Alison Young, Head of Programming Blog
Gabriela Cilmi Gig in Stage 2
Little did I think when I pressed “send” that a speculative e-mail to the management of chart-topping 16 year old Australian singer Gabriella Cilmi would result in The Stables hosting her UK headlining debut just two weeks later. Rather than turn down the gig because the main auditorium already had a second night of Steve Harley booked in I suggested that Gabriella play Stage 2 in a 120 capacity standing format – hitherto untried and untested but hey, there has to be a first time for everything!
From the moment the gig was confirmed, the unparalleled Stables planning kicked in with a viral e-marketing campaign ensuring the performance was sold out within 48 hours, additional Stablemates and staff booked and ingenious planning by Jules, our technical manager, as how to squeeze a five piece band on to a miniscule stage area.
The day dawned and an excitable Gabriella and her entourage arrived filling the foyer with laughter and large amounts of equipment and baggage. As the venue filled up, Steve Harley customers rubbing shoulders with the Gabriella crowd there was a real buzz around the venue and a record-breaking numbers of cars in the car park and field -281 in total. As the Stage 2 doors opened to admit the first customers I had a small stab of anxiety – was it going to be sardines in a can time, would the air conditioning work, would Gabriella fall off the stage? Of course my fears were totally unfounded - 120 punters comfortably fitted with quite a bit of room and oxygen to spare. Following a contrasting set of soul and reggae by support artist Liam Bailey, Gabriella lit up the room and got everyone dancing with a set of original numbers from her debut album Lessons to be Learned and classic covers, finishing with a storming rendition of “Echo Beach” and her hit single “Sweet About Me” Another memorable first for The Stables!
Photos by Tracy Simpson
Little did I think when I pressed “send” that a speculative e-mail to the management of chart-topping 16 year old Australian singer Gabriella Cilmi would result in The Stables hosting her UK headlining debut just two weeks later. Rather than turn down the gig because the main auditorium already had a second night of Steve Harley booked in I suggested that Gabriella play Stage 2 in a 120 capacity standing format – hitherto untried and untested but hey, there has to be a first time for everything!
From the moment the gig was confirmed, the unparalleled Stables planning kicked in with a viral e-marketing campaign ensuring the performance was sold out within 48 hours, additional Stablemates and staff booked and ingenious planning by Jules, our technical manager, as how to squeeze a five piece band on to a miniscule stage area.
The day dawned and an excitable Gabriella and her entourage arrived filling the foyer with laughter and large amounts of equipment and baggage. As the venue filled up, Steve Harley customers rubbing shoulders with the Gabriella crowd there was a real buzz around the venue and a record-breaking numbers of cars in the car park and field -281 in total. As the Stage 2 doors opened to admit the first customers I had a small stab of anxiety – was it going to be sardines in a can time, would the air conditioning work, would Gabriella fall off the stage? Of course my fears were totally unfounded - 120 punters comfortably fitted with quite a bit of room and oxygen to spare. Following a contrasting set of soul and reggae by support artist Liam Bailey, Gabriella lit up the room and got everyone dancing with a set of original numbers from her debut album Lessons to be Learned and classic covers, finishing with a storming rendition of “Echo Beach” and her hit single “Sweet About Me” Another memorable first for The Stables!
Photos by Tracy Simpson
For one day only - Beth Nielsen Chapman will be running a special Songwriting Masterclass workshop.
