Episode 8 The Big Performance

Last year ten terrified kids found the courage

to sing to an audience of 40,000 at Proms In The Park.

# We can rule the world. #

-TERRY WOGAN:

-The Big Performance! The biggest cheer of the night.

But for this year's kids, the challenge is bigger and scarier.

Singing on BBC One to an audience of 11 million on Children In Need.

This is the biggest thing I've ever done.

Three weeks away from The Big Performance,

they hit the festivals.

ALL: Oi, oi, oi!

How will they cope with unusual music?

Ugh. Folk?

I don't like folk. I never will.

Nothing can be as bad as folk.

Will this week's soloist ever remember the lyrics?

I'm forgetting the words.

Especially with 3,000 people watching.

This is The Big Performance Two.

# Ooh!

# Yeah!

# Ooh!

# Whoa! #

These ten kids are turning their backs on their bullied past.

I feel not good enough.

Because I prefer singing to football.

With the help of choirmaster Gareth Malone,

they're preparing to sing live on TV in front of millions.

There's very little time. We're close to Children In Need.

I'm starting to get scared.

There have been highs...

But their last performance was a low.

THEY SING

Just log it in the book of experiences.

Gareth's reputation is on the line. They must step up.

No excuses. It's got to be right.

Today The Big Performance tour bus heads into Devon

and the group get festival fever at the Beautiful Days Festival.

There are five stages featuring comedy, DJs and live bands,

attracting 15,000 music fans from far and wide.

# What a beautiful day, hey, hey... #

Run by folk-rock heroes The Levellers, it's a sell-out weekend.

The crowd have high expectations.

Will Gareth's singers hold their own with professional acts?

They've really got to shape up.

They have to learn their words properly

because they're going up in front of a big audience who know about music.

In wellies, the shy performers pitch up at their first-ever festival,

all eagerly anticipating this week's musical theme.

Oh, it's Farmer Giles!

Oh, no!

THEY LAUGH

Hello, everyone!

I'm glad to see you have wellies on because we are at a festival.

THEY CHEER

And the theme is...folk week.

Oh, no.

Ugh. Folk? It's folk!

I don't like folk. I never will. If Gareth thinks

he's getting me to sing it, he's highly mistaken.

# My head told my heart... #

Chart-topping Mumford & Sons are a folk band.

Traditionally, storytelling to music,

artists like Ed Sheeran and Noah And The Whale are inspired by folk.

-James?

-This might be my solo.

It could be your solo but it could also be Tia's solo.

-My worst nightmare.

-Is folk your worst nightmare?

-Yeah.

-Step forward.

-Now Tia, I really need to put you to the test.

-It's my solo, isn't it?

James, I think that folk is going to test you to your limit.

-You might not think this is cool.

-Mm, just a little.

I think this style of music is going to suit you,

which is just as well because this week it's your solo, James.

Argh!

Guitar is my life. There's nothing I'd rather do.

When it comes to singing I don't think I'm the greatest.

Follow me and the beard.

This is just the worst ever. I mean, nothing could be as bad as folk.

The music theme hasn't resonated with the group.

Can they love folk when they find out what they're singing?

This song is called Scarborough Fair.

# Are you going to Scarborough Fair? #

The signs aren't good, but it has been well-known for centuries

and its tale of love and betrayal

has captivated listeners for generations.

Not helping to lift the mood,

in true festival style, the weather gets worse.

Gareth powers on through the session in the great outdoors.

# Are you going to Scarborough Fair? #

I feel like things are conspiring against me.

It's raining. They look so glum.

They were unhappy it was folk.

But there's no time for failure.

It's got to be word perfect from everyone.

# Remember me to one who lives there. #

Now, I am very serious

when I say we need to learn these words properly

because we had a bit of a disaster with learning the words last week.

Gareth needs to turn things around

to do justice to a lyric-intensive song like Scarborough Fair.

I've brought in someone who really knows about words.

This is Liz Kessler, who wrote the Emily Windsnap series of books.

If anyone can get those words in our heads and understand them, it's her.

-Here she is. Hi.

-Hi.

Liz has published eight books and sold over two million copies.

No stranger to a great story, she wants to

get the group straight into this one.

Think about the characters. Who's singing?

-It's a man about his, like, girlfriend.

-Brilliant.

Boyfriends and girlfriends sounds quite romantic

but things aren't as rosy as they seem.

