Mari Wilson + guests SW15 Music
We're so happy to welcome Mari to the Sound Lounge, and can't wait to see her and her stellar musicians bring you a collection from her body of work over the years. Expect a “best of” featuring songs from all her albums including 1982’s Showpeople through to 2016’s Pop Deluxe and a few unusual surprises. Not forgetting the glamour Mari is known for!
Mari’s live performances have become legendary since first arriving on the scene in 1982 with her 12-piece band the Wilsations and her skyscraper beehive hairdo. Celebrated as The Neasden Queen of Soul, she had six hit singles, including her biggest hit, Just What I’ve Always Wanted, from the cult album, Showpeople.
Mari has continued to enjoy a diverse career of writing, touring and musical theatre as well as releasing more albums, the most recent being Pop Deluxe, an album of songs by the female singers she was influenced by - Dusty Springfield, Petula Clark and others - all presented in a uniquely Mari Wilson fashion. In 2018 Mari wrote the song Moon and Back, for US TV show The Young and The Restless which was nominated for an Emmy.
Mari’s sell-out shows are always guaranteed to charm and beguile with her soulful, emotional voice, witty anecdotes and the ability to create an intimate bond with her audience. "Mari’s relationship with her audience is quite extraordinary. she is witty, graceful, and often humble.” – Gay Times
As a special bonus, and with Mari's blessing, we will open the evening with a short set by three young musicians nurtured by SW15 Music, the charity that teaches music to young people in the London borough of Wandsworth. Mari is a patron of the organisation, which teaches guitar, electric bass, drums, piano and ukulele all free of charge, and then encourages students to form bands and helps them perform at public events across the UK. Ruxy (vocals), Teddy (guitar) and Zophia (drums) will be showing off their talents in a three-song set at 7.50pm. Find out more at sw15music.org.
