Naomi Price admits that she’s already got her “Christmas crazy” on – despite a hectic Wrecking Ball schedule, her tree is fully decorated and traditional carols can be heard throughout her home.
“I just love the tradition this time of year, everything about it – the carols, the decorations and buying gifts … it makes me feel like a kid again,” says the 30-year-old star of the Miley Cyrus-inspired parody cabaret receiving rave reviews in Brisbane.
“And I’m never able to wait until December to start my shopping … although I do find it hard to stop buying more.”
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Naomi is a long way from her childhood home of Brighton in the United Kingdom, to which she returned to visit her family and friends over the festive season last year.
She admits it’s sometimes tough being so far away from family but, after 12 years in Brisbane, she says she’s ‘definitely a Queenslander’.
“I’m really excited about Christmas by Starlight in the Redlands … it’s community events like this that remind me I have a new home now,” she says.
Naomi is one of the headline acts for the free Christmas by Starlight community concert at Capalaba Regional Park on Saturday December 6 – the Redlands’ biggest free event each year.
She lines up alongside former Ten Tenor Luke Kennedy and home-grown The Voice Kids Australia winner, Alexa Curtis, as well as a host of local musicians and performers.
Naomi says the favourite of the songs she will perform at Christmas by Starlight is without doubt ‘The Christmas Song’, immortalised in 1947 by Nat King Cole and, in 2004, voted the most-loved seasonal song for women aged 30-49.
Often subtitled ‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire’, this classic was actually written by Bob Wells and Mel Torme in 1944 to try to escape the summer heat.
“It’s a great throwback for me,” she says. “It reminds me of my English heritage … of Christmas surrounded by white snow.”
Naomi will also be singing ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’ … and did not hesitate when asked about the best present she had ever given: “It’s the VW campervan tent I bought my niece and nephew last year – it was very cool and they absolutely loved it.”
Concert producer and Deputy Mayor Cr Alan Beard said securing a versatile talent like Naomi Price – who has performed to wide acclaim in The Little Red Company’s smash hit Adele homage, ‘Rumour Has It’ as well as a string of other successful stage productions – was great news for the Redlands.
“This year is shaping up as a very special Christmas by Starlight and I’m really looking forward to seeing Naomi perform on stage in the Redlands,” he said.
Other key performers to be accompanied by both the Redland Sinfonia Orchestra and Redland City Choir include locals Jal Joshua, Adeline Williams, Kiara Rodrigues and Leah Lever.
The free all-age, family-friendly event opens to the public at 4pm with an afternoon of children’s activities including an animal zoo, jumping castles, rock-climbing, face-painting and a visit from Santa himself.
At 5.45pm a children’s Christmas show will be held, followed by a traditional carols concert and concluding with a spectacular fireworks display.
For more information visit Redland City Council’s website at www.redland.qld.gov.au/cbs.