# She once was a true love of mine. #

Is it his girlfriend now? It's his ex-girlfriend, isn't it?

-Maybe his girlfriend was cheating on him.

-That's probably it.

Scarborough Fair may be a darker tale than they were expecting.

'Tell her to make me a cambric shirt without a seam or needlework.'

What about the things he's telling her to do?

-He's trying to make her do impossible things.

-That's it.

Maybe he doesn't want to be in love with her any more.

-He's trying to push her away.

-Brilliant.

These ideas are fantastic.

I think it would be a really good point now to sing it to Liz

and see if we sing it differently. We were all going,

# Are you going to Scarborough Fair? #

It's not really like that. It's about betrayal, revenge and punishment.

# Remember me to one who lives there. #

They're all getting down with the folk, even Taylor.

When Liz taught us to look at it as a story,

I really got into the mood of it.

It was just really fun to sing it.

Hold on - rewind.

I don't like folk. I never will.

I think that's what we'll work on, getting that story across

and also making sure we remember the words.

Thank you very much, Liz. Round of applause.

Understanding the story

should make forgetting the words a thing of the past,

which is just as well, considering what Gareth has up his sleeve.

They don't know this but they're performing to 3,000 people.

Not just 3,000 ordinary people but 3,000 paying folk fans.

These guys will know if it's good or not. They must not get this wrong.

The sun's out. The festival's in full swing

with the wacky and wonderful.

In a few hours the shy singers will face the music

in front of thousands of festival-goers.

These stars know that on stage

you've got to draw the crowd into your performance.

When you feel the vibe off other people it makes you feel all right.

If the audience are up there roaring and everything

it makes you feel they like something you're doing.

That makes you 110 times better.

You want to make sure they're enjoying the music.

If you mess up it's just,

"Well, everybody messes up. I'm sorry. Let's do it again."

Have a good time.

If you're jumping like an idiot, they'll like it if you have fun.

That's what we do, jumping on the spot.

Just having a cracking time. Sing your head off.

To get the crowd going, the singers will have to bring masses of energy

to their traditional folk song.

Can drumming collective Big Beat help them find their rhythm?

DRUMMING

One, two, three, four!

These record-breaking drummers make music out of anything

and their enthusiasm is rubbing off on the group.

Wow. That is a big beat.

-Ready to make some noise?

-Yeah!

They're up for it.

They're looking the part.

But can they find their mojo?

It's a good start and they're getting into the festival beats.

These children were once afraid to make any noise. Not any more.

Oi, oi, oi, oi!

Oi, oi, oi, oi!

They attract attention

from festival organiser and Levellers drummer Charlie.

Hold the stick towards the end. You're not getting much power.

You want to hold it there.

Can the group put all their beats together into one performance?

-Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle!

-Louder!

Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle!

I think that's what they call a banging success!

Will it last for their performance?

Well done, everyone. Come out.

You are going to need that rhythmical togetherness you found there.

Later on we're performing in the Big Top tent in front of 3,000 people.

THEY CHEER

-Sorry? You want to do it?

-Yeah!

-This is a first.

The only way is up.

They were excited about performing! Oh, my goodness.

Oh, my God! I'm so excited.

Just the fact it's called a Big Top tent is daunting

but I reckon we can do it if we work as a team.

I'm really happy. I think the penny is starting to drop.

Performing is fun. It's why people do it.

I love it. They're starting to love it too.

Later, James will be trying out for the Children In Need solo spot

in the Big Top tent in front of a crowd of 3,000 people.

Come into my folk tent.

So Gareth gets to work on helping him prepare.

For 13-year-old James, music is his life.

He loves a range of music from metal bands to Ed Sheeran.

He listens to music, and he plays his guitar,

which he's been learning since he was six.

Throughout the tour,

James has proved he's a confident and talented guitarist.

But as Gareth found out in his audition,

he doesn't have the same belief in his singing.

# It's too cold outside for angels to fly... #

Sorry. It was really bad.

James is difficult to crack because he's very musically accomplished

but he still has some way to go.

He's got talent but he's got to find a confidence to match it.

JAMES SINGS

GARETH CORRECTS HIS SINGING

# H'are you... #

Not h'are. "H'are you..."

When I correct you it's like, "It's a disaster. I got it wrong."

It isn't a disaster. We have to work to get better.

