A UNIQUE event which aims to demonstrate the power of music in how we process loss and bereavement is coming to Warrington Museum and Art Gallery.
Chris Alton and Emily Simpson are inviting singers of all abilities to experience “Grief Karaoke” on Sunday, April 19.
In recognition of the simple but powerful truth that people process grief better together, the artists are particularly keen to welcome anyone who has lost or is losing a loved one into their safe space.
From midday to 2pm, they will be given the opportunity to sing a song that reminds them of that person, or simply become part of the supportive audience, amid a communal outpouring of emotion.
Emily said: “Karaoke is something we’re all so familiar with and it already requires vulnerability – to sing to strangers – so it felt like an appropriate space to place a conversation about grief.
“But while it can be uncomfortable, and takes courage, it’s also really comforting, cathartic, liberating. It’s silly, sad, scary, fun – a mix of emotions, just like grief.”
Chris added: “We’ve hosted three Grief Karaokes so far, but I’m not sure if there have been any repeats other than the songs we do ourselves – the Gilmore Girls theme song, which is Where You Lead by Carole King, and Frank Sinatra’s My Way, which we often perform as a group to set the mood.
“The songs are diverse and often unexpected. Someone sang The JCB Song by Nizlopi once, which would be a funny, silly song in most contexts, but when you know it’s for a friend who died young it becomes incredibly poignant. I’ll never hear that song the same way again.”
The two-hour event is free and open to everyone – with any and all kinds of loss or grief acknowledged. It could be, for example, a protest song, a track in recognition of an important opportunity that has come and gone or about a place or period in a person’s life that is missed beyond measure.
Chris said: “While the majority of our grief-related work focuses on bereavement, we wanted to widen the parameters for Grief Karaoke, so that it could be an entry point for people with other experiences of loss.
“People have sung songs about losing their country, losing family after ‘coming out’, becoming disabled, losing parts of their identity, romantic break-ups, and their deep frustrations with and anger at injustice.”
Chris and Emily developed the idea for Grief Karaoke while preparing their latest exhibition, Grief Must Be Love With Nowhere To Go, which has been on display at Warrington Museum since February.
Around a decade ago, they both lost their parents suddenly. Since then, they have found comfort in getting to know one another and have worked together in exploring how loss is experienced in a world where grief can still sometimes feel taboo.
Their research saw them delve into the past to look back at the likes of Victorian mourning customs and organise events where acts like sharing food, sewing or listening to music has helped “create a space” for difficult conversations.
A space for reflection within their exhibition and Grief Karaoke are the culmination of all those ideas, and all are welcome.
The only polite request for the event is that participants be respectful and sensitive towards other people – being mindful of each other’s boundaries and the different stages of grief they may be in.
Emily said: “One of my favourite things about Grief Karaoke is how supportive the space becomes. People sway and sing along to each other’s songs.
“We invite people to introduce their song if they feel comfortable, and what it means to them. We always end the evening with a song we sing all together. There’s lots of laughs and tears.”
Why music connects with people so deeply remains a pleasant mystery as far as Chris is concerned.
He added: “It’s a bit like magic and maybe there’s something nice about not knowing. I think food can do similar things.
“It’s part of being alive…and that’s part of the attraction, this project is as much about life as it is about death, perhaps even more so.”
Grief Karaoke takes place between 12pm and 2pm at Warrington Museum and Art Gallery on Sunday, 19 April. It is free to attend and perform but pre-booking is preferred to help gauge numbers. Visit wmag.culturewarrington.org/whats-on/grief-karaoke
