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Katie's classic challenge
paul r taylor8/ 9/2006
KATIE Melua has spent the last three months playing intimate
gigs in smoky clubs across the US backed by her simple rock
band.
Her seductive, jazzy voice and mellow hits have been perfectly
suited to the surroundings, which are a world away from the pomp of
the Last Night Of The Proms.
But the versatile singer songwriter will be equally at home
tomorrow (Saturday) when she takes to the stage in Heaton Park,
North Manchester, for BBC Proms In The Park before an audience of
at least 10,000, and with the entire BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
behind her.
Katie will headline the Manchester satellite of the BBC Proms - the
classical music extravaganza with a live link-up to the Royal
Albert Hall.
"The idea of playing with the orchestra is absolutely amazing," she
said. "I've recorded with one before but I've been playing live
gigs for pretty much three years with the stock rock band formula
of guitar, drums and piano.
"My gigs can be very rocky so it's nice to play with an orchestra
because it's a completely different sound and feeling as a
performer. I'm really looking forward to it."
The orchestra will also play classical and opera favourites,
including Mozart's Clarinet Concerto, Walton: Spitfire Prelude and
Fugue; Goodwin 633 Squadron; and a Bond Medley.
The live link-up to London for the traditional crowd singalong,
including Jerusalem and the National Anthem, will be followed by a
spectacular fireworks display from the roof of Heaton Hall.
But the crowd and occasion will not be daunting for Katie, who has
sold out the Royal Albert Hall on her own before now and had chart
success with singles such as The Closest Thing To Crazy and Nine
Million Bicycles.
"I don't really get nervous before performances like this because
the positive feelings of looking forward to it tend to override the
nerves.
"I'll be playing some songs from the new album, my second, and also
going back to basics with some from my first album. I played the
M.E.N. Arena in January and loved it, that whole UK tour was
special.
"Whenever I go up north I find the crowds are amazing, very
supportive, and that really makes a difference to the performer and
the performance they give."
Katie began her US tour on the back of a 10-week sell-out European
tour, which included 18 dates in Britain and a further 28 across
Europe, playing to more than 150,000 people in all. She then,
somewhat unusually, supported Il Divo during part of her US
tour.
"America was brilliant," she said. "I got to play some really
intimate gigs, which is something I've missed. I enjoyed being
there and being unknown and able to be myself and do normal things
again. I'm surprised to say this but I'm not road weary. I love
travelling. You do miss your family and friends, but as soon as I
get back I want to go out there again.
"I'm doing a gig in December in an oil refinery in Norway. It's
underneath the Black Sea on the ocean bed and to be able to do
these sorts of things is incredible. I can't wait."
Katie has been the biggest selling female artist in the UK since
2004 both with her debut album Call Off The Search and her second,
Piece By Piece, topping the charts.
The 21-year-old was born in Georgia, in Eastern Europe, but her
family moved to Belfast when she was nine and eventually to
England.
She was plucked from obscurity by producer Mike Batt, who had been
looking for a vocalist capable in both jazz and blues styles.
"I've started working on my third album but I've not started
recording. The thing is when I first made my break it wasn't one of
these where I had all this stuff welling up inside me and had to
get it out.
"It was a singing project I was working on with Mike, one of
several projects, and this one just happened to take off. So
there's still a lot to come from me. I still don't feel like I've
made the most amazing music ever. I want to get better and there
are a lot of things I need to improve."
Mancunians Cole Page and Katie Bernstein will also perform at the
Heaton Park event, along with former Coronation Street star
Jonathan Wrather. Crooner Cole (left) will swing out classic big
band numbers while 17-year-old Katie, a pupil at King David High
School, in Crumpsall, will entertain with her soaring voice.
Tickets cost £12.50 for adults (under 12s-free with a paying
adult). They are available on the day at the Heaton Park Farm
Centre (cash/cheque only) from noon until the concert start at
7.30pm. Call 0161 733 1085 ext 203 for information.
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