# Remember me to one who lives there

# She once was a true love of mine. #

You did a tiny eye flinch and I knew you'd made a mistake.

You let the audience know with your face

when you think it didn't go well.

I'm used to doing that because every time I make a mistake

I'm like, "You need to get it right."

It's good to be self-critical but at the same time

the more you go, "Agh! Oof!"

when you come to perform the song, you'll do the same thing.

# Tell her to make me... #

He can sing a tune beautifully but James is his own worst enemy.

He's a harsh critic and that's difficult

because he flinches when he makes a mistake

and he reveals that he's got it wrong. You cannot do that.

I've got to get him to stand on the stage

and look like he really is confident.

In three weeks, the singers will put on the performance of their lives

as they sing to the nation on Children In Need night.

They'll be supported by choirs around the country

including the award-winning New Forest Children's Choir.

They're young but they bring folk to life.

# Underneath the sea far away from land

# That is where I will be

# Shaking on the sand

# Rattling in my rigging

# Dithering on my deck I'm just a nervous wreck. #

I was like, "Whoa. Didn't think they could make so much noise."

They had that focusing eye thing

where they were engaged with the audience.

I never really did that because I'm scared of audiences.

# Just a nervous wreck. #

-I think maybe, just possibly, they were having fun. Yes? Is it fun?

-Yes!

-Would you like to hear us sing a song?

-Yes.

OK, let's sing Scarborough Fair.

# Are you going to Scarborough Fair?

# Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme

# Between the salt water and the sea sand

# Then she'll be a true love of mine. #

Do you have any advice for them?

If you mess up, just pretend you haven't and carry on.

-Don't make a face.

-Anyone in particular make a face?

James, yes, James.

I can't believe they noticed the cringe that I did.

What would happen if I actually did that on the stage?

I really have to either get it right or I need to get rid of the cringe.

James flinched and he gave away that he was nervous

and that he made mistakes.

They wouldn't have noticed had he not shown it on his face

I think that's a really good lesson for James.

It's not all about being a perfectionist.

It's about putting on a show, turning the lights on when it counts.

Great. Thank you.

It's about time we don't care what people say.

Just show what we're made of.

Let's go.

Later today, the group will be singing to 3,000 music fans.

Soloist James must convince the crowd he's a competent folk artist.

Before he can do this, he needs to shake off his bad habits.

So Gareth's got permission for an impromptu street performance.

I think you have a really lovely voice but you don't believe that.

You give it away by flinching and showing it on your face.

I've got a challenge for you. We are in a town square.

I want you to busk in front of total strangers

and we're going to be raising money for Children In Need.

The more money you raise, the more of a success it is.

Ready for this? Let's raise some money.

If I've made something wrong it doesn't matter.

The audience don't know. I need to remember that.

James should get this right. He's got the confidence and talent.

He just needs to get the words right and not flinch.

This is Scarborough Fair.

# Are you going to Scarborough Fair?

# Parsley, sage, rosemary and...thyme

# Remember me to one who was there

# She... #

He's lost the lyrics and his face says it all.

# Tell her to find me an acre of land

# Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. #

I keep forgetting the words.

Can his first donation give James the confidence to go on?

-Listen, we got a pound.

-I know, but I'm doing really badly.

-What happened?

-I forgot the words. I don't know why.

It's what happens in performance. It's a really difficult thing.

-We've just got to focus on the words. Are you OK?

-Yeah.

-They're clapping.

Brilliant. We've got two pounds.

Let's do it once more and see if you can keep going, whatever happens.

James must learn to ignore his mistakes

and appear confident, even if he isn't.

'I think he didn't realise how difficult it would be.'

He flinched, lost the words and panicked.

He thought about the audience instead of the song - a critical lesson.

You cannot do that in front of 3,000 people.

Thank you very much.

But I think people could hear he had a nice voice

and that's why they gave £15.59. Not bad for a few minutes.

-Well done, James. How are you feeling?

-Scared.

I think my solo challenge went OK.

It could've went better,

just because I kind of fluffed up at a few bits, but half the time

I wasn't doing the cringe, so I'm actually quite proud of myself.

The reluctant folk singers

are one stop away from their debut festival performance.

The unpredictable festival weather has brightened up once again

and a listing of the group's gig in the programme

has attracted an expectant crowd to the Big Top Tent.

