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Unravelling Wilburys
05 September 2025 @ 7.30pm
About Unravelling Wilburys
Legend has it the original Wilbury brothers from Nashville, Tennessee, were plying their trade as a good ol’ Country band one night in Tootsie’s Bar, when who should walk in but George Harrison from The Beatles and his old pal Jeff Lynne outta the ELO.
After a few beers, George and Jeff decided they loved the Wilbury boys and called up some of their friends, inviting them downtown to hear for themselves. Those friends turned out to be Roy Orbison, Tom Petty out of the Heartbreakers, and Bobby Dylan himself.
The story goes that, after the show, the famous five wanted to hang out with the shy and retiring Unravelling Wilburys. They all got pretty drunk, and it seemed like the Wilbury brothers had got their big break when Tom Petty allegedly said they should all work together.
Six months went by and the Wilburys heard nothing. Then one day they were passing a record store and heard one of their own songs playing on the hi-fi. “Who’s this playing our song?” they said to the guy behind the counter. “Why, it’s a new supergroup,” the guy replied. “They call themselves The Traveling Wilburys.”
Yes folks, it seems the Traveling Wilburys became a tribute band to our home-spun originals.
Well, a few years and more passed and finally the Unravelling Wilburys decided to ‘reclaim’ those songs, putting together a set of all the hits and the best stuff Dylan, Petty, Orbison, Lynne, and Harrison could muster between ’em. Then they headed for the UK. The folks there ain’t got much of a clue about Country music and took to ’em straight away.
Pretty soon they were travelling all over the country, from the Orkney Islands to the Isle of Wight; from Penzance to Perth; from Southwold to South Wales; packing out theatres along the way in towns whose names they’d never heard of and couldn’t pronounce.
The show features the best of the Wilbury albums (‘Handle with Care’, ‘The End of the Line’, ‘The Devil’s Been Busy’, ‘Tweeter & The Monkey Man’ etc.) and some of their supposedly thievin’ counterparts’ numbers like ‘Only the Lonely’, ‘Won’t Back Down’, ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’, ‘Like a Rollin’ Stone’ and ‘Mr. Blue Sky.’ The act even contains the kind of comedy only a band spending too many nights in Travelodge hotels could dream up.
The Unravelling Wilburys are now so popular they even got to be a question on the TV show ‘The Chase’. Now that’s fame…even if it ain’t fortune.
So- Ladies and Gentlemen, turn off your hearing aid, put your Zimmer frame to one side, and prepare for a musical journey with Walter, Blind Melon, Sticky Willy, Thumper and the Reverend Honky Tonk Wilbury. It’s a journey you ain’t gonna forget in a hurry.
Tickets
Please see important booking information below.
Booking information
Ticket prices:
£22.75
Prices include a £1.00 Restoration Levy, a £1.50 Booking Fee and a 25p Community Fund Levy.
Dates & times:
Friday 05 September 2025 at 7.30pm
Running time:
2 hours 20 minutes
Age guidance:
Over 12s
Content guidance:
Some innuendo, drug references & very mild swearing
About Kenton Theatre
Situated in the centre of Henley-on-Thames, the Kenton Theatre is the fourth-oldest working theatre in the UK and a registered charity. Seating 240, the theatre today offers a varied programme of comedy, drama, music, talks and more – as well as being available for hire.
The theatre is home to annual performances from Henley Amateur Operatic and Drama Society (HAODS), Henley Children’s Theatre, Henley Drama Festival, Henley Literary Festival, Henley Players, Henley Youth Festival, Mike Hurst, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO), Woodley Light Operatic Society, amongst others. High-profile performers at the Kenton in recent years include Michael McIntyre, Georgie Fame, Haley Mills, Chris Barber, Dara O’Briain, Diana Rigg, Russell Brand, PP Arnold and Marti Webb.
The theatre’s first production, the farce The School of Reform took place on 07 November 1805. Celebrated performers who have graced the Kenton stage over the last five decades include Celia Johnson, John Mortimer, Anthony Newley, Kate Winslet, Tom Baker, Joe Brown, Diana Dors, David Essex, Roy Hudd and Jeremy Irons.
Discover more about the Kenton Theatre, including travel, access and venue information.