucky audience members, whereas others received gifts from beneath the tree; it was as the guys described it “a giving show”.
More importantly they also gave us some great songs including Did You Ever, Fly Me to the Moon, Me and Mrs Jones, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, New York New York, Mr Bo Jangles, My Way and That’s Life to name just a few of the many numbers featured in almost two and half hours of pure entertainment. There were even new lyrics to the My Kind of Town with Grimsby replacing Chicago.
The Pat Yarborough Dancers provided choreographed routines for many of the songs and their frequent costume changes added to the razzle dazzle. The local influence continued with solo guest singers Sophie Peel and Amy Greetham complementing the guys with numbers such as Cabaret and At Last.
The show had an improvisational feel. There was probably a script somewhere but it seemed the duo were making it up as they went along. The approach not only added to the laughter factor but also enhanced the charm of the evening as it reflected the natural rapport between Lewis and Kirk.
Definitely an act to look out for in 2009!”
The show was conceived after many, many requests from clients, family and friends. Lewis and Kirk decided to put together a spectacular swing show in Caxton Theatre in Grimsby in December 2008. This was their festive tribute to the Rat Pack and included all the old classics. In addition there were dancers from the Pat Yarbrough School as well as solo “special guest” performances from Sophie Peel and Amy Greetham.