The Overtones: ‘The Queen took out her earbuds for us’
By Theo Bosanquet
After the success of 2023’s sell-out tour, the UK’s number one vocal harmony group The Overtones are bringing back the Good Times Christmas Tour for 2024.
The multi-platinum selling group – comprising Mark Franks, Darren Everest, Jay James and Mike Crawshaw – will be spreading Christmas spirit across the UK with their annual jaunt.
Featuring original fan favourites such as Gambling Man, through to classic songs by artists such as The Drifters, Stevie Wonder, and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, audiences can also expect to hear festive favourites and some never-heard-before new tracks.
We put some questions to three of the group’s members.
It ’s exciting that you’re back with another festive show – what can people expect from your Good Times Christmas Tour?
Mike: We’ve been touring for well over a decade now and we’ve really honed our skills in that time. We know what the audience like, we know what gets them dancing and singing, and we’re always pushing it further.
It’s just going to be a huge festive knees-up for the whole family, and we’re sure that everyone will leave the theatre with smiles on their faces.
Mark: We have such a vast back catalogue to choose from, and there’s a huge array of classic songs from the 50s all the way up to the present day. The challenge for us is to choose which ones to include!
Jay: I think The Overtones have become synonymous with escapism – people can come and have a good time no matter what’s going on in their lives. Last year’s tour was testament to that.
We’ve also got Tom Ball coming back again as a special guest, because people loved him so much last time. So, as the title suggests, it’s going to be the ultimate feelgood show.
The band has been going for nearly 15 years. What are your standout memories?
Mike: The early days were amazing. We met each other on the open mic circuit in London, and spent a few years trying out different singing styles and genres, but found it was hard to sync our diaries around work.
So we had the idea to start a painting and decorating company – that way, we could rehearse while we worked.
One day we were painting an office block on Oxford Street, and as we were singing Billy Joel’s The Longest Time, a woman came up to us and said she worked as a talent scout for Warner Brothers Records, and asked us to come and sing for the executives.
That got our foot in the door, and this insane, magical journey began.
Mark: A definite moment that stands out for me was playing at the Queen’s Jubilee in 2012. It was such an honour. I’ll never forget singing in front of half a million people on the Mall, an absolute ‘pinch me’ moment.
After the performance, we got invited to a reception at the palace and got to meet all these people we’d grown up idolising like Elton John and Stevie Wonder.
I also got told by Prince William that the Queen had taken her earbuds out specially for our performance!
Jay: A recent one for me was when we were asked to perform at the World Cup in 2022, during half time of the England vs Senegal game.
FIFA then asked us to sing at the quarter final matches as well, which was just unbelievable, especially as I’m a massive football fan.
How did you each get started as singers?
Mark: From a very young age I was into dancing, and went to the Royal Ballet School at the age of 11. From there I went to LIPA performing arts college, and then worked as a professional dancer for around 10 years.
I was always singing during that time, but it was only when I met the boys that I started to think it could be a career option. That was a real turning point for me.
Mike: I was very sporty growing up, focused on football and athletics. So my parents couldn’t believe it when I chose to study theatre at college when I was 17. But I never thought I was a singer.
Then, after about six months, my girlfriend asked if I’d take part in a production of Jesus Christ Superstar. I went along to the auditions, and much to my surprise I ended up getting a role.
That got me interested in musical theatre, though I always had massive imposter syndrome. The first time I really felt at home was when we created the group.
Jay: Similar to Mike, I was more interested in sport than music when I was growing up. My mum was in the Sea Cadets, so I followed her example and went into the Navy when I was 16.
I joined HMS Nottingham, and I remember there was a lad on board who had a guitar.
I always loved what he was playing, and wished I could do the same, until a few years later I finally took the plunge and bought one myself.
I got injured a few months later, and so that guitar became a real saving grace, because I learnt to play and started singing. That was really where it all began, and I fell hard into music from then on.
What does the perfect Christmas look like for you?
Jay: A lot of people tell us that seeing the show feels like the start of Christmas, and it really does! Then after the tour it’s always nice to be able to relax and spend time with family, that’s always really special.
I think at some point we all become reincarnations of our parents – last year I remember having this unbelievable urge to put on Only Fools and Horses.
Mark: My family always have a very traditional Christmas. We love spending three or four days together in Manchester, with a good old turkey roast and the King’s speech.
Mike: We’ve got a four-year-old boy, Max, and he’s really revamped Christmas for us because he’s now beginning to understand what it’s all about. So he’s our focus, trying to make it as magical as possible.
And it’s always extra special to be with him having been on the road for seven weeks beforehand.
Looking ahead, what’s coming up for you in 2025?
Mike: We’re in the studio working on new material for next year, and we cannot wait to see the reaction of people to these brand new songs.
On a personal level, I’ve decided to really shape up. I started losing weight on our tour last year, and eating more healthily.
It’s been a real change of mindset, and it’s made such a difference. It’s almost become an addiction now, but a healthy one.
Mark: Next year is really exciting, and I hope people enjoy our new album. We’ve been working with a brilliant producer, Eliot Kennedy, and I think it marks a real gear-change for The Overtones.
I can’t wait to see how it goes down with our fans. So watch this space!
Having racked up multi-platinum record sales and sold out 11 national tours, The Overtones are known for their impressive vocals and harmonies, perfectly-timed dance moves, and their blend of original music and classic nostalgia.
The quartet’s latest album, 10, also became their first number one on the official UK Independent Album Chart.
The Overtones will be performing at the Cambridge Corn Exchange on Wednesday, 11 December. Tickets, priced £21-£41, are available from cornex.co.uk. For more on the band, go to facebook.com/theovertones/ ?locale=en_GB.
