Gina Horswood Sings Adele is set to be a powerful experience

This week Gina Horswood will be performing a concert at Trinity United Church that was eight years in the making.

Okay, maybe it didn’t take that long to get ready for the show, but it was in 2015 where the idea for Gina Horswood Sings Adele first came about.

“The idea was actually floated to me back in 2015 by Virgil Scott!” recalls Horswood, who answered questions via chat. “I was intensely pursuing my original career at the time, with the plan to release the Porcelain album the following year, so I didn’t even entertain the notion. But after a little bit of a hiatus from the music world I felt ready to sink my teeth into a new project and remembered Virgil’s idea of the Adele tribute.”

She told Dan Watson, executive director of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, and he loved the idea. Watson also suggested having a three-piece band concert at Trinity, which Horswood was all-in for.

“After doing a Music at Noon session there last summer I couldn’t agree more,” she says. “It’s such a beautiful venue to sing in.”

Horswood describes Trinity as a treat to perform at due to wonderful acoustics that are favourable to singers.

“It really sets the tone for a listening room and attentive audience,” says Horswood. “I think it’s the perfect setting to deliver these songs and some of the stories behind them. There’s also enough room to dance in the aisle, should we feel so inclined.”

The Gina Horswood Sings Adele concert is taking place on Friday, July 7 at 8 p.m. Visit the HFA website for more information and to purchase tickets.

Honouring an icon and powerhouse singer like Adele is definitely a challenge explains Horswood, but she’s ready for it.

“I started with a deep dive into her catalogue and was honestly surprised at how many songs I didn’t realize were hers,” says Horswood. “She has such a broad range vocally and stylistically, so I really tried to highlight that with the song selection. Once the set list was done, I got to work learning the different parts and arrangements. I knew I would have to extend my range and strengthen my voice if I was going to sing Adele songs for a whole show, as well as rehearse them!”

Having not previously done any “real vocal training,” Horswood says she has enjoyed the challenge and exploration of doing the technical work in advance of this performance.

“But there’s also such intense emotion behind all Adele songs and tapping into that is also really important if you want to do the songs justice,” she says. “I’m sure most Adele fans would say it feels like her songs are written for them, I sure do.”

She adds with a laugh, “so, you know, I’ve definitely had a few breakdowns mid song while rehearsing. It’s honestly been a really rewarding experience, and I can only hope that we give the songs the delivery they deserve and that the audience enjoys it as much as we do!”

Horwood also has shows booked throughout Muskoka this summer in case you miss this one. I will have a full list of upcoming dates posted next week on all the socials and my website. Check out https://ginahorswood.com/ for her original music, bio, and to stay up to date on her performances.

However, first up is the Adele tribute at Trinity. I asked Horswood to pretend I didn’t know anything about her or the show and to tell me why I should buy a ticket.

“I would say the boys and I have worked really hard to deliver a beautiful, professional show and if you’re a fan of great music, musicianship, and emotionally charged performances then you should definitely join us!” says Horswood. “Not to mention you’d also be supporting Huntsville Festival of The Arts . . . everybody there works so incredibly hard as well and we are so lucky to have them in our community. I recommend seeing as many of the HFA shows as possible, including this one.”