In a poignant and timely musical offering, Beverly Glenn-Copeland shares his renditions of two Marvin Gaye classics, “What’s Going On” and “Save The Children.” Released via Transgressive Records, these covers arrive ahead of his highly anticipated October tour. Gaye’s 1971 album What’s Going On was a landmark work, a profound message of unity and social consciousness that tackled issues such as war, racism, and police brutality.
Glenn-Copeland’s decision to cover these songs is a direct response to contemporary global events, including the conflict in Gaza, the attacks on Trans rights, and the Black Lives Matter movement. He sees these new recordings as an articulation of his life’s work: to foster community, build resilience, and speak truth to power. Glenn-Copeland shared, “Marvin’s music is prophetic and his message of unity through love still rings true today. I’m honoured to be covering these two deeply meaningful songs that captured the zeitgeist of a nation at a pivotal time in our shared history.”
The upcoming UK and EU tour marks Glenn-Copeland’s first performances in the UK since 2019, a period that saw an extraordinary career renaissance following the rediscovery of his Keyboard Fantasies album (more below). He will perform tracks from his acclaimed 2023 album The Ones Ahead, alongside fan favorites from his extensive career. The tour, which includes a performance at London’s Hackney Empire, will feature creative partner and musical producer Elizabeth Copeland. These live shows promise to be a powerful reminder of the collective strength and connection that has defined Glenn-Copeland’s music for decades.
Beverly Glenn-Copeland UK + EU Tour:
Thursday 2nd October – Edinburgh – The Queen’s Hall
Tuesday 7th October – Dublin – Vicar Street
Friday 10th October – Cardiff – Llais Festival at Wales Millenium Centre
Wednesday 15th October – London – Hackney Empire
Sunday 19th October – Manchester – Aviva Studios
Wednesday 29th October – Brussels – Ancienne Belgique at KVS
Keyboard Fantasies
The rediscovery of Beverly Glenn-Copeland’s album Keyboard Fantasies is a remarkable story of how a self-released cassette, recorded in 1986, found a global audience decades later. The album, a unique blend of folk, new-age, and electronic music, was originally produced in limited quantities (200 copies) and sold only a few dozen.
In 2015, a Japanese record collector named Ryota Masuko, well-known in audiophile circles, sent an email to Glenn-Copeland asking for any remaining copies of the album. Glenn-Copeland, who was living in rural Canada, sent Masuko a box of cassettes he had in storage. These tapes sold out instantly, and Masuko’s followers, intrigued by the discovery, began to generate buzz around the album online. This chain of events led to a surge of interest from record labels around the world.
The renewed interest in Keyboard Fantasies led to its official reissue in 2016/17 by two Canadian labels, Invisible City Editions and Séance Centre. The reissue introduced Glenn-Copeland’s music to a new generation of listeners and contemporary artists, who were captivated by the album’s timeless sound and profound message. This late-career renaissance, which began when Glenn-Copeland was in his 70s, launched his first-ever international tour and was captured in the celebrated 2019 documentary, Keyboard Fantasies: The Beverly Glenn-Copeland Story. The documentary showcases Glenn-Copeland’s life story and his joy in finally connecting with a global audience.
The rediscovery of Keyboard Fantasies is a testament to the power of the internet and a reminder that brilliant art can often be ahead of its time, waiting for the world to catch up.