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Oasis tribute act loves performing at care homes

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust Marcus Brown performing with a guitar at Clifton Lodge, with staff joining in to sing for residents and their familiesEssex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Marcus Brown plays the "Noel" role when performing as Oasiz with his own brother Stevie, who is "Liam"

A musician from an Oasis tribute band who performs at about 200 care homes a year said it was the most rewarding job because it brings joy to residents.

Marcus Brown, from Benfleet in Essex, has sung at venues and theatres across the country while performing in a full band with his brother called Oasiz, and as a duo called The Liam and Noel Experience.

He said: "It’s the most rewarding of all the jobs I do because music is so powerful and you’re able to reach into somebody and find the person in there who remembers those songs."

While his normal band definitely plays Oasis songs, his repertoire for care homes is mostly pop songs from the 1960s to 1980s.

PA Media Oasis offstage at their Knebworth shows in 1996 - Liam in tinted glasses raising a palm, with Noel Gallagher next to him and Paul McGuigan behind themPA Media
The Gallagher brothers (pictured at their Knebworth shows in 1996) have announced their reunion this week

The tribute band has been together for almost 20 years and has previously played at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, but Mr Brown said he enjoys playing at care homes the most and he has done that for about 10 years.

The real Oasis split in 2009, just after a no-show at Chelmsford's V Festival, but the Gallagher brothers have announced their reunion and stadium shows this week.

While that news has grabbed the headlines, Mr Brown has played Clifton Lodge care home in Westclilff-on-Sea in Essex, which he has been visiting for three years.

"People make the mistake of going into care homes singing only wartime songs. When I go in I am playing The Beatles, Elvis, Rolling Stones, Everly Brothers and Cliff Richard," he said.

Mr Brown said he can see how music has made a difference for people and how the tunes can bring back memories for those who are living with dementia.

He has he had studied the impacts of dementia and music therapy and plans his playlist to suit the ages of the people he plays for and avoids songs that may be upsetting.

"I want to get people in touch with their younger self and take them somewhere they can communicate again, even if it’s just for an hour," he said.

Pippa Crocket, manager at the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust care home, said: "All the residents thoroughly enjoyed his visit and staff joined with him and were all singing and dancing with relatives and residents.”

Oasis is a rock band formed in Manchester in 1991 and they broke up in 2009.

However, they have made headlines again recently after announcing their reunion.

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