Lorraine Bowen’s Big Festive Sing-along With Bells On

De La Warr Pavilion, Marina, Bexhill, Sunday, December 13

SINCE her last Big Festive Sing-along at the De La Warr Pavilion Lorraine Bowen has become something of a national treasure after appearing on Britain’s Got Talent.

Since then her life has changed.

“I’m known as the crumble lady everywhere I go,” she laughs, referring to her signature song which earned Simon Cowell’s buzzer in the opening seconds.

“The whole year has been surreal – The Sun even ran stories about someone else claiming they had written The Crumble Song!”

The national scene may have opened up a little more since David Walliams gave her the golden buzzer to the talent contest’s semi-finals, but the Brighton-based singer and organist was always cherished in Sussex for her hilarious cabaret shows and her singing workshops, which began at the Brighton Dome.

This Christmas show is a combination workshop and performance, with singers of any ability encouraged to come down during the day to learn the songs before the afternoon performance.

The day, which coincides with the De La Warr Pavilion’s 80th anniversary celebration weekend, concludes with a screening of 1944 musical classic Meet Me In St Louis.

“We will be singing The Trolley Song,” says Bowen, referring to the Judy Garland favourite’s break-out hit – also a favourite of The Simpsons’ Martin Price.

“But we will be doing lots of Christmas songs – I’m preparing backing tracks so they can be sung by lots of different voices. You don’t have to read music.

“I have a degree in music, so I can offer pieces for more advanced singers. There are lots of key changes, so if someone isn’t comfortable singing in one key then the music will change to a higher key!”

On the programme are Paul McCartney’s Wonderful Christmastime, a carol medley, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer and The Pogues’ Fairytale In New York.

An additional attraction will be an appearance by handbell ringer Sandra Winter, who as well as having her own separate spot will be adding her own distinctive clangs to The Trolley Song.

“I’m looking in skips for some massive piping,” says Bowen. “It will be like a single one of Mike Oldfield’s tubular bells!”

The audience can sing along with words on a giant screen. Bowen is a big advocate of communal singing.

“There’s something primal about it,” she says. “When you hear a football chant it really goes right through you – it comes right from the stomach.

“It’s a lovely thing to do in this age of looking at screens.”

Last December Bowen first auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent in Brighton – taking part in the televised audition in February.

“I had to keep quiet for three months before it went on air,” she says. “When it did I wasn’t really ready for it. It was wild, people were running up behind me asking for selfies. I’ve been asked to perform all over the country – there was even someone from Australia who had seen it. Being on television for only those short minutes was memorable for a lot of people.”

Watching the audition back on YouTube it’s clear to see the impact Bowen’s exuberance had on the audience. As Bowen plays the Casio keyboard balanced on an ironing board Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon buzz her almost instantly.

But the sheer force of her personality – especially when she shakes her bingo wings - wins over the crowd. Cheers greet Walliams as he buzzes her through.

After her performance of Space in the semi final – complete with dancing astronauts, extendable sleeves and flying harness in a kitchen set – Bowen came fourth in the public vote missing out on the final by a whisker. Along the way she earned props from the likes of Nick Grimshaw and Snoop Dogg.

“Somebody said to me no singers ever move during their performance,” says Bowen. “I’m always trotting around the place with my headset microphone.”

Her travels around the country have already inspired new songs. She had already immortalised Bexhill itself on her Suburban Exotica album. Her most recent single, Give My Love To Hull, celebrated a often overlooked Yorkshire city.

“I tend to write lots about towns,” she says. “I have never written a song about love.

“Bexhill is a gem – you can go around the charity shops, visit the De La Warr Pavilion, and they’ve spent a lot of money on the seafront so there’s a lovely walk on the flat of about a mile.”

As for Christmas she has reworked her signature song as Christmas Crumble – and she will be debuting a seasonal dance as part of the Festive Sing-along.

“I’ve got to get Simon Cowell off the Christmas number one spot,” she says. “It will get him back for buzzing me!”

Singing workshop from 10.45am, tickets £16 including show and film.

Show starts 5pm, tickets from £10.

Call 01424 229111.