We caught up with the show's performer, Annie Skates
In what is promising to be the outdoor summer party of the year, all the hits of ABBA will be performed live by a full symphonic orchestra with West End singers and a fantastic fireworks finale! Grab your platforms, pack a picnic and get ready to dance the night away on Saturday 2nd August in Portsmouth’s Guildhall Square.
As the event draws closer, we caught up with Annie Skates who will be performing in the concert as ABBA’s Agnetha. Annie has starred in a multitude of shows with just about every orchestra you can think of, sung live with many of the greats of the music world including George Michael, Madonna and Beyonce, has worked exclusively for Simon Cowell’s team as a vocal coach on the X Factor and more!
You have sung live and in studio with numerous artists – which stand out as your favourite to work with? And which have been the most challenging?!
Most artists I’ve worked with have been absolutely lovely to work with, both in the studio and on stage. One of my favourites is Sir Cliff Richard who is so professional. For example, when we did the TV show ‘An Audience with Cliff Richard’ and sang ‘The Millennium Prayer’, he brought me to the front of the stage to introduce me to the audience as the vocal arranger of the song. The most challenging? Probably when I was in New York singing and arranging the backing singers at a large charity event, which also featured Beyoncé. The orchestra conductor requested, with no notice, that I sing the lead vocal in rehearsal so they could hear how the arrangement went.
You are known for your work as a vocal coach and in particular with Simon Cowell’s contestants on the X Factor – which contestant over the years have you been most surprised didn’t make it further in the competition?
Yes, I coached Steve Brookstein, who won the original X Factor. In other tv competitions, I was surprised Gareth Gates didn’t win Pop Idol.
Which do you prefer – performing or coaching?
These roles are completely different, and I really enjoy doing both!
Have you performed with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra before?
Yes, many times, performing ‘Abba Symphonic Spectacular’ and ‘Disco Symphonic Spectacular’, for example
What is the most challenging thing about performing in an outdoor concert?
Obviously, the great British weather! Slippery stages can cause issues, although I’m sure the sun will shine on us for these events in Portsmouth in early August.
Which is your favourite ABBA song to perform? And which is loved most by the audience?
I love singing ‘Chiquitita’ but I think the audiences love ‘The Winner Takes It All’ – I’m lucky enough to perform the lead vocal in both songs.
What are you most looking forward to about performing in the ABBA Summer Concert in Guildhall Square?
I’m really looking forward to performing again with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conducted by my good friend Pete Harrison. Sharing this music out in the open air in Guildhall Square will be a fantastic experience!
Who do you think would enjoy attending the ABBA Summer Concert in Guildhall Square?
The concert is for everyone – even younger families love the Abba songs.
More about Annie Skates
Annie has starred on stage in a multitude of shows with just about every orchestra you can think of, including appearing internationally in tours of ‘The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber’ and ‘The Magic of Broadway’, in the UK, Scandinavia, America and Australia with Susan Boyle, Michael Ball, Elaine Paige, Michael Crawford and Russell Watson. She sang lead vocals for 37,000 people at Hyde Park in ‘Thank You For the Music’ for BBC Radio 2 and was the female soloist at the opening of St Pancras International with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Annie has sung live and in the studio with numerous artists including George Michael, Madonna, Robbie Williams, The Jacksons, Beyonce, Cliff Richard, Diana Ross, Elton John, Kylie Minogue, The Bee Gees, Gloria Estefan, Lionel Richie, Westlife, Annie Lennox, Gary Barlow, Lesley Garrett and Jose Carreras.
She has performed on ‘Later with Jools Holland, ‘The Paul O’Grady Show’, ‘Parkinson’, ‘Saturday Swings’, ‘Divas’, ‘The Graham Norton Show’, ‘An Audience With Celine Dion’ and ‘The Classical Brits’. She has written and sung backing vocals for many TV talent shows such as ‘The X Factor’, ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and ‘America’s Got Talent’.
Annie has sung on numerous film soundtracks such as ‘Mamma Mia – Here We Go Again’, ‘Beauty and the Beast’, ‘Aladdin’, ‘Last Christmas’, ‘Cinderella’, ‘Nine’, ‘Phantom of the Opera’ and ‘Entrapment’. West End musicals include ‘Cats’, ‘Grease’ and ‘Hair’. Commercials include T-Mobile, McDonalds and Capital Radio.
As a vocal coach, Annie worked exclusively for Simon Cowell’s team on ‘The X Factor’ and coached the contestants on ‘Popstars’, ‘Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes’ and ‘This is My Moment’. She has worked for four years on ‘The Voice Kids’ for ITV. She has coached Robbie Williams and Atomic Kitten, as well as Ralph Fiennes, Dakota Johnson and Tilda Swinton for the film ‘A Bigger Splash’, Lily James for ‘Mamma Mia – Here We Go Again’, Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding for ‘Last Christmas’, Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams for ‘Eurovision’, Gemma Arterton for ‘So Much Love’, Rami Malek and Gwilym Lee for ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, and many more.