Darwen Christmas lights: free show brings Annabel and Dream Academy star
The free Darwen Christmas Lights Switch-On takes place on Saturday 14 November 2026 at Darwen Town Centre, with a live performance by local singing project Begin2Sing. The event is open to the public and will feature nine-year-old Annabel Lambert singing her solo part in the group’s new community single, alongside guest Nick Laird-Clowes of The Dream Academy. No start time is given in the source.
Annabel, a pupil at St Paul’s Primary School, is one of 20 soloists on “Shake Off The Rain”. After winning a competition to attend its mastering session at Abbey Road Studios in London, she is now preparing to perform the track in front of a home crowd.
Annabel’s Abbey Road experience leads to a Darwen performance
At Abbey Road, Annabel joined Begin2Sing leader Paul Stuart Davies for the session where the finishing touches were put to the song ahead of release. She recalled sitting in the producer’s chair and wearing his headphones, describing the visit as “really exciting and cool”.
Her part in the switch-on gives the story a local focus: one of the young singers featured on the recording will perform it live in the town where the community project brings singers together. The source says Annabel will sing her solo part; it does not give a running order or say when during the event the performance will happen.
Begin2Sing will also perform the single’s B-side, a cover of The Dream Academy’s 1985 hit “Life In A Northern Town”. Laird-Clowes, the band’s lead singer and songwriter, is due to join the group on stage. The programme therefore includes both the new community track and a song connected to the guest performer.
What the event offers visitors
The performance is part of the Christmas lights switch-on programme at Darwen Town Centre. It brings together Begin2Sing’s young and adult singers, Annabel’s solo performance and Laird-Clowes’s guest appearance. The source confirms the event and performers but does not provide further programme details.
Begin2Sing’s debut single, “Begin2Sing”, was released last November and reached number 23 in the iTunes Pop Chart. Its follow-up, “Shake Off The Rain”, is described by the source as an anthem about overcoming challenges and supporting one another. The group’s monthly workshops take place at Sunbird Records in Darwen and have been supported by a UK Shared Prosperity Fund grant from Blackburn with Darwen Council.
Date, venue and entry details
The event is Saturday 14 November 2026 at Darwen Town Centre. Entry is free, and the event is open to the public. The source does not specify a start time, booking arrangements, transport guidance or accessibility information, so visitors should check with the organiser for updates before setting out. Begin2Sing’s website is listed as www.begin2sing.co.uk.
Source: Blackburn with Darwen Council News
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The preview follows the source report and supplied event details for the date, venue, entry and announced performers.
- Matched the event date to Saturday 14 November 2026.
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- 2026-10-14 10:08
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