ELLESMERE Port singer songwriter Ian Prowse has described the chance to support legendary musician Elvis Costello on his UK tour as 'unbelievable'. 

The former Amsterdam and Pele frontman will appear as a special guest of Costello throughout September including a date at Liverpool's Olympia on September 11.

Costello, 70, has strong links to Wirral through his father Ross MacManus who was a professional trumpet player and singer, born and raised in Birkenhead.

Prowse, 60, said: "My 14-year-old self - returning from Damar, our Little Sutton record shop, clutching Accidents Will Happen - would not believe I'd get to go and play all the UK’s finest theatres, opening up for my new wave hero.

"Elvis has been so generous to me and my music for 22 years now and this will be my third tour with him.

"In return I’ve taken him to my beloved Tranmere Rovers a couple of times, probably not a fair swap - we got beat on both occasions.

"Even my dad has mentioned this particular tour though - in all my years of performing as Pele, Amsterdam or Ian Prowse he’s never mentioned the places I’ve played, be it Glastonbury, The Hammersmith Odeon, Liverpool Empire or Echo Arena. He’s impressed I’m playing at the London Palladium on this tour though - he can’t believe it!"

Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve have announced a 15 date tour of the UK & Ireland for September 2024, playing selections from a 50 year songbook.

The tour kicks off in Glasgow on September 5 and includes the London Palladium on September 21 & 22, finishing with a four night run in Dublin at Vicar Street.

The collaboration of Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve has spanned over 45 years, with appearances together on 25 record albums - from Watching The Detectives to The Boy Named If - and on countless stages. Yet 20 years have elapsed since Costello and Nieve made their last full-length appearance in the UK at the Cafe de Paris, London in 2004.

Since early 2023 - when Costello undertook a ten-night engagement at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City - the songwriter has taken a deeper, more curious look at his repertoire.

Costello said: “I want to uncover, rediscover, dismantle and reassemble songs, 'Before your very eyes', as stage magicians used to announce before their next trick.”

Tickets for Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve with support from Ian Prowse at Liverpool Olympia are available here