Now known as The Crumble Lady, Lorraine Bowen won David Walliams’ Golden Buzzer on Britain’s Got Talent and has attracted tens of thousands of new fans of all ages; children are singing the Crumble Song at school, as are grown men in factories.
Lorraine Bowen is a unique performer! Quirky costumes, original idiosyncratic songs, vintage Casio keyboard played on an ironing board. She adores the fashion sensibility of the 1960s and has one of the largest polyester wardrobes in the UK.
Lorraine began her career playing the piano with Billy Bragg in massive venues in the UK and stadiums in Europe as well as both sides of the Berlin wall. Since then she has produced 6 albums, 100 videos on her Youtube TV Channel and regularly performs nationally and internationally.
How old are you?
59 (60 on 31st October)
Where do you live?
East Sussex, England
What do you do?
Musician, performer, composer, BGT Golden buzzer winner, crumble lady….. bonkers lady!
I write songs, put on shows, wear polyester fashions, think of new ideas, write lyrics, make videos on TikTok and YouTube, sing, dance and muck around on stage. Others call it performing!
What do you have now that you didn’t at 25?
At 59 you start to see the world in a more landscaped view. Women of my age should be in charge of the whole world cos we’ve seen a lot, been through a lot and can see the problems and could work through the answers in a more levelled state than a lot of leaders! It will happen…. It will!
I have stability now that I didn’t have at 25. Mind you I’ve had to work for it!
What about sex?
Sex? I’ve got to do the washing up first!
And relationships?
Relationship – 36 years old relationship now. Met in a pub in Deptford in 1986. We were punky in nature – still are at heart. It’s good to keep the grunge at heart. Privilege isn’t a good thing really – it’s much better to have risen from the dirt and grime – makes you appreciate everything. If you’ve been through the rough and tumble in life it keeps you centred and focused. Nothing is a nightmare. Well, another tornado in Haiti is a nightmare but the dishwasher blowing up isn’t a nightmare. Keep it real!
How do you feel at this age?
I feel free and fanciful…. But like others, I do often worry about the world, climate change, right-wing terrorism, stupid people and what’s going to happen when I’ve got dementia and am dribbling down my own chin…
What are you proud of?
I’m very proud of my daring creativity over the years. I’ve written lots of songs and haven’t cared what fashion they fit in, what lyrical strain they fit in – I’ve just done what I fancied and largely it’s turned out well! My YouTube/Spotify stats tell me my biggest listening age group is 18-25s – how hilarious is that!
I’m proud that I never had kids and am part of a growing group of women who relish being free from all that. I’m proud that I feel as a woman I’m at the forefront of a new frontier, a new age of thought. We don’t have to conform. We are new! We are pushing the boundaries and the boundaries are ever dissolving.
Mind you, I realise no one sees me in the street. I’m 59 and therefore invisible… except when I’m proudly wearing my bright 1970s polyester jackets and you can see people squirm and smile at my fashion sense! Ha ha!
What inspires you?
What keeps me inspired is that the world is quite a boring place really. Really boring. It’s up to us to brighten up things, look forward to a new day of being here, keeping it positive, keep the energy gushing out doing good things whether that being creative or working towards goals that are good. I love a new project and if there isn’t one there I’ll make one happen. I’ve got a big show – my Greatest Hits show – in London on 10th October at ‘Above the Stag’ cabaret lounge and so am working towards that. Also have been given a tremendous night in Brighton on November 20th to put on my Polyester Fiesta show. Lots of my models can’t make the date …. so I’ll get some new ones! Lots of work but a great challenge – HURRAH!
When are you the happiest?
I’m happiest when working on music…. Lyrics that make me laugh out loud, lyrics that won’t work and I wake at 5 am in the morning to scribble something down on a notepad by my bed! Honestly lying on a beach in the sun doesn’t make me happy at all! Being happy comes from achievement. Working hard towards something than seeing how the hard work has made others laugh or brought about some catalyst in life.
Where does your creativity go?
My creativity goes towards my music/lyrics/songwriting/composing. I’ve just finished writing a musical during lockdown – that took ten months – it was commissioned by a lovely young chap in Germany. Sheer delight!
Then I recently wrote three environmental songs for piano and voice: ‘Down to Earth’ … and now I’m working on my live shows and wait for it.. a classical piece for mezzo-soprano, piano, cello and timpani! Why not? I’m 59 and can do what I like!
Do you have a philosophy of living?
Life is short – make the most of each day. Try to say to yourself – I’ve achieved this or that today… it might only be saving a bee from dying at the side of the road but that’s very important too! (Without bees we as humans are dead in 9 years. My grandfather was a famous beekeeper in his day and warned of the destruction of the natural world). I think humans have got about 20 years left to sort themselves out…. Else it’s BOOM! And unfortunately, everything else comes with us.
And dying?
My song ‘Would you like to be Buried of Cremated’ sums up everything!
Audiences love it as it puts life into perspective and you get them dancing on the table! Total joy!
Would you like to be
Buried or cremated,
Mourned or celebrated?
I’d like to know,
Before you go
Would you like a coffin
Or any ‘ol thing to go off in?
Do let me know
Before you go
Cos
Life is such a day to day affair and often quite surreal
One minute you’re waiting for the bus
And the next you’re underneath the wheel, So!
Would you like your funeral
With all your favourite tunes and all
Can we dance
If we get the chance?
Cos
Life is such a day to day affair and often very weird
One minute you’re a little baby girl
And the next you’ve got a really long beard, So!
Buried or cremated?
Mourned or celebrated?
Can you face the music? cos
It’s up to you to choose it
Buried or cremated
Mourned or celebrated
I’d like to know for certain
Before you draw the curtain!
Are you still dreaming?
Of course, I’m still dreaming! I’m just about human and only humans have dreams and beliefs… no other animal or mammal would be stupid enough to have them! Why do we have them? It’s crazy! They are a yearning, a make-belief that there is another way that could be better out there/something better that we could do… so dreams have to be fun. Dreams can lead to you doing crazy things so keep having them! As a geeky spotty teenager, I used to dream of being a fashion model… now I am in my own Polyester Fiesta fashion show… I didn’t fit in with other people’s reality so made my own dream come true! Have a go at your own! Go-Girrl!
LORRAINE BOWEN’S GREATEST HITS TOUR DATES
https://abovethestag.org.uk/cabaret-lounge/lorraine-bowens-greatest-hits
Lorraine Bowen’s Greatest Hits
SUN, 10th OCT
15:30 – 17:30
Above The Stag Theatre & Bar (map)
72 Albert Embankment, LONDON SE1 7TP
Lorraine Bowen performs her Greatest Hits from her many original albums and of course the BGT famous Crumble Song!
SAT 20th NOV
Lorraine Bowen’s POLYESTER FIESTA
At the Ironworks Studio, Brighton, BN1
Lorraine and friends strut their stuff on the catwalk on polyester’s 80th birthday! Nylon, Crimpelene, Terelene and more – come dressed up in your best flowery dress and join in the audience catwalk competition! Fun night guaranteed!
