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Organists

Playing the iconic Wurlitzer Organ

Listen to the amazing organists and watch them perform at The Blackpool Tower Ballroom.

Learn more about the Ballroom's resident organists and their schedules below.

The organists alternate between the Wurlitzer and Roland organs throughout the day.  

Organist Schedule

January 2025

    10am - 11am 11am - 12pm 12pm - 1pm 1pm - 2pm 2pm - 3pm 3pm - 4pm
Wednesday 01-Jan Mark Speight Elizabeth Harrison  Mark Speight Elizabeth Harrison  Mark Speight Elizabeth Harrison 
Thursday 02-Jan Elizabeth Harrison  John Bowdler Elizabeth Harrison  John Bowdler Elizabeth Harrison  John Bowdler
Friday 03-Jan Chris Hopkins  Mark Speight Chris Hopkins  Mark Speight Chris Hopkins Mark Speight
Saturday 04-Jan Chris Hopkins  Mark Speight Chris Hopkins  Mark Speight Chris Hopkins  Mark Speight
Sunday 05-Jan Chris Hopkins  Mark Speight Chris Hopkins  Mark Speight Chris Hopkins  Mark Speight
Monday 06-Jan Closed
Tuesday 07-Jan Closed
Wednesday 08-Jan Closed
Thursday 09-Jan Closed
Friday 10-Jan Closed
Saturday 11-Jan Chris Hopkins  David Windle Chris Hopkins  David Windle Chris Hopkins  David Windle
Sunday 12-Jan Chris Hopkins  Mark Speight Chris Hopkins  Mark Speight Chris Hopkins  Mark Speight
Monday 13-Jan Closed
Tuesday 14-Jan Closed
Wednesday 15-Jan Closed
Thursday 16-Jan Closed
Friday 17-Jan Closed
Saturday 18-Jan Chris Hopkins  Mark Speight Chris Hopkins  Mark Speight Chris Hopkins  Mark Speight
Sunday 19-Jan Chris Hopkins  Elizabeth Harrison  Chris Hopkins  Elizabeth Harrison  Chris Hopkins  Elizabeth Harrison 
Monday 20-Jan Closed
Tuesday 21-Jan Closed
Wednesday 22-Jan Closed
Thursday 23-Jan Closed
Friday 24-Jan Closed
Saturday 25-Jan Chris Hopkins  Mark Allen  Chris Hopkins  Mark Allen  Closed Closed 
Sunday 26-Jan Chris Hopkins  Mark Allen  Chris Hopkins  Mark Allen  Chris Hopkins  Mark Allen 
Monday 27-Jan Closed
Tuesday 28-Jan Closed
Wednesday 29-Jan Closed
Thursday 30-Jan Closed
Friday 31-Jan Closed

February 2025

    10am - 11am 11am - 12pm 12pm - 1pm 1pm - 2pm 2pm - 3pm 3pm - 4pm
Saturday 01-Feb Closed
Sunday 02-Feb Closed
Monday 03-Feb Closed
Tuesday 04-Feb Closed
Wednesday 05-Feb Closed
Thursday 06-Feb Closed
Friday 07-Feb Closed
Saturday 08-Feb Closed
Sunday 09-Feb Closed
Monday 10-Feb Closed
Tuesday 11-Feb Closed
Wednesday 12-Feb Open from 11am Phil Kelsall Chris Hopkins Phil Kelsall Chris Hopkins Phil Kelsall
Thursday 13-Feb Open from 11am John Bowdler Chris Hopkins John Bowdler Chris Hopkins John Bowdler
Friday 14-Feb Closed
Saturday 15-Feb Chris Hopkins
10:30 - 11:30
David Windle
11:30 - 12:30 
Chris Hopkins
12:30 - 13:30
David Windle
13:30 - 14:30
Chris Hopkins
14:30 - 15:30
David Windle
15:30 - 16:30
Sunday 16-Feb Chris Hopkins
10:30 - 11:30
Mark Speight
11:30 - 12:30 
Chris Hopkins
12:30 - 13:30
Mark Speight
13:30 - 14:30
Chris Hopkins
14:30 - 15:30
Mark Speight
15:30 - 16:30
Monday 17-Feb Closed
Tuesday 18-Feb Closed
Wednesday 19-Feb Closed
Thursday 20-Feb Closed
Friday 21-Feb Closed
Saturday 22-Feb Chris Hopkins  Mark Allen Chris Hopkins  Mark Allen  Chris Hopkins  Closed 
Sunday 23-Feb Chris Hopkins
10:30 - 11:30
Mark Allen
11:30 - 12:30 
Chris Hopkins
12:30 - 13:30
Mark Allen
13:30 - 14:30
Chris Hopkins
14:30 - 15:30 
Mark Allen
15:30 - 16:30
Monday 24-Feb Closed
Tuesday 25-Feb Open from 11am Mark Speight  Phil Kelsall Mark Speight  Phil Kelsall Mark Speight 
Wednesday 26-Feb Open from 11am Chris Hopkins Phil Kelsall Chris Hopkins Phil Kelsall Chris Hopkins
Thursday 27-Feb Open from 11am Chris Hopkins John Bowdler Chris Hopkins John Bowdler Chris Hopkins
Friday 28-Feb Closed

