SIMPLY — George Michael

One voice. One piano. Fifty-five seats.

George Michael wrote pop that hid its craft in plain sight — the phrasing, the restraint, the ache under the polish. Strip the productions away and what remains is some of the finest songwriting of its era, and a voice built to carry it.

The catalogue. From Wham! to a solo career of rare craft — Faith (1987), Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990), Older (1996). “Careless Whisper.” “A Different Corner.” “Freedom! ’90.” “Praying for Time.” “Jesus to a Child.”

Oliver Darley and Chad Lelong take that songbook and reinterpret it whole — voice and piano, no band, no spectacle. This is not a tribute. It’s a reinterpretation, in a room close enough to touch. Pure song and voice. Stripped back.

The evening, both halves — like a record:

★ First set · Side A — reinterpreted entire: voice and piano, lights low, received in company.
★ Interval — a breath.
★ Second set · Side B — the songbook, whole.
★ After — stay, talk, connect. The evening doesn’t end at the door.

Oliver Darley & Chad Lelong

Oliver Darley — former NME Male Vocalist of the Year, a burnished baritone and West End lead, who has shared stages with Ray Charles, BB King, Tom Jones and Jamie Cullum. Ray Charles called it “a voice that could sing the angels to sleep…” Chad Lelong — pianist, composer and producer, founder of Trellick Records. Together, the duo behind the Simply Shows.

SIMPLY — four Friday songbooks at Circle & Star: George Michael (25 Sep) · Queen (30 Oct) · David Bowie, Director’s Cut (27 Nov) · Scott Walker (29 Jan 2027). Book any night, or take the four-night season pass — £90.

📅 Friday 25 September 2026 · Doors 7:00pm · Show 7:30pm
📍 28 Heath Street, Hampstead NW3 · Hampstead Station, Northern Line
🎟 £25 · 55 seats

STEP IN. COME UP. BE PART OF THE STORY.