Wakeman & Son – The Sheldon Concert Hall, St Louis, MO
March 18, 2026
Images & Words: Jon Fiala
Rock music has seen some incredible father-son duos over the years—names like Eddie and Wolfgang, Phil and Nic, John and Jason, Ringo and Zac to name a few. On Wednesday, March 18, St. Louis got to witness another legendary pair, Rick and Oliver Wakeman, share the stage at the Sheldon Concert Hall.
Rick Wakeman has been a prog-rock icon since the late ‘60s, known for his work with Yes, the Strawbs, and his endless session credits. Following in those massive footsteps, Oliver eventually played keyboards for both of those same bands while building a successful solo career of his own. Now, they’re out on their first-ever joint tour—a quick 2½-week US run called Wakeman & Son.
The show was a perfect showcase of their tremendous talents. While they each took turns in the spotlight to begin the evening on the Steinway grand and various keyboards, the real magic happened when they played together. You could tell those duets were just as special for them as they were for the audience.
To keep the night moving, Rick arranged several “suites” that condensed his massive epic tracks into more digestible medleys. A standout was the Yes Suite, featuring songs Rick helped create and Oliver later kept alive during his own tenure with the band. The 20-minute set flowed through the classics “Awaken,” “And You and I,” “The Gift of Love,” “Wondrous Stories,”, “Words on a Page” and concluded with the timeless classic “Roundabout.” They also touched on Rick’s solo hits, including excerpts from King Arthur and The Six Wives of Henry VIII.
One of the most touching moments was a tribute to the people who shaped them. They played “A Glimpse of Heaven” in honor of the late Dave Cousins of the Strawbs, followed by a lively version of “Sweet Georgia Brown.” Rick dedicated the jazz standard to his own father, noting how special it felt to now play it with Oliver.
Between songs, both men shared stories of origins of things they played, with Rick’s trademark “grumpy” wit as sharp as ever. It was also great to see Rick back in top form; despite having to postpone his 2025 tour for brain surgery, he hasn’t missed a beat. Watching his fingers fly effortlessly across the keys, it’s clear the legend is still very much at the top of his game.
There are only a handful of dates that remain, so if you want to see this dynamic show, here are your opportunities:
3/20 – St Charles, IL @ Arcada Theatre
3/21 – Kent, OH @ The Kent Stage
3/22 – Cincinnati, OH @ Ludlow Garage*
3/24 – Richmond, VA @ The National*
3/25 – Englewood, NJ @ Bergen Performing Arts*
3/26 – Huntington, NY @ The Paramount
3/28 – Westerly, RI @ United Theatre
3/29 – Red Bank, NJ @ The Vogel
Setlist Wakeman and Son March 18, 2026 – The Sheldon, St Louis, MO
The Dance of a Thousand Lights – Rick on grand piano
LJW – Oliver on grand piano
Yes Suite – Rick on keys, Oliver on grand piano
Awaken/And You and I – Rick
The Gift of Love – Oliver
Wondrous Stories – Rick
Words on a Page – Oliver
Roundabout – Rick and Oliver
King Arthur Suite – Rick on keys, Oliver on grand piano
The Last Battle / Merlin the Magician
A November Wedding – Oliver on grand piano
A Glimpse of Heaven – Rick on keys, Oliver on grand piano
Sweet Georgia Brown – Rick on grand piano, Oliver on keysThe Six Wives Suite (Excerpts from The Six Wives of Henry VIII) – Rick on keys
Journey to the Centre of the Earth – Rick on grand piano, Oliver on keys
Encore:
Life on Mars? – Rick on grand piano
The Jig – Rick on keys, Oliver on keys
