Alfie Boe talks to our celebrity reporter about his upcoming show in his birth town of Blackpool.
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00:00 [silence]
00:08 You announced in March that you were now coming to Blackpool with Encore.
00:12 So how did you feel to announce that?
00:15 Thrilled. I'd been pushing for another show back in my home region,
00:22 Blackpool or Fleawood, and it finally got put on the list.
00:28 Yeah, I love coming home, I love meeting friends, I love seeing old faces,
00:33 meeting my family, showing people that I'm like, I haven't forgotten my roots,
00:40 I've not forgotten where I'm from. I love that region of England,
00:47 and it's so close to my heart still. And I want to do so much for the region as well,
00:52 I want to do so much for the area. I'd love to eventually at some point
00:57 have my own music festival or create something that I could fly the flag
01:04 for the Fylde Coast, Blackpool, for myself and my connection with it,
01:09 and just show my passion and my support and everything for it,
01:14 my loyalty to the area.
01:16 Is performing in Blackpool or the Fylde Coast in general different?
01:20 Do you get more nervous, do you get a bigger reaction?
01:25 Weirdly, I do get nervous on every show, and I have to say probably
01:32 when I come back to Blackpool, the pressure's on a little bit
01:36 because I'm playing in front of people that are saying,
01:40 "Okay, well, he's gone off to London, he's gone off to the Big Smoke,
01:43 and he's done all this, here, there and everywhere, let's see what he's made of now,"
01:47 and that sort of stuff. So it's like I have to prove myself.
01:51 The minute I walk out on stage-- that's myself telling me that,
01:54 that's my own head saying that-- but the minute I walk out on stage,
02:00 it's like being at a family party and putting on your favourite record,
02:08 singing along with a pint of Guinness in your hand.
02:10 It's like it is, it's coming home, it's so good.
02:16 And everybody has a laugh, everybody can associate with the stuff
02:21 that I've not forgotten, that I grew up with, and all that sort of stuff,
02:24 and it's lovely. My accent gets stronger.
02:28 I mean, it's pretty strong now because I'm here in yourself, Amy,
02:30 so it's like it's completely switched back on.
02:33 But yeah, my accent gets stronger, it's like I've not been away,
02:38 and I love it, I really love it.
02:41 And have you performed at the Blackpool Opera House before?
02:45 Many times now, yeah. I've performed there quite a bit
02:48 on numerous sort of platforms as a classical singer,
02:54 as a musical theatre singer, as a pop and rock singer,
02:58 that sort of thing. I even worked there.
03:00 I was stage crew at the Blackpool Opera House.
03:04 So having done that full circle, worked backstage,
03:09 and now front of the house, front stage, it's my home.
03:15 It feels like a real solid home for me, coming back there.
03:18 The smells are the same, the feeling's the same,
03:21 the emotion is the same, it's great. I love it.
03:25 For the people of Lancashire that will read this article,
03:28 how would you persuade them to buy tickets to come see you in Blackpool?
03:32 You know, how would I persuade them to buy tickets?
03:39 I can't persuade anybody to buy tickets.
03:43 It's really down to them wanting, if they want to have a fun night,
03:49 if they want to experience a nice broad spectrum of music
03:53 from different genres, different styles, have some light-hearted fun,
03:59 a bit of comedy in there, listen to some fantastic musicians
04:04 with, again, some great histories.
04:07 My band in themselves have played with some iconic legends.
04:11 My backing singers are George Michael's backing singers,
04:16 and them in themselves, Shirley Lewis and Joe Garland,
04:21 are worth coming out to see just on their own.
04:26 They're incredible. It's a very tight band.
04:30 It's a great evening of music, fun, spontaneity,
04:35 and me just showing my appreciation for the support that the North West
04:42 has given me. So if that helps ticket sales and that helps people come out,
04:48 I know it's a difficult time for everybody, buying tickets for shows
04:53 and things, but it would be worth it, and I'll make it worth your while.
04:59 And then we can all go to Yates' Wine Lodge after the gig,
05:04 and I'll buy everybody a drink.
05:07 You're going to regret saying that!
05:09 I know!