Limerick Post talks to Ashley Crowe originally from Limerick who plays the part of Gary Barlow in the UKs first and biggest Take That tribute act who are preparing to perform a benefit show for Milford Hospice.
Ashley Crowe is just back from a tour of The Canaries, France and Germany when Limerick Post catches up with him this week. His Band ‘Fake That’ are the UKs premier tribute band to Take That.
Their tribute show has taken them all over, touring Scandanavia and even the Far East. “Take That are massive all over the world”, Ashley enthuses, “we were mentioned on The Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1 in 2008, Gary Barlow said that Fake That were the first and biggest tribute act to the boyband.”
Though touring extensively for the last five years, the band’s upcoming show in University Concert Hall will actually be their debut Irish performance. This show is very special to Ashley who plays the part of Gary Barlow in the act as he has very strong Limerick connections, “all my family grew up in Limerick, my grandad grew up in Janesboro, went to the Christian Brothers school in Sexton Street, my grandmother grew up in Clare Street, they left Limerick for Manchester in the early 60’s to seek work, so there are lot of my family coming along to the show”
This one-off show was conceived to benefit Limerick’s Milford Hospice which has a special significance for Ashley as his uncle who died earlier this year was treated there. “I spent some time there, I was over at the funeral, I got talking to a few representatives from the hospice and I managed to get permission from the band’s management company for this special show”
“We do a lot of charity work in the UK but this is more of a personal thing for me”
Fake That was put together by a management company where all the members earned their places through auditions. The show is based on Take That’s Circus Tour and the band promise to recreate the sound, look and feel of the band while performing all their best hits such as “Never Forget” and “Rule The World” in the two hour musical extravaganza.
Seeing as the original Take That, Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange and Mark Owen have now been rejoined by Robbie Williams and have recently been busy in the studio recording an album as a five piece coming your way this November, Fake That are also keeping faith with reality and will be joined on stage by a Robbie Wiliams Tribute act in what will also be a special reunion show.
“We are also being joined by the kids of Centre Stage Performing Arts School, they are coming on at the end they have a few surprises in store including their Glee melody, Ashley adds
FAKE THAT will play University Concert Hall on Thursday November 4, with proceeds In aid of Limerick’s Milford Hospice.
