Mari Wilson

Mari Wilson, the Neasden Queen of Soul, first captured everyone’s attention in the early eighties with her unforgettable beehive hairdo, unique style and fully choreographed twelve-piece band The Wilsations. People raved about her live shows as a must-see event, pure entertainment.

After gaining airplay and charting with songs like ‘Beat the Beat’ and ‘Baby It’s True’, Mari’s big break came with ‘Just What I’ve Always Wanted’, which soared into the top ten, followed by her heart-wrenching version of ‘Cry Me A River’. Theme tunes such as Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps for BBC’s hit sitcom Coupling and Dance With A Stranger for the movie of the same name, followed.

Mari was the perfect choice to play Dusty Springfield in ‘Dusty the Musical’, which led to her hit 2016 album ‘Pop Deluxe’, featuring songs by Dusty, Petula, Sandie and others. In 2017, Mari’s song Moon and Back, written for iconic US TV show The Young and the Restless, was nominated for an Emmy award.

Loved and respected for her distinctive soul voice and hugely celebrated as one of our best live performers, this year marks 45 years of recording and touring.

And now, Mari brings her amazing musicians to Otley and the Courthouse to showcase her brand new album, Girl About Town – an album of self-penned songs, featuring a wide range of genres, from soul to pop and jazz, reflecting the many influences that have shaped her career. Get ready for a truly memorable performance of these fabulous new tunes, 80s hits and a mix of songs from Mari’s career over the years.