REVIEW - The George Michael Singers are Amazing!

On Saturday 5th April, we attended The George Michael Singers concert at Lowry. Read what our reviewer Neil Jones had to say about the gig...


It's incredible to think that it's been nine years since George Michael tragically passed away, aged 53 on Christmas Day 2016. His music remains as fresh as it did when it was released and one can only imagine what contemporary recordings he would have made since given everything that has happened (for the worse) in that time.  

The George Michael Singers are keeping his legacy alive while acting as a cathartic relief for the singers involved - Jo Garland, Shirley Lewis, and Jay Henry - who are obviously still feeling the loss of the beautiful, charitable human being and multi-talented man they spent most of their careers working for as his backing singers, both on record and live on tour.

The Lowry was buzzing in anticipation before the concert, with the majority of people obviously not having seen the show before. Despite his universal appeal and ageless back catalogue, I was surprised that, in Salford, the audience was easily 95% white, 90% aged over fifty, 80% over sixty, and 70% female; the majority having presumably seen the trio before - not with this particular celebration, but actually on stage with George himself on his 25 Live, Cover to Cover, and Symphonica Tours.

As the show started, the anticipation quickly reached a level of audience interaction before the singers had even taken to the stage. The tight knit band's funky intro inspired one or two "super-fans" on the front row to stand up and dance along, clearly to the annoyance of one old chap who quite agressively prodded the guy in front and curtly instructed him to "f'ckn sit down!".  The encounter was hilariously not helped by the three singers then entering the stage, beckoning the crowd to get up and dance as they did so. Needless to say, the angry old fella had already made his stance and, possibly as a result, was probably the only person who remained seated in the stalls and circle (the gallery not being open) during the whole concert.

It is safe to say the entire concert was a chance to dance and sing along with many an emotional moment producing tears for both performers and audience alike. At the Lowry, with the modern auditorium design of the Lyric Theatre, this was not an issue (despite the age of many of the audience) - unless of course you are physically unable to stand - but I can imagine that at some older or more compact theatres - especially in Holland where people are considerably taller - such behaviour would result in many obstructed view seats.

It was clear early on that this was not a Tribute Show, but a celebration of George by those who knew him best. The songs - all instantly recognisable to even the most casual of fans - were interspersed with conversation and stories about how the three Londoners had first met George, with their memories segueing into the next associated hit, each delivered with such finesse it left you in no doubt why George had remained loyal to their employment for so long, even if it did raise questions why they were not famous solo artists in their own right.

Shirley Lewis had spent 30 years collaborating with George and her voice is instantly recognisable on some of his most iconic hits, especially Freedom, and Father Figure, which she delivered with such emotion that it received a prolonged standing ovation, during which, she - and most of the audience - broke down in tears. Given this was actually the third show of their current tour and not the first time the three have performed as "The George Michael Singers" you can only imagine how hard his loss must have affected her.

As well as being a backing singer for George Michael on record and tour, Jay Henry was also signed as a solo artist to the former Wham idol's Aegean record label, with the two cementing their bond with a cover of Sly & The Family Stone's "One Nation Under a Groove" (George using the alias "Laker Boy").  

Jo Garland (as Jo Bryant) toured, sang, recorded and wrote with George on all his albums from Older to Ladies & Gentlemen, and Patience but is perhaps best known for his MTV Unplugged perfomance and starring in the Fastlove and Spinning The Wheel videos, both of which she immaculately delivered.

Jo explained that she had first bonded with George due to their mutual love of the recording technique of American jazz pianist Patrice Rushen (Jo's own father, Ritchie Bryant was Aker Bilk's drummer).  It was her cover of Rushen's 1982 hit Forget Me Nots which appears on the Fastlove single.

An added bonus was a guest performance by Lisa Moorish, who is perhaps best known for her cover version of Wham!'s I'm Your Man, which reached UK no.24 in 1995 and featured George on backing vocals, after he heard the version while recording at Sarm West studios at the same time.

While not taking top billing, the whole show was held together and moved along by Musical Director, keyboard player and trumpeter Steve Sidwell, whose own association with George Michael went back even further, to his Wham! days and the 1987 Faith solo debut album.

As well as famously providing the trumpet on “I Want Your Sex” and “Older”, Steve was also a co-producer on the Oscar-winning Bohemian Rhapsody, the cinema biopic of George's idol, Freddie Mercury, which culminates in Queen's triumphant set at Live Aid in 1985 - widely regarded as the greatest ever live performance in music history.

Arguably the highlight of George's own career was his rendition of Queen's Somebody to Love at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992 - the live recording of which would be one of seven no.1 hits he would score (alongside another six chart toppers with Wham!). He was backed by the London Gospel Choir that night, rather than Jo, Shirley and Jay, so it was understandable it didn't make the setlist for The Lowry; not least for the fact he scored 47 UK Top 40 hits of his own. But, given their close harmonies and gospel-like range, it would have been fascinating to hear the George Michael Singer's interpretation.

And that is what makes this concert different from a tribute show. Rather than going for the more obvious hits - although with so many to choose from, there's still more than plenty here - the songs performed all have a back story and close association with the musicians involved; the singers personally directed, coached and collaborated through them by George himself.

Sadly for us, Steve Sidwell let his piano and keyboard do the talking so we never got to hear his personal stories about George or the world tours he was also Musical Director on. Nor did we hear from the band members - who, on further research, I found had also appeared alongside George on tour - Mike Brown (guitar), Chris Brown (bass), Richard Cottle (keys & sax), Fez Ogunseyinde (drums) and Lea Mullen (percussion). Together, they were tighter than George's jeans in the Faith video and you can imagine the George Michael Singers fitting in perfectly at the likes of the Montreux Jazz Festival.

Other than an explanation of each band member's involvement with George, and perhaps big screen visuals of the three singers together with the musical icon, it would have been nice to have heard them dueting with his actual vocals (as Queen now do with a backing track of Freddie when performing Love of My Life). Although, in saying that, I am not sure that Shirley Lewis - or much of the audience for that matter - would be able to get through it without flooding the Lowry with tears.

By the end - which seemed to come around far too soon for both performers and audience alike - even the miserable old man in front of us was up on his feet applauding for the standing ovation(s) and the buzz of anticipation felt around the Lowry ahead of the gig had been replaced by an even greater electrical charge of delight. 

Listening in to people's conversations on leaving the theatre is always a highlight of a reviewer's experience and it is safe to say the levels of satisfaction here were off the chart.

If you are a George Michael or Wham! fan (let's face it, who isn't!?!), then this really is a show you need to catch while it is still on tour [Leeds is the closest remaining date for any Mancunians who missed this gig].

Just remember to bring your dancing shoes and tissues. As George is probably saying himself, looking down from above... "I think it's amazing."   

WE SCORE THE GEORGE MICHAEL SINGERS...





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