Why Oasis tribute singer loves performing in care homes

A musician in a popular Oasis tribute band says singing in care homes and day centres is his most rewarding job because of the joy it brings to older people.

Marcus Brown from Benfleet has sung at venues and theatres all over the country, including the famous The Cavern Club in Liverpool, performing as Noel Gallagher alongside his brother Stevie as Liam Gallagher in the covers band Oasiz and as duo The Liam and Noel Experience for the last 18 years.

Their diaries are booked up with gigs for the next three years and the reunion tour announced by the real Oasis has fuelled even more interest in the tribute act.

But it’s singing at care homes such as Clifton Lodge in Westcliff that Marcus enjoys the most, and seeing the difference music makes for people, and how it brings back memories for those who are living with dementia.

He said: “I do about 200 care home shows a year, it’s my main job aside from Saturday gigs.

“I have been singing in care homes for about ten years, and at Clifton Lodge for three years. The sorts of stuff I play is from the 1960s to 1980s.

"People make the mistake of going into care homes singing only wartime songs. When I go in I am playing The Beatles, Elvis, The Rolling Stones, the Everly Brothers, and Cliff Richard.

“It’s the most rewarding of all the jobs I do because music is so powerful and you’re able to reach into somebody and find the person in there who remembers those songs.

“People say ‘when you sing for us, I get my mum back for an hour, or I get my wife back for an hour’.”

“I want to get people in touch with their younger self and take them somewhere they can communicate again, even if it’s just for an hour.”

Marcus has studied the impact of dementia and music therapy and plans his playlist to suit the ages of the people he plays for and avoids songs that may be upsetting.

He has been a professional musician for 30 years and his partner Cheryl King has also sung at Clifton Lodge, which is run by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and cares for people with dementia.

“When I step away from the stage on Friday and Saturday nights, I will carry on doing the day centres and care homes,” he said.

“I am giving them a little bit of a Saturday night, but on a Thursday morning.”

Speaking after Marcus’ most recent visit on Thursday 29 August, Pippa Crocket, Nursing Home Manager at Clifton Lodge in Balmoral Road, said: “All the residents thoroughly enjoyed his visit and staff joined with him and were all singing and dancing with relatives and residents.”