March 2025

    10am - 11am 11am - 12pm 12pm - 1pm 1pm - 2pm 2pm - 3pm 3pm - 4pm
Saturday 01-Mar Closed
Sunday 02-Mar Chris Hopkins Mark Speight Chris Hopkins Mark Speight Chris Hopkins Mark Speight
Monday 03-Mar Closed
Tuesday 04-Mar Open from 11am Chris Hopkins Phil Kelsall Chris Hopkins Phil Kelsall Chris Hopkins
Wednesday 05-Mar Open from 11am Chris Hopkins Phil Kelsall Chris Hopkins Phil Kelsall Chris Hopkins
Thursday 06-Mar Open from 11am Chris Hopkins John Bowdler Chris Hopkins John Bowdler Chris Hopkins
Friday 07-Mar Closed
Saturday 08-Mar Chris Hopkins David Windle  Chris Hopkins David Windle  Chris Hopkins Closed
Sunday 09-Mar Chris Hopkins Mark Allen Chris Hopkins Mark Allen Chris Hopkins Mark Allen
Monday 10-Mar Closed
Tuesday 11-Mar Open from 11am Chris Hopkins Phil Kelsall Chris Hopkins Phil Kelsall Chris Hopkins
Wednesday 12-Mar Open from 11am Chris Hopkins Phil Kelsall Chris Hopkins Phil Kelsall Chris Hopkins
Thursday 13-Mar Open from 11am Chris Hopkins John Bowdler Chris Hopkins John Bowdler Chris Hopkins
Friday 14-Mar Closed
Saturday 15-Mar Closed
Sunday 16-Mar Closed
Monday 17-Mar Closed
Tuesday 18-Mar Closed
Wednesday 19-Mar Closed
Thursday 20-Mar Closed
Friday 21-Mar Closed
Saturday 22-Mar Closed
Sunday 23-Mar Closed
Monday 24-Mar Closed
Tuesday 25-Mar Open from 11am Chris Hopkins Phil Kelsall Chris Hopkins Phil Kelsall Chris Hopkins
Wednesday 26-Mar Open from 11am Chris Hopkins Phil Kelsall Chris Hopkins Phil Kelsall Chris Hopkins
Thursday 27-Mar Open from 11am Chris Hopkins John Bowdler Chris Hopkins John Bowdler Chris Hopkins
Friday 28-Mar Closed
Saturday 29-Mar Chris Hopkins Mark Speight  Chris Hopkins Mark Speight  Chris Hopkins Closed
Sunday 30-Mar Chris Hopkins Chris Hopkins Chris Hopkins David Windle  Chris Hopkins David Windle 
Monday 31-Mar Closed

The Organists

PHIL KELSALL MBE organist at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom

PHIL KELSALL MBE

How did it all start for you at The Blackpool Tower?
At eighteen I was recommended to play the Hammond Organ in The Blackpool Tower Circus, then I deputized for Ernest Broadbent, former Blackpool Tower Ballroom organist until he retired. The rest is history, as the saying goes!

What made you take up the Organ?
As a boy, I used to frequent The Blackpool Tower's Ballroom regularly. I remember watching legendary organist Reginald Dixon performing. The atmosphere was infectious and I must have imagined myself up there one day!

How does the Wurltizer compare to other organs you have played?
I have played nearly every theatre organ in Britain but with the fine acoustics of The Blackpool Tower Ballroom, the Wurlitzer makes a totally unique sound and in my opinion is one of the finest ever built by Wurlitzer.

What particular highlights stand out during your time at The Blackpool Tower?
The most memorable has to be The Blackpool Tower's Centenary Celebrations in 1994. Her Majesty The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the Ballroom and I was honoured to be introduced to them both.

How do you feel every time you rise up on the Wurlitzer in front of an audience in The Blackpool Tower Ballroom? 
I do sometimes think as I'm halfway through the stage what a strange way of earning a living!

In June 2010 Phil was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for what was described as a "35-year love affair" with The Blackpool Tower Ballroom.

Chris Hopkins organist at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom

CHRIS HOPKINS

Chris started playing the organ at The Blackpool Tower in 1995, since then he has developed his own unique style and has become a firm favourite with the dancers.

Over the years The Blackpool Tower Ballroom has had numerous electronic organs to compliment the Wurlitzer organ, more recently the Wersi Louvre, and the present model the Roland AT900, Chris has always been the first to embrace these vast technological instrument’s and manipulate their potential. Chris is equally at home on the Mighty Wurlitzer.

Chris has made numerous TV/ Radio appearances promoting The Blackpool Tower Ballroom, including Strictly Come Dancing and Britain’s FavouriteView.

In more recent years Chris was invited to play [the Organ] at his beloved Manchester United for their foundation.

When he is not at The Blackpool Tower he can be found wandering the Lake District, or the Scottish Highlands where he is a keen Landscape photographer. Chris is also a fully qualified Approved Driving Instructor and has helped many of the staff at The Blackpool Tower through their driving test.

John Bowdler organist at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom

JOHN BOWDLER

Born and educated in Wigan, Lancashire, John began playing the Organ at the age of eight. He always had a keen interest in the Wurlitzer from when he used to regularly visit the Ballroom as a child. John joined Blackpool Tower as one of the team of resident organists in 1987. He took up his position at the age of sixteen, straight from school.

In addition to playing the Wurlitzer at Blackpool Tower, John has also played his own Technics GA3 Organ for concerts at Organ societies and festivals, as well as dances all over the country. He has also made several TV appearances, meeting many celebrities along the way.

John has had some horses named after him over the years, by the horse owner and friend of his, Paul Dean. Paul is a former turf accountant who has been a keen dancer at Blackpool Tower for many years. These horses include “John Bowdler Music”, “Bouncing Bowdler”, “Bowdler’s Magic” and “Sir John Bowdler”. “Bouncing Bowdler” achieved much success when he finished in second place in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, and was placed second at Glorious Goodwood in the Queen Mother Molecomb Stakes. These provided memorable days out for everyone involved.

Away from Blackpool Tower John enjoys walking, especially on the fells in the Lake District.

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