CULTURE EDITION
On the eve of his latest singalong at the Corn Exchange, coming up this month, Gareth Malone shares his favourite feel-good tunes 5 MINUTES WITH GARETH MALONE
GIGS NOT TO MISS!
Cambridge Edition: Your third singalong event is coming to the Corn Exchange this month. Are the acoustics particularly good there? Gareth Malone: Cambridge Corn Exchange is one of my favourite venues – the sound is good, as is the vibe. The building looks nice and is in a good location, right in the middle of Cambridge where people go out to eat and have a glass of wine. By the time they come in for the show they’re really ready to sing and dance and clap along. And heckle! It makes such a difference. It’s also set up for live bands, which suits my slightly anarchic show… CE: How is this year’s show different? GM: This time it’s different because there’s a personal story running through the heart of it. It’s my 49th birthday on 9 November, so the songs cover the 49 years of my life, starting with David Bowie, who released Golden Years the month I was born, through songs by Lizzo, which my kids play constantly. There are Beyoncé songs, Dusty Springfield, Amy Winehouse, the Beatles, Elton John and Kiss from a Rose by Seal, which was playing the first time I fell in love, when I was working part-time in a sandwich shop. The song choices are mine but it’s also about the audience reminiscing and having a good time. CE: Do you sing much with your wife and family? GM: We sing all the time at home. I’ve been singing to the kids since the word go, even before they were born. We’re only just emerging from the Frozen era, with songs like All Is Found from the Disney film Frozen II, which has been a family favourite for some time. We enjoy a wide range of ephemera – from Billie Eilish to a folk
band called Megson, who have a fantastic children’s album called Little Bird , which played on a loop in our house all summer. CE: Why do people love a singalong? GM: I think because it’s something very wholesome and fun – like a good-old- fashioned knees-up at the pub gathered around the ‘old Joanna’. It’s less pressure and commitment than joining a choir, but there’s a comforting sense of belonging from having others sing all around you. There are even proven health benefits to singing – I’m no scientist, but there are definitely feel-good things like serotonin and endorphins at play. Singing also encourages you to breathe properly, stand up tall, dance and clap along. It’s all very energising in the show. CE: Is a talent for singing something people are born with? GM: Singing in tune all comes down to the classic adage that you have two ears and one mouth. The ears are far more important than you’d think. The best singers are constantly listening to what’s going on around them – it’s about tuning in and adjusting your voice constantly. I’d liken it to archery: aim first. Vocal exercises definitely help – like humming and puffing out, breathing out like you’re inflating a balloon and making siren noises to safely stretch out the vocal folds. The worst thing you can do is shout – I haven’t since 2001! CE: Now that you’re a household name, do fans approach you all the time? GM: Career-wise, helping the Military Wives choir get to number one at Christmas 2011 was definitely my big moment for public recognition. Now, whoever I meet, they usually tell me about their experience of singing and of watching The Choir , sharing what singing means to them. In a sense, fame is helping me achieve my goals, but the music is reward in itself. There’s nothing better than standing on stage in front of thousands of people singing along together, thinking – ‘I made this wonderful moment happen’. It’s an incredible feeling. Sing-Along-A-Gareth: My Life Through Song will be coming to the Cambridge Corn Exchange on 29 November. For tickets, visit garethmalone.com
3 November, Corn Exchange Featuring Marc Almond, blues guitarist Toby Lee and Jools’s full Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. Expect a lively performance filled with bop-along musical classics. JOOLS HOLLAND & HIS RHYTHM & BLUES ORCHESTRA
SEASICK STEVE
12 November, Corn Exchange Enjoy this American musician’s blues-infused sound, with raw, gritty vocals and homemade guitars. His authentic music reflects on struggle and resilience. 14 November, Junction Fans can expect iconic 90s tracks and newer material from this alt Canadian band known for hits like Superman’s Song , their distinctive baritone vocals and witty lyrics. CRASH TEST DUMMIES 15 November, Corn Exchange Celebrating the life and music of reggae icon Bob Marley, this show’s talented cast performs hits like Is This Love , No Woman No Cry , One Love and many more. LEGEND: THE MUSIC OF BOB MARLEY
THE AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD SHOW
25 November, Corn Exchange Formed in 1988 and regarded as one of the world’s best Pink Floyd tribute bands, their immersive experience includes classics like Comfortably Numb and Time .
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK NOVEMBER 2024 25
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