A concert in memory of George Michael is coming to Highgate to mark a year since the pop star’s death on Christmas Day.
All George’s hits will be performed by a group of professional musicians who put on shows to raise money for George’s favourite charities.
Singer and organiser David Wright said: “We don’t want to cash in on George’s death. We just want to celebrate his music. It’s not a look-a-like kind of thing. We sometimes put on sunglasses like George, but it’s really about his music.”
In June the band performed two shows in front of 400 people in the village hall in Goring-on-Thames, where the singer had a second home, to mark what would have been George’s 54th birthday with the proceeds going to children’s charity Childline.
And in July, six months after George’s death, the Leicester Square Theatre hosted the band which raised money for charities the Terrence Higgins Trust and MacMillan Cancer Support. In total the group has raised £2,500 for causes backed by the Grammy award winner.
The title of the concert comes from the George Michael song of the same name as Mr Wright, 54, explained: “It seems very appropriate. George was loved by many fans.
“We also want to keep the show light and jolly and help people remember rather than focus on the sad side,” he added.
On the choice of Highgate for the next show, Mr Wright said the band wanted to perform George’s hits from his solo career and Wham days in places which meant something to the artist.
“We could have hired a theatre and sold more tickets in bigger venues but we’re not in it to make a lot of money,” Mr Wright said.
The Highgate concert’s bill includes two special guests – Toby Bourke, who had a Top Ten hit with ‘Waltz Away Dreaming’ - a duet George asked to do with him after the aspiring artist sent a demo tape to the his record label.
A second guest appearance will be made by Owen Paul who battled it out with George in the charts in summer 1986 with the single ‘My Favourite Waste of Time’.
‘You Have Been Loved’ takes place at St Michael’s Church in South Grove, Highgate, opposite George’s home, on Tuesday, December 5. The proceeds will be donated to Cardiomyopathy UK.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here