Aaron Kavanagh

Piano Icons is a magnificent show featuring an eclectic mix of genres through the ages. Aaron Kavanagh will be singing and playing your favourite piano icon tunes with his own style and high energy delivery.

Expect artists such as: Billy Joel, Elton John, Freddie Mercury, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Stevie Wonder, Barry Manilow, Peter Allen, Paul McCartney, Nina Simone, David Bowie, Harry Connick Jr., Ray Charles, Irving Berlin, Grieg, Carole King and more!

After the show debuted on the theatre stage in April, Aaron is so excited to be bringing 'Piano Icons' to PizzaExpress Chelsea!

Aaron's passion for music started when he was about four years old. He was instantly captivated by musical theatre, especially the music of "Les Misérables" and "The Phantom of the Opera", listening to them over and over again, memorising every note and lyric. This early obsession sparked his lifelong love for musical theatre, which led him to study it at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, achieving a Bachelor of the Arts in Musical Theatre.

While musical theatre remained his main aspiration, he was also an avid fan of James Bond from a young age, plus he developed a love for classic crooners like that of The Rat Pack and Tony Bennett, all the way down to Michael Bublé. Their timeless style, vocal control, and connection with audiences deeply influenced his own approach to performing.

Though he didn’t start playing piano until he was 13, his love for music really bloomed when he began learning the music of Billy Joel. His blend of rock, pop, jazz, and blues opened Aaron’s eyes to the versatility of the piano and changed how he viewed music. This passion for playing would later fuel his performances as he honed his skills and found his voice on stage.

After graduating, he was lucky enough to quickly land his first professional job before even finishing his degree. The first of his early roles was in "Some Lovers", a musical by the legendary Burt Bacharach and Tony Award-winning Steven Sater at The Other Palace, in London Victoria. Weeks later, he was off to join the European tour of Richard O'Brien's "The Rocky Horror Show", a production that would become a defining part of his career. Playing multiple characters in the show over the years taught Aaron to fully embrace the wild, unpredictable energy of live performance.

In 2020, Aaron decided to dive into creating his own Elton John tribute act. With the success of the "Rocketman" movie, he saw a real opportunity to bring the glamour and wild energy of 1970s Elton to life. Aaron spent months perfecting his tribute, studying his music, his performance style, and the unforgettable fashion that defined his career. Since then, Aaron has been performing on cruise ships, bringing Elton’s music to life for audiences around the world. Aaron now has his own Elton tribute act - AKA Elton.

More recently, Aaron created his own cabaret shows, ‘My Life in Melodies’ and ‘Piano Icons’. These projects are deeply personal to Aaron – it’s not just a concert of songs, but a way to share his story. Aaron has spent countless hours crafting the setlist, ensuring every song flows seamlessly, and that the audience feels connected to the music and his journey. It’s a living, breathing project that grows with every performance.