By DAISY SAMPSON [email protected]
More than 2,500 people came together on August 22 to enjoy a concert by British jazz performer Jamie Cullum at the Balaia Golf Village in Albufeira.
The diminutive star immediately got the party started with frenetic piano playing and stage antics, jumping from his grand piano and urging the whole crowd to get involved.
The singer song writer told the crowd of how he first visited Portugal when he was working on a cruise ship.
“A friend of mine encouraged me to perform live for the first time by working on a cruise ship. It was during this time that I first visited Lisbon and knew that it was a city I would be returning to again and again over the years.”
He added: “The Algarve is a beautiful place, with beautiful people, great weather and wonderful food. I am not sure why I was invited to play here but I am very glad we were!”
The concert marked the end of six months of touring for Jamie and his talented band of musicians and the singer gave his all performing original tracks from his hit albums The Pursuit and Twentysomething before he heads back to England to take part in the BBC Proms with The Heritage Orchestra in London.
The crowd was able to enjoy quieter moments with a romantic rendition of Moon River while a high energy version of Don’t Stop the Music got the crowd dancing before being encouraged to sing in a three part harmony as part of a cover of the Radiohead classic High and Dry.
Jamie finished by jumping into the crowd, where he serenaded the audience before calling everyone to the front of the stage to finish the night dancing.
Meanwhile, thousands of music fans gathered on August 17 to watch Anastacia, the “little lady with the big voice”.
The American singer and songwriter wowed the crowds with renditions of One Day in Your Life and I Belong to You during the hour-and-a-half long concert at CS Herdade Salgados, near Albufeira before finishing her set with a rousing version of Left Outside Alone.
The concert was part of the Allgarve programme of events.
For further information about upcoming concerts and entertainment, please visit www.allgarve.pt (available partially in English).
