Star in waiting: Libby Curly
Jenny Ormsby catches up with the region's best unsigned acts and meets the musical stars of tomorrow
Libby Curly, a singer from Shrewsbury, is unashamed about her ambition. She'd like to become as successful as Adele.
In fact, the performer is so enraptured by the UK's most successful solo artist that she even has a tribute act to her.
Libby has sold out numerous showcases with her Adele show and also dazzled thousands of fans at the #ShropshireUnsigned showcase, at Shrewsbury Food Festival, earlier this year.
Her renditions have left some fans moved – a few have even had tears in their eyes.
Libby says: "It's such an amazing feeling when someone cries after I have sung. To me that is such a compliment.''
Libby's Adele nights happened by chance. ''I woke up one morning and started humming 'Make You Feel My Love', then I thought to myself, I wonder if I could do an Adele night and would it work?''
So Libby phoned up a venue and within six weeks the night had sold out. The rest, as they say, is history. "I have enjoyed every one, when you have a room full of 160 people in complete silence it's a pretty scary and powerful feeling." Libby loves to sing to get an emotional reaction from the fans. "I love the way it makes other people feel. I always sing 'Someone Like You' with no music. I interpret the song in my own way, and people really listen and connect with it. I sing most of Adele's best known songs when I do my Adele nights.''
Libby says Adele's songs make her feel many emotions. "When I sing Make You Feel My Love, the piano in the song reminds me of Andy Leake, a pianist I was introduced to I was 16.
"He let me perform in his showcases. I performed with him for three years.
"I remember the first song I sang with him. It was The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, it's such a special song.''
Andy passed away five years ago. "A part of me died when he passed away''.
Libby has an Adele evening planned on October 12 at The Whynstay in Oswestry, which coincidentally was the first venue she played.
"I hope it sells out for the final time."
At other gigs, she sings a wider range. "I love the great singers, like Etta James, Norah Jones and Ray Charles. I just love it.''
