Lulu has performed with plenty of artistes over the years – Elton John, Atomic Kitten and Ronan Keating to name but a few. But this spring she takes sharing the stage to a whole new level as she embarks on a nationwide tour – with a different Military Wives Choir in each venue. The thinking behind the tour – and in particular the military link – was inspired by a matter very close to Lulu’s heart, post traumatic stress disorder.
Now she has teamed up with The Military Wives Choirs for the release of a new single, Cry, which will be released on Friday, February 26, with all proceeds donated to The Military Wives Choirs Foundation charity.
She said: “Having a different Military Wives Choir join me on stage every night will be a lot of fun. But on a more serious note, later in my life I was diagnosed as having post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and what that did was help me to relate even more with our men and women in the armed forces.
“I realised I would like to do something to help, so we recorded Cry and my brother and I rewrote the lyrics to apply specifically to the military.
“PTSD is not just about physical scars, it’s about the emotional scars, and they run very deep. They are enormous and very difficult to deal with. We need everybody’s support.”
To highlight the single’s release, Lulu will perform the song with a different Military Wives Choir at each gig on her 35-date UK tour, which comes to the Assembly Hall in Tunbridge Wells in April. This is a challenge that has never been done before by a mainstream artist.
The Military Wives Choirs Foundation is a charity that brings women in the military community closer together through singing. Being part of a Military Wives Choir makes a positive difference to women’s lives by improving wellbeing, building friendships and developing skills.
The impact of military operations can often last far longer than the conflict itself; but military wives are there to support their husbands for the long term, for the good and bad times.
Sara Scott, Trustee of The Military Wives Choirs Foundation, said: “We are delighted to team up with the amazing Lulu for the release of Cry. Women are the strength behind the strong, and there is now a network of 75 choirs on military bases across the UK and overseas. The opportunity for different Military Wives Choirs to perform Cry with Lulu at each date of her UK tour is such an honour.”
Cry will be available to download from Friday, February 26. It will also be available to buy at each of Lulu’s tour venues.
Lulu and the Military Wives Choir will be at the Assembly Hall on Monday, April 18.
To book Tunbridge Wells tickets call 01892 530 613 or visit www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk
