Culture
Gabrielle is headlining Ladies Day at the Grand National this year
7 years ago
We all love Ladies Day and we all love 90’s songstress Gabrielle, so to hear she’s headlining on Friday 13th April proves that ‘dreams can come true’ (sorry!).
Gabrielle will be performing in the Aintree Pavilion from 17:30, after the days racing, singing some of her chart topping hits including ‘Dreams’, ‘Rise’, ‘Out Of Reach’ and Give Me A Little More Time’.
Gabrielle’s career got off to an incredible start in 1993 when she broke the record for the highest chart debut by a female with the single ‘Dreams’. A 23-year-old club singer from Brockley, South London, she was the archetypal outsider. Following her dreams Gabrielle launched her career wearing an eyepatch that made her visually striking a voice that made her distinctive – and her differences contributed to her becoming Britain’s most successful soul singer.
In 2000, Gabrielle notably returned to the charts with the hit single Rise, which featured a Bob Dylan sample of ‘Knocking on Heavens Door’ and again reached the number one spot. The multi-platinum album ‘Rise’ followed in the same footsteps and topped the charts at number one.
In an industry where longevity is becoming increasingly rare, the hits have been unstoppable: ‘Give Me A Little More Time’, ‘If You Ever’, ‘When A Woman’, ‘Sunshine’ and ‘Out Of Reach’ which she wrote for the soundtrack of Bridget Jones’ Diary. Then there are the multi-platinum albums; ‘Gabrielle’ ‘Rise’ and ‘Dreams Can Come True’. Gabrielle will be performing songs from all of her multi-platinum albums on Ladies Day.
Gabrielle said “I can’t wait to perform at Aintree’s unique Ladies Day, Liverpool is one of my favourite cities. I am looking forward to seeing everyone dressed up and dancing to all of my songs after a great day of racing.”
In 2013, Gabrielle released a seventh album with the iconic Island records. A double album of all her greatest hits, some of her favourite album tracks and seven brand new songs. With the new songs came a new sound, the album titled Now and Always 20 Years of Dreaming also includes a new version of the classic Dreams re produced and re-recorded by Naughty Boy.
2014 saw Gabrielle go on her first UK tour since 2008, The Now and Always tour was a huge success and Gabrielle felt re connected with her fans, at every show she could be seen taking selfies from the stage with audience members.
Over the years, Gabrielle has picked up a number of prestigious awards including
Brit Awards for Best Newcomer and Best Female Vocalist, MOBOs for Best Single and Best Album, an Ivor Novello for Outstanding Song Collection and Gabrielle appeared with not just one but two albums in the official UK 100 records of the decade.
Gabrielle is currently recording a new studio album, her first in eleven years which will be released in 2018.
John Baker, Managing Director of Aintree Racecourse said: “We are delighted to have such a talented and globally recognised female artist headlining Ladies Day of the Randox Health Grand National Festival.
“Gabrielle has a superb collection of hits and we are excited for her to put on a great show for the crowds at Ladies Day.
“Ticket sales are 2,000 ahead of last year so we are in a fantastic position. I would recommend racegoers to buy early to avoid any disappointment.”
“We look forward to announcing further exciting acts in our Randox Health Grand National music line-up soon.”