Last Saturday evening hundreds of people flocked to Café Inglês in Silves to see which three people were going to be lucky enough to finish the evening with a recording contract in hand.

By Fiona Perris

Saturday’s live performances were the culmination of months of development and preparation that began as a germ of an idea and grew into blooming finale.

Ten finalists had been chosen at the auditions which were held back at the beginning of May (see get real May 12) and all gathered early on Saturday evening for a final sound check, each knowing that they had an over 30 per cent chance of ending the evening with a recording contract.
Already, by 7pm, the concert area was filled with a multitude of friends, family, fans and many curious passers-by enjoying the open air garden venue towered over by the deep red sandstone walls of Silves’ most famous landmark, the Moorish castle. And, it didn’t stop there throughout the entire evening more and more people appeared, enjoying the excellent talent that the judges had chosen to appear.

Sing a song
The order of appearance was chosen by way of a draw and, as each artist stepped up to the stage, any nervousness seemed to dissipate immediately as the music began.
In the first round each artist sang an up-tempo tune and each was rewarded with well-deserved hearty applause and during the interval Café Inglês was buzzing with speculation.
In the second half of the show each contestant sang a slower tune, the final chance to impress the judges with their vocal talents.
The performers were aided by Han, the sound engineer with almost everything going as planned until the final performance by 17 year old Gabriel de Rose, a young man whose stature and looks deceived many into thinking he was much older. There seemed to be a problem with the accompanying music and Gabriel stood up before the audience and truly sang solo, a challenge which was appreciated by all present.

Stars on the horizon
Then, suddenly, the contestants were all done and all that remained was to hear the judges decision, something that was decided relatively quickly, but still the contestants had to wait as the prizes from the raffle were drawn.
Eventually the four judges, Trevor Holman and Derek Ash of ARC Limited, the company offering the three recording contracts, Bill Elliott, former singer with Splinters and session singer and Charles May presenter of get real Talk Radio and director of get real, ascended the stage to announce the three lucky winners.
In third place came 19 year old Aaron Dempsey, a young British lad who is entertaining for a living at Satchmo’s in Montechoro. He received a one year recording contract for one single.
Second prize went to 17 year old Tom Bainbridge, also British, still a student, but who knows for how much longer. He also got a one year recording contract, but this one includes an album as well as a single release.
The man who captured the ears of the judges was Silvio Switha, a 30 year old Portuguese man who also entertains for a living. According to Trevor Holman, chairman of the judges, from the first round “it was a one horse race” and Silvio was visibly overwhelmed at finally achieving his dream, thanking the judges individually and all the spectators then sending special message to his girlfriend who he crushed in an embrace after he left the stage.

And the winner is…
I took Silvio aside after he had heard the good news and asked him how he felt: “I am very, very happy and I still can’t believe that I have one. It is my dream for a long time.”
He told me he had no idea of what kind music he would be singing just that he wanted to make “beautiful songs” and take his career further.
Silvio had sung a song by The Script and one by U2 to perform and I asked him why. “They both have melody. Music for me must have melody.” He told us his girlfriend had helped him choose his songs for the final and that he had discarded a track by Jason Mraz on her advice.
Silvio confessed he was willing to go anywhere his career took him and that he was amazed at the opportunity that the first get real talent had presented. “I have been to London to audition and other places because I was looking for my dream and I had to fight. I couldn’t believe that it was here in the Algarve, so close to home.”
It remains to be seen where Silvio’s career takes him, no doubt far and we all have high hopes – this guy really has got talent! In the meantime he plays, together with his band, at Mullgian’s in Vilamoura from Tuesday to Sunday from 11pm onwards.

Life savers
But, it wasn’t all about the talent; get real had nominated the Algarve Oncological Association as beneficiary of funds raised by way of a prize draw. Throughout the evening all those present, contestants, judges, staff and spectators alike, were approached by the get real team to buy raffle tickets at €5 a piece and the generosity was overwhelming, not only from those who brought tickets, but also those who donated prizes. Throughout the evening some of the guests stood