X Factor contestant selected by Adele herself to portray her in Someone Like You: The Adele Songbook

With two young children, Adele has decided to take time away from touring and performing live shows for at least several years. Her three albums, 19, 21 and 25 were blockbuster hits, each with several hit songs that continue to be played. Adele and her management team created a show; Someone Like You – The Adele Songbook as a touring tribute show. Adele herself was involved in selecting the woman who would portray her. And she chose Katie Markham.

“It wasn’t until I was fifteen that I started to take singing seriously. I was shy, and took dance lessons when I was younger, and even when I started to sing – it was in the chorus, where I could be in the background.” Katie Markham’s rise to stardom has all the makings of a Hollywood story of a talented performer rising from obscurity to centre-stage; except in Katie’s case – it’s a true-to-life journey; “I started going from strength to strength. It was competing on the X Factor in 2013 that really changed me. I gained a lot of self-confidence, even though I didn’t win.”

“I knew that I could go out and entertain audiences, and I really started to work at it. I started in small clubs and pubs, and then started getting bookings in hotels, casinos like The Stardust in Las Vegas and bigger clubs. I’ve also performed on cruise ships as a guest entertainer, and those audiences really enjoyed my shows. Whatever the venue, I really always want to do my best.” Her shows have taken Katie from Ireland to Bahrain, and always to packed houses.

Katie has been a big fan of Adele’s from an early age. Her voice has a similar timbre to Adele’s; with a power that has made Adele so popular. “I’ve had my own Adele Tribute Show as part of my show for some time – and it’s always been well-received in my live shows.” A show-stopper is Katie’s rendition of Adele’s arrangement of the Etta James classic Fool That I Am.

“In 2015 I was asked to participate in an Adele tribute show. Adele selected all the artists herself, and when I was singing for my audition, I looked down and there she was – jumping up and clapping for my performance. ‘You sounded brilliant!’ is what she said. I was walking on air! Later, during the taping, Adele came out and joined me in a duet while I was singing Make You Feel My Love.”  (That song has more than 150 million You Tube views!)

The show includes Adele’s hits; Rolling In The Deep, Make You Feel My Love, Hello, Rolling In The Deep, Someone Like You, Chasing Pavements and Skyfall. Katie will be performing with a 4-piece band and two back-up singers.

The Adele Songbook show will be at Theatre Maisonneuve on Friday, September 21 at 8pm. For tickets please call the Place des Arts box office: 514-842-2112 or online: www.placedesarts.com

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