Katie Markham lifts the roof off the Cliffs Pavilion with Someone Like You (The Adele Songbook)
Cliffs Pavilion
9th September 2016
Cliffs Pavilion
9th September 2016
Katie Markham alias KT Star, first came to everyone’s attention when in 2013 she entered the X Factor. She only just missed out on the Judge’s houses stage, making it to the last seven finalists. Katie had long been an admirer of Adele and in 2015, she was asked to take part in Adele Live at the BBC. Along with several others, she found herself in an Adele tribute. All the girls thought they were auditioning for a TV programme, and Katie was one of the first to recognise that the real Adele, who had disguised herself as ‘Jenny’, was also there when she heard her sing.
On being part of that BBC special, Katie said,
"It was the best experience of my life. I entered thinking it was just a TV pilot that may not even be aired. To meet the biggest music artist in the world was something I could never have anticipated."
At the end of the tribute, Adele sang Can You Feel My Love and everyone joined in. From appearing in that show, Katie was invited to audition for the Someone Like You (The Adele Songbook) tour, and the rest is history. She is now touring around the UK with the show.
At the Cliffs Pavilion, the audience consisted of mainly middle-aged Adele fans. There was a sprinkling of young people looking for a good night out, as they had obviously enjoyed themselves in the bar beforehand. They were so excited when Katie came on, you would have thought they were watching the real Adele. The show started quietly with Katie dressed as the singer, in a large woolly coat and a black dress, then immediately launching into ‘Hallo’ without a word spoken. Soon her powerful voice echoed around the auditorium and she had the audience in the palm of her hand. She had obviously worked on Adele’s singing style, using the same inflections and hand movements. From then on, her excellent voice rang out as she faithfully re-created the magic of the three record-breaking albums 19, 21 and 25 - singing amongst others, Chasing Pavements, Make You Feel My Love, Set Fire To The Rain, Someone Like You, Rumour Has It, and of course, the world-wide hit Skyfall.
Everyone was so engrossed, that when Katie introduced herself after a couple of numbers, everyone was surprised to hear her speak. They were expecting broad cockney and lots of swearing and instead heard a northern accent. She explained that she was suffering from flu and had a cup of lemon and honey on hand, which she joked wasn’t a secret vodka. If the power of her voice was that good with flu, goodness knows what it would have been like if she were fighting fit.
As well as singing the known Adele songs, Katie sang a couple of numbers made famous by artists that had inspired Adele. She sang a rendition of the Etta James song Fool That I Am only accompanied by Drew Lowe on guitar and later, the Bonnie Rait song I Can’t Make You Love Me, accompanied by the excellent Liam Holmes on the piano.
During the first half, the staging had a black and white back projection of grey landscapes to illustrate the content of the songs. However, the second half had huge blown up close ups of Katie’s face, which was a bit distracting and unnecessary.
When she introduced the song, One and Only, which had been her X Factor entry, she told everyone that Gary Barlow hadn’t liked her. Well, her response to that was,
‘Stuff Him! Look where I am now? At the wonderful Cliffs Pavilion.’
On being part of that BBC special, Katie said,
"It was the best experience of my life. I entered thinking it was just a TV pilot that may not even be aired. To meet the biggest music artist in the world was something I could never have anticipated."
At the end of the tribute, Adele sang Can You Feel My Love and everyone joined in. From appearing in that show, Katie was invited to audition for the Someone Like You (The Adele Songbook) tour, and the rest is history. She is now touring around the UK with the show.
At the Cliffs Pavilion, the audience consisted of mainly middle-aged Adele fans. There was a sprinkling of young people looking for a good night out, as they had obviously enjoyed themselves in the bar beforehand. They were so excited when Katie came on, you would have thought they were watching the real Adele. The show started quietly with Katie dressed as the singer, in a large woolly coat and a black dress, then immediately launching into ‘Hallo’ without a word spoken. Soon her powerful voice echoed around the auditorium and she had the audience in the palm of her hand. She had obviously worked on Adele’s singing style, using the same inflections and hand movements. From then on, her excellent voice rang out as she faithfully re-created the magic of the three record-breaking albums 19, 21 and 25 - singing amongst others, Chasing Pavements, Make You Feel My Love, Set Fire To The Rain, Someone Like You, Rumour Has It, and of course, the world-wide hit Skyfall.
Everyone was so engrossed, that when Katie introduced herself after a couple of numbers, everyone was surprised to hear her speak. They were expecting broad cockney and lots of swearing and instead heard a northern accent. She explained that she was suffering from flu and had a cup of lemon and honey on hand, which she joked wasn’t a secret vodka. If the power of her voice was that good with flu, goodness knows what it would have been like if she were fighting fit.
As well as singing the known Adele songs, Katie sang a couple of numbers made famous by artists that had inspired Adele. She sang a rendition of the Etta James song Fool That I Am only accompanied by Drew Lowe on guitar and later, the Bonnie Rait song I Can’t Make You Love Me, accompanied by the excellent Liam Holmes on the piano.
During the first half, the staging had a black and white back projection of grey landscapes to illustrate the content of the songs. However, the second half had huge blown up close ups of Katie’s face, which was a bit distracting and unnecessary.
