Matt James
Lead Vocals & Guitar
Matt James has been a professional singer, guitarist, and songwriter for over 20 years. He has performed all over the world in theatres, arenas, and stadiums, touring with the likes of Iron Maiden, Alter Bridge, Shinedown, Halestorm, Killswitch Engage, Apocalyptica, Volbeat, and The Ultimate Classic Rock Show.
Matt has an exceptional vocal range and loves singing in a variety of styles and genres, from Madonna to Metallica. His on-stage presence is captivating, and he always brings the audience into the show.
A multi-instrumentalist, Matt has written and recorded extensively over the years, collaborating with many talented artists and organisations....including Sony PlayStation!
Matt was drawn to this project through his love of classic films and his appreciation for the incredible soundtracks that helped make those movies so memorable.
Elizabeth Owens
Keyboards & Saxophone
Elizabeth is a classically trained clarinettist, saxophonist, and keyboard player who has been performing professionally for over 25 years.
Her varied stage credits include appearances in the Thursford Christmas Spectacular and deputising on the UK tour of Wicked, sharing the stage with artists as diverse as Sir Bryn Terfel, Lorna Luft, Tommy Tallarico, Michael Giacchino, and even Gonzo from The Muppets.
Beyond the stage, Elizabeth runs her own woodwind repair business and works as a quality control technician for a major international instrument manufacturer.
When she isn't powering through iconic film soundtracks from the 1980s and 1990s on saxophone and keyboards with the band, she keeps busy freelancing in musical theatre pit bands, jazz and soul projects, and as a substitute keyboard player for leading R.E.M. tribute band Stipe.
Alex Toff
Drums
Alex has been a professional drummer for nearly 30 years, working across live performance, touring and studio recording.
His career has seen him play with a wide range of artists, including A-ha, Bonnie Tyler, Belinda Carlisle, ABC, Johnny Hates Jazz, Nik Kershaw, Imogen Heap, Lionel Richie, Joe Bonamassa, Leona Lewis, Paolo Nutini and Martha Wainwright.
Alongside performing, Alex records drums for other artists from his home studio and enjoys teaching-sharing the practical experience he has gained over many years of playing.
His work with many performers who helped define the sound of the 1980s makes him a natural fit for this production. Alex is delighted to be part of the show and looks forward to bringing the music of the decade to life with the band.
Sara Davies
Lead Vocals & Keyboards
Sara is a Welsh singer and songwriter who has performed across Wales and internationally, alongside a background in music education.
Having previously worked as a full-time teacher, Sara made the decision to step away from teaching to pursue her career as a professional singer and songwriter. In 2024, she won Cân i Gymru, Wales’ renowned televised songwriting competition, with her original song ‘Ti’ (‘You’). Since then, she has released her debut album ‘Sara’ and continues to write and work on new material that she hopes to release in the future.
Sara has performed at a variety of prestigious events, including BAFTA Cymru, and has had the opportunity to perform internationally, including in Abu Dhabi, Denmark and Monaco. While she still does some teaching alongside her music, Sara is now focusing on developing her career as a performer and songwriter.
A lifelong lover of music, Sara is thrilled to be part of Back to the Movies Live and is excited to be back on stage doing what she loves most - singing some of the greatest songs from the movies and sharing them with audiences!
Gareth Lewis
Guitar & Vocals
Gareth is an experienced guitarist and singer-songwriter who has performed across the UK and internationally for many years.
Alongside performing, Gareth has written, recorded and commercially released several albums of original music. His songs have received extensive radio play, including regular support from BBC Radio Wales and Planet Rock, as well as stations around the world. He was a finalist in the Americana category of the Nashville-based International Songwriting Competition, and a song he co-wrote was featured in a Porsche advertising campaign starring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter.
More recently, Gareth has performed in theatres and arenas across the UK and Ireland with The Ultimate Classic Rock Show. He also delivers songwriting and music-production workshops for schools, charities and adult learners.
As a lifelong fan of 1980s movies and music, Gareth is delighted to be part of Back to the Movies and bring some of the decade’s greatest songs to life on stage!
Leyton Thomas
Bass Guitar & Bass Synth
Leyton took up the bass guitar in his teens. A pop-punk kid at heart, the spark for live music was ignited by his first gig, Blink-182 in the early 2000s.
It wasn’t until he was taken under the wing of his local music shop that he discovered music could have more than four chords!
A natural musician and a dedicated worker, Leyton quickly became proficient and cut his teeth on the pub circuit, then the function circuit, before forming the top-class corporate band, iRock which earned a reputation for delivering exceptional performances at prestigious events across the UK and abroad.
Leyton’s true professionalism, ability to cover multiple styles, and his easy-going personality has found him being the first call for many professional function bands, studio work, live BBC radio and touring shows such as The Ultimate Classic Rock Show.
Drawn to this project through a lifelong love of film music, Leyton was also influenced by the soundtracks his father played while he was growing up. The opportunity to perform some of cinema's most iconic music was simply too good to miss.