GIG NIGHT 3 – Emi S

Arts Music School Emi Sharples June 29, 2023 0 Comments

Gig Night! Number Three! Last Saturday! With better photos this time..

Jacob A opened this year’s final gig night with the classic Hey Jude (The Beatles), complete with full ‘na na na na’s. Gaby O followed, setting a reflective mood with Stay (Rihanna), which Nik P promptly subverted with a punchy Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana) – we really have it all at gig night (shameless plug, come see us next year). Imogen T performed an acoustic interpretation of Jolene (Dolly Parton) on the piano, which was followed by Oli B reviving a classic pop outlet for Does Your Mother Know (ABBA). Emi S went on to sing Paper Bag (Fiona Apple) and Izzy B followed with an 80s hit – Hanging on the Telephone (Blondie).

The solo songs continued with Lacy F’s performance of Don’t Know Why (Norah Jones) and Georgi L adapted Put Your Records On (Corinne Bailey Rae) for a jazzier feel. Harry R performed a heartfelt A Song For You (Donnie Hathaway) and Martha K took with stage with a saxophone quartet for Smile (Lily Allen); this was followed by Hebe M, who sang powerfully with Complicated (Avril Lavigne).

Charlie R performed Slow Dancing in a Burning Room (John Mayer), which was followed by Harry R and Daniel O bringing the first half to an end with an funky duet, singing Never Too Much (Luther Vandross). The Year 13 compères then did a symbolic ‘handing over’ to the Year 12 compères for the second half.

Daniel O opened the second half with a dynamic For Once in My Life (Stevie Wonder), bringing everyone away from the bar and back to the music. Bella F followed with a stylistic rendition of Almost There (Anika Noni Rose) from the Princess and the Frog soundtrack, complete with a saxophone quartet. String ensemble accompanied the next two anthemic hits – Oli B, who returned to sing Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve), and Viva La Vida (Coldplay), sung by Ned C. Scarlet A followed with a feel-good performance of Fabulous Baby (Sister Act); Izzy B, Lydia M, and Scarlet A then all made up a powerful trio to sing Love You I Do (Jennifer Hudson).

Ayoola O perfected the riffs and runs in Listen (Beyoncé) and Lydia M returned with some members of Big Band to perform a mighty rendition of One Moment In Time (Whitney Houston). Big Band then remained to accompany Raphael O’s triumphant performance of the iconic Feeling Good (Nina Simone).

And then.. the mighty Caravan (Duke Ellington). If it doesn’t ring a bell, think Whiplash soundtrack. Oli C, Ed R and Jack E made up the brass section, with Charlie R, in his last gig night at RHS, absolutely tearing up the drum solo.

Jacob A closed this year’s last gig night with Scenes From An Italian Restaurant (Billy Joel), complete with a saxophone solo from Beau L, and finally, the timeless Layla (Eric Clapton), accompanied by Ed R, Charlie R, and Freddie T all on guitar.

We thought it was over; “time to take a well-deserved rest before divvies tomorrow”. But the Year 13s had other ideas and decided to go out with a last hurrah, Joe A and Charlie R taking to the stage with Ed R to perform some cool stuff (not too sure what they were playing, Ms Double just called it “outro music”).

Huge thanks to everyone in house band, all accompanists from string ensemble and Big Band, all of our great Year 13 performers and compères, and of course, Ms Double for her organisation skills in keeping Gig Night afloat every term.