When she introduced the song, One and Only, which had been her X Factor entry, she told everyone that Gary Barlow hadn’t liked her. Well, her response to that was,
‘Stuff Him! Look where I am now? At the wonderful Cliffs Pavilion.’
Then, supported by her backing singers Mary Garbé and Natalie Smith, she soon had everyone joining in and clapping along.
Although, most of the well -known songs are written by Adele, often not enough credit is given to her producers and co-writers. When hearing Katie’s accompaniment at the show, it was clear how melodic the backing music is. It has a classical feel, especially on the numbers where the songs are accompanied by a solo piano or a trio of violins and cello.
During the second half of the show, although still singing Adele songs, Katie began to perform more in her own style, and it was obvious that she is a very good singer in her own right.
At the end of the evening, she sang two encores and as no performance could end without Rolling in the Deep, she had everyone up on their feet singing along. There was even a standing ovation. If there was one criticism, it was that Katie could have told us a little more about herself in between songs.
Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
Although, most of the well -known songs are written by Adele, often not enough credit is given to her producers and co-writers. When hearing Katie’s accompaniment at the show, it was clear how melodic the backing music is. It has a classical feel, especially on the numbers where the songs are accompanied by a solo piano or a trio of violins and cello.
During the second half of the show, although still singing Adele songs, Katie began to perform more in her own style, and it was obvious that she is a very good singer in her own right.
At the end of the evening, she sang two encores and as no performance could end without Rolling in the Deep, she had everyone up on their feet singing along. There was even a standing ovation. If there was one criticism, it was that Katie could have told us a little more about herself in between songs.
Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
What The Audience Thought
Sandra Smith- Southend
She has a powerful voice but I thought at first it was over amplified and the words weren’t clear, especially on the unfamiliar songs. She sang the big hits well. However, by the second half I thought she was singing with her own voice and I thought she was very good.
She has a powerful voice but I thought at first it was over amplified and the words weren’t clear, especially on the unfamiliar songs. She sang the big hits well. However, by the second half I thought she was singing with her own voice and I thought she was very good.
Claire, Hollie and Jane- Romford and Brentwood
We just came for a night out as we saw an email about the show and there was an offer on the tickets. We are Adele fans and we enjoyed it. Katie has a good voice and has done justice to Adele’s songs. We were a bit surprised when she spoke as we were expecting a cockney accent. We have only been to the Cliffs for Pantos before,
We just came for a night out as we saw an email about the show and there was an offer on the tickets. We are Adele fans and we enjoyed it. Katie has a good voice and has done justice to Adele’s songs. We were a bit surprised when she spoke as we were expecting a cockney accent. We have only been to the Cliffs for Pantos before,
Norman Collingwood – Southend
I came because I like Adele and I was pleased I did. She looks like Adele and worked very hard on stage for the whole show, especially as she said that she has the flu.
I came because I like Adele and I was pleased I did. She looks like Adele and worked very hard on stage for the whole show, especially as she said that she has the flu.
If you want to hear Katie Markham brilliantly re-creating Adele’s hits, The Someone Like You tour continues at the following venues:-
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Party in the Square, Derry
Sunday 11th September 2016 3:30pm Playhouse, Harlow Thursday 15th September 2016 7:30pm Box Office: 01279 431945 Wyvern Theatre, Swindon Saturday 17th September 2016 7:30pm Box Office: 01793 524481 The Hawth, Crawley Thursday 22nd September 2016 7:30pm Box Office: 01293 553 636 Regent Theatre, Ipswich Sunday 25th September 2016 7:30pm Box Office: 01473 433100 Palace Theatre, Mansfield Wednesday 5th October 2016 7:30pm Box Office: 01623 633 133 Ulster Hall, Belfast Thursday 6th October 2016 8:00pm Box Office: 028 9033 4455 Seagoe Hotel, Craigavon Friday 7th October 2016 8:00pm Jacksons Hotel, Ballybofey Saturday 8th October 2016 8:00pm Vicar Street, Dublin Sunday 9th October 2016 8:00pm Charter Theatre, Preston Wednesday 12th October 2016 7:30pm Box Office: 01772 80 44 44 Plowright Theatre, Scunthorpe Saturday 15th October 2016 7:30pm Box Office: 0844 8542776 |
Cresset, Peterborough
Sunday 16th October 2016 7:30pm Box Office: 01733 265705 Lighthouse Theatre, Kettering Thursday 20th October 2016 7:30pm Box Office: 01536 414141 Beck Theatre, Hayes Wednesday 26th October 2016 7:30pm Box Office: 020 8561 8371 White Rock Theatre, Hastings Thursday 27th October 2016 7:30pm Box Office: 01424 462288 Hazlitt Theatre, Maidstone Thursday 3rd November 2016 7:30pm Box Office: 01622 758611 Swan, High Wycombe Thursday 10th November 2016 7:30pm Box Office: 01494 512 000 Epsom Playhouse Wednesday 16th November 2016 7:30pm Box Office: 01372 742555 Pavilion Theatre, Weymouth Friday 20th January 2017 7:30pm Box Office: 01305 783 225 Playhouse, Whitley Bay Saturday 4th March 2017 7:30pm Box Office: 0844 248 1588 Princes Theatre, Clacton Friday 10th March 2017 7:30pm Box Office: 01255 686633 Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage Friday 17th March 2017 7:45pm Box Office: 01438 363200 |