Skin Deep

WHEN one of the biggest names in pop announced he was playing a New Year’s Eve show in Oxford, surprise rapidly turned to excitement and a frenzied race for tickets.

Gary Barlow has a huge and dedicated following, and tickets for his end of year show at the New Theatre sold out in minutes. One of the Take That star’s biggest fans, however, won’t be squeezed into a seat at the George street venue... she’ll be on stage with him.

Nell Bryden will open the show for the Ivor Novello-award winning artist and then join him for his headline set.

The singer-songwriter is not alone in falling for the boyish charms of the 41 year-old X Factor judge. But unlike most of his fans, until recently she had no idea who he was.

She says: “It’s incredible but also quite weird because as an American I never saw X Factor and only knew a couple of Take That songs; it was all about the Backstreet Boys for me, so I’m not bowled over by the celebrity thing.

“Gary is really gracious, though. We have become good friends and he’s really a nice, loveable guy who treats people with respect and makes everyone feel at home.”

So how did a New Yorker come to be touring with the 50 million record-selling artist. “He heard my song Sirens on the radio,” she says. “He fell in love and tweeted about it. Then he played it on the X Factor. After that I got an email asking me to do a whole tour with him.”

Among the duets Nell will perform with Gary for this, his hometown show (he reportedly owns a house in West Oxfordshire) are a cover of Fairytale of New York and the Take That song Like I Never Loved You At All.

It’s not the first time Nell has sung with a big name. She regularly performs with Jools Holland, has toured with Chris Rea and guitar legend Duane Eddy, and last month played the Royal Albert Hall twice in the same week.

After years of playing small shows to a handful of curious onlookers, she feels vindicated. “It’s all very different to what I’ve done before,” she confesses. “When I started out I would drag myself, my suitcase and guitar across town and one person would show up. No one knew who I was. I always knew that one day I’d get through those days and it would be a joy. And it is. My career has grown organically. It’s been about music and not about who I know.”

The daughter of a painter and opera singer, she estimates having travelled 300,000 miles to play 1,400 shows over the past seven years. She has recorded in Nashville, New Orleans, and her native Big Apple, and has performed all over Europe and America – and even Iraq, where she was twice flown out to entertain US troops.

For her latest album Shake The Tree, however, she stuck to her adopted second home, London. “I’ve had a very interesting life,” she says. “My dad says there are two different people in life: those who wait for whatever happens, and those who shake the tree and make things happen – which is how I got the title for my album.”

The record marked a turning point in her life, for while recording it she lost her hair to stress-induced alopecia. Initially keeping her condition a secret, she has embraced her new appearance and thrown away her wig. “I realised it was either going to be the worst or best thing that ever happened to me,” she says.

“It was very stressful playing in a wig as I felt I was hiding something. But you’ve got to be who you are. I find it liberating and people have been very reassuring. After all, there is something intrinsically attractive about people who are what they are.”

For now, though, all thoughts are on December 31. “It’s great to be in this kind of situation and to be able to win people over,” she says. “Gary’s fans have a great way of spreading the news... and a lot of them are ladies. Certainly, when I’m up there, I know every girl in the place is so jealous!”

Nell Bryden supports Gary Barlow at the New Theatre, Oxford, on New Year’s Eve. Tickets have sold out. Album Shake the Tree is out now