Meet the Mackem Dolly Parton
WIN TICKETS TO SEE SUNDERLAND SINGER IN ISLANDS IN THE STREAM STAGE SHOW
From Farringdon to Dollywood – a country singer is heading to the Empire stage next week.
Andrea Pattison, from Farringdon, has been playing Dolly Parton on stages big and small since 2009. But despite appearing across the country as the larger-thanlife star, she’s never played the Empire stage - until now.
Andrea will be pulling on her cowboy boots to play Dolly in Islands in the Stream, which brings to life some of the star’s biggest hits, as well as those by Kenny Rogers, who will be played by Peter White.
She said: “I love performing as Dolly, but I still get butterflies before every gig. I know I’ll be a bit scared before the Sunderland show, but I can’t wait to get out there in front of my home town.”
Andrea was a popular wedding singer for years before playing Dolly, and it was possongs itive feedback she received after recording Stormy’s Daughter, an album of original songs in 2008, that encouraged her to develop her Dolly act.
She said: “Many people commented that my own reminded them of Dolly, the style of singing and the subject matter of the tracks seemed similar. I took this as a massive compliment, and as a life long Dolly fan, it gave me the idea for this act, and over the last few years it’s become my full time job.”
We have a pair of tickets to give away to Islands in the Stream at Sunderland Empire on Sunday, October 1.
To be in with a chance of winning, answer this question: which film starring Kevin Costner featured Dolly’s song I Will Always Love You?
Email your answer and contact details to katy.wheeler@jpress.co.uk by noon on September 26.