[B]ritish soul singer Steve Brookstein will be playing a one-off acoustic gig at Florence Arts Centre in Egremont on Friday 23 June, showcasing classic soul standards and rarities with a voice which won him the first series of The X Factor.
Steve’s road to fame began with singing in pubs and clubs before he auditioned for the TV talent show in 2004. He was so popular with the viewing audience that he topped the weekly phone votes every week for the series’ run and eventually won with a record-breaking 6 million+ votes. His famously public spat with judge Sharon Osborne and later with his own mentor Simon Cowell may have over-shadowed his achievements, but the voice is just as soulful and just as great as ever.
With a number single (a cover of the Phil Collins classic Against All Odds) and then a number one debut album under his belt Steve has forged his own path and has built up a decimated followers on the soul and jazz circuit and celebrity fans such as Tom Jones. Steve is married to jazz singer Elaine Hunter and they regularly duet together and he has appeared with the likes BeBe Winans, Maxi Priest and jazz award-winners Lianne Carroll and Ian Shaw. His latest album, Forgotten Man, is a selection of tracks celebrating the great soul singers such as Marvin Gaye and Luther Vandross. His version of Vandross’ Dance With My Father never leaves a dry eye in the house.
Steve will be appearing in the intimate Florence Arts Centre auditorium alongside his guitarist of this very special up-close-and-personal live perfromance. Tickets are available now from the venue box office, online at www.florenceartscentre.com or by phone on 01946 824946, priced at £15.
