The lockdown may be easing off, but there’s still very little live music going on. Still. that hasn’t stopped the fantastic musicians on Lanzarote doing their very best to continue to share their music with you. There are still watch parties and online concerts taking place.
What type of music do you perform?
Music from all genres – not too much heavy rock! And all eras. I go back as far as the 40s with things like The Andrews Sisters and up to date. My favourite artist at the moment is Lewis Capaldi.
What message do you have for your friends, family and fans?
Take the time to actually enjoy having this time. Take time to do the things you like to do, listen to favourite music, read your favourite book. Just get in touch with yourself and enjoy it, rather than kick against it. I’m looking forward to you all coming back to Lanzarote and giving you proper big, squeezy, Gerie B hugs, that apparently I’m getting quite famous for.
Which artists inspire you the most?
Shirley Bassey, Tina Turner, Tom Jones… the ones that have adjusted as time’s gone on. They’ve all done the great ballads – they’ve all got fantastic voices, but they’ve all got their own trademarks and I love the theatrical side to it. It’s not just standing there singing at people – it’s a whole performance with them.
How did you start out in music?
I was born into music with my dad’s band. However, it was only when I met my friend, Christine Brennan, and we became singing partners that I started professionally- we decided to do Cabaroke to get us up to scratch, so we could feel comfortable being on stage etc. We took to it like ducks to water and before long, we were able to get rid of the karaoke side of things because we were offered so much work in the cabaret scene, all round the North West. We went from there, until it was time to come over to Lanzarote, and open our own bar.
What are you missing about not playing live gigs?
I am such a people person and I am very tactile and I just love to hear the laughter, see the smiles and see people enjoying themselves.
Is there any venue in particular that you miss playing in?
My favourite venue is The Good Old Days. It’s not over-large and people feel very relaxed in that company there. Charlie, Nolita and the staff there give them a great welcome, so it’s just a lovely team. It’s a lovely place to work and to enjoy yourselves.
What’s your lockdown song?
The song that really sums it up for me this lockdown is a Christian song by a lady called Lauren Daigle and it’s called ‘You Say’. It’s all about being confident and not listening to anybody else, and just being confident in God. It won’t be long. “Sorrow may last for an evening and joy comes with the morning”. We’ll be back there with our lovely customers again, everybody coming over and enjoying their holidays. And it’ll be that much sweeter because of it.
How do people watch or contact you?
My Facebook page is Gerie B and I also have a private page, Geraldine Barber, which a lot of my friends, clients and visitors actually contact me on.