Putting the nervous group on the professional stage

is a huge risk for Gareth,

and he's leaving nothing to chance.

Right, everyone, we've parked up

for a last little rehearsal.

We've got a tour bus. We might as well use it properly.

The most important thing for me now is that you all know the words.

That's really, really critical.

# Are you going to Scarborough Fair?

# Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme

# Remember me to one who...

# Who grew up near there

# Tell her to wash it in yonder dry well

# Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme... #

THEY ALL STRUGGLE TO REMEMBER WORDS

# Then she'll be a true love of mine. #

Oops. Oops. Oh, dear.

Shall we try it again? ALL: Yeah.

I'm a little bit concerned that we had a bit of a fluff there.

You've had two verses.

Nerves I can understand,

but everyone together, I can't. We've talked about this a lot.

Let's do it again. Don't get it wrong this time.

# Tell her to wash it in yonder dry well

# Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme

-TENTATIVELY:

-# Where water ne'er sprang or drop of rain fell... #

This isn't the dazzling performance Gareth expects at this stage.

It's a different group of people that I see from eight weeks ago.

But I'm just really worried

that we're going to get out there on stage in front of 3,000 people

and what will show in your eyes and in your body language is fear.

We've got to be professional this time.

'I just want to hear some really good singing'

and I want to hear vocal confidence,

because this is week eight, there's very little time left

and we're getting very close to Children In Need.

I'm starting to get scared.

Our singers find performing to any crowd tough,

but even stars have difficult days and they still put on a good show.

Sometimes I can be having a bad day and it seems like,

"How am I going to get out there and do a concert like I normally do?"

But I think, you know,

just to remember that these people have come to see you.

The best thing you can ever do is be professional.

Be professional, be ready to do your job.

I definitely have not been in the mood to perform - I've been tired.

And it's the times that you power through

which really makes the difference.

They ought to be able to do a fantastic job,

they just need to show that on stage.

It counts in there.

With just minutes to go until their biggest performance yet,

all Gareth can do is hope they deliver nothing short of their best.

Do not go into that dark place of fear. Let's do this!

OK, team, are we ready? Let's do this, here we go.

Let's go.

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

The sheer scale of the audience is overwhelming

and the group's shock is apparent.

During his solo challenge, James fluffed his lines

and his face said it all.

Can he conceal his nerves now?

# Are you going to Scarborough Fair?

# Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme

# Remember me to one who lives there

# She once was a true love of mine

CHEERING

# Tell her to wash it in yonder dry well

# Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme

# Where water ne'er sprang nor rain never fall... #

Despite nerves causing some of them to forget the lyrics,

soloist James keeps the song on track.

# Then she'll be a true love of

# Mine. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Thank you!

We've had a lot of tears, a lot of failures,

but also, we're starting to have triumphs.

I'm really proud of you today. You did a fantastic job.

Especially our soloist, James.

CHEERING

SHE SCREAMS

Well done.

That was like a bear pit, that was really scary. A real rush.

That was the true best feeling of my life,

but I just went up there and did my best

and they were all roaring and I was so happy.

SHE SCREAMS

It's the best thing I've ever done, it was absolutely amazing.

I've never felt such adrenaline before.

I felt like I was on the biggest rollercoaster ever.

The best performance we've ever done yet.

Oh, we just went for it. We've got fans. We've got fans!

That's the first time, honestly, the first time in eight weeks

that I've thought, "They'll be all right for Children In Need."

Just a glimmer. If we carry on like this, we could get there.

I always knew James could sing. He's got a great voice,

but the question for me was whether he could perform in front of that kind of audience, and he can.

He didn't seem to flinch, got right through the performance,

I'm really impressed.

Based on that performance, I'm going to give James a high chance

of being the Big Performance soloist.

Next time, it's the last solo audition.

-I can't do it.

-You can.

But with their television debut looming...

The first performance by the Children In Need choir.

..will it all be too much for Tia...

-I don't like singing in front of people.

-..And the rest of them?

We've worked so hard over the last nine weeks,

but it doesn't matter a jot

if they can't pull it off in front of live audiences.

# Oh-oh, ah-ah, oh-oh, ah-ah

# Ah-ah Ah-ah-ah-ah, ah-ah

# Ooh-ooh-ooh

# Yeah

# Ooh-ooh-ooh

# Ah, ah-ah-ah-ah Ah-ah. #

# Yeah! #