A TALENTED saxophonist who played in front of royalty at the wedding of an England rugby star is set to perform at a busy Ipswich shopping centre this month.<\/p>\n
David Walker, 33, will be playing a hometown gig at Sailmakers Shopping Centre as part of its eagerly-anticipated, annual acoustic music festival on Saturday and Sunday, September 29 and 30.<\/p>\n
The father-of-two\u2019s talent led to him being booked to play at rugby star Danny Care\u2019s wedding, which was attended by the Queen\u2019s granddaughter Zara Phillips and her husband, former England international Mike Tindall.<\/p>\n
David, who lives in Ipswich and has also performed at balls and functions for the likes of Marks and Spencer and Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, is looking forward to playing for shoppers in his hometown.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThe acoustic music festival is a really great idea and I\u2019m looking forward to it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s my hometown so it will be nice to perform at Sailmakers. There are not as many sax players these days so it\u2019s a little bit niche at the moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy playlist is basically music I like listening to. I can adapt it to the type of occasion or event I\u2019m playing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt comes with experience but you get to know what music to play depending on the audience.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can play a particular cover and put a twist on it. For instance the Pharrell Williams song \u2018Happy\u2019 is very popular and everyone knows it whatever their age.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I play it on the sax it\u2019s really cool and not instantly recognisable. When people realise what it is they really like it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I perform I\u2019m essentially playing the vocals on the sax.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sailmakers Shopping Centre Manager Mike Sorhaindo said: \u201cThe acoustic stage was a big hit with our customers last year and we\u2019ve been keen to do it again and having David there will be a real coup.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re still looking for more performers as it\u2019s a two-day event with slots available and we see it as a great way of showcasing local talent.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Centre plan to have up to ten acts performing 45-minute slots between 12 and 4pm each day of the weekend which will also feature student offers and promotions and festival-style face painting.<\/p>\n
David realised there was a big opportunity for him to pursue a career in music and turn it into a business when he landed the gig to perform at Danny Care\u2019s high-profile wedding to wife Jodie Henson.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cDanny messaged me on Twitter and said he and his wife-to-be had seen some of my videos online and really wanted to book me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought what a really cool opportunity. I ended up getting a mention in OK magazine.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was an awesome day – I couldn\u2019t believe I was there. Zara and Mike Tindall were 20 feet away as I played.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt didn\u2019t put me off, it was just another day at the office as such, but I knew I had to be on top form.<\/p>\n
\u201cDanny was lovely, he\u2019s such a down to earth guy. It was a big boost for me. Friends and family started to take my playing more seriously – they could see this as a business.\u201d<\/p>\n
Music has always played a major role in David\u2019s life, but after losing interest in his late teens it took him several years and a helping hand from his mum before he picked up an instrument again.<\/p>\n
He explained: \u201cWhen I was five I started playing the drums but that became impractical because you could never carry them around.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen I played the double bass before trying out the saxophone. I liked the idea of it and loved the sound.<\/p>\n
\u201cMusic has been a part of my life since I can remember but if I\u2019m honest I didn\u2019t think I\u2019d ever pursue a career at it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was in my early teens and going to London Guildhall School of Music on a Saturday I didn\u2019t particularly enjoy it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I stopped playing at the age of 17 I didn\u2019t play an instrument again for nearly ten years.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t think about it one bit. When you\u2019re 17 and you\u2019re offered \u00a3400 for your saxophone all you think about is going out and spending it with your mates.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen on my 25th birthday my mum got me a saxophone. It was such a nice present and I\u2019ve not looked back since.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so thankful to her. She\u2019s proud that I started playing again and that I\u2019ve taken it on to another level.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cI found it easy to pick it up again. I\u2019d had private lessons when I was 15 for a year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI adapted what I\u2019d learnt with watching videos on YouTube which is a massive tool as there is so much material.<\/p>\n
\u201cI practiced non stop and listened to lots of different sax players. I\u2019ve adapted that with my own unique sound and people think it\u2019s nice so I can\u2019t complain!\u201d<\/p>\n
David is currently on sabbatical from his day job in customer services as he explores the feasibility of playing the saxophone full-time.<\/p>\n
He explained: \u201cIt was a big step. I wanted to see how it went over the summer and I have to say it\u2019s been incredible, better than I imagined.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was worried about the financial side. My second daughter is only one month old so my wife was pregnant when I took this step.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew what the workload was going to be over the summer and I managed to double it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s opened my eyes a lot because when you have a family it\u2019s great, but to be able to spend more time with them is even better. It\u2019s had a massive impact in that respect.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d say 80% of my work is wedding receptions and generally I work Friday to Sunday. I also do some stuff in the evenings with my brother who is a DJ.\u201d<\/p>\n
Any acts interested in performing can contact julie.mcgee@bewonder.co.uk<\/a> and for more on what\u2019s happening at Sailmakers Shopping Centre go to www.sailmakersshopping.co.uk<\/a> and to https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sailmakers<\/a><\/p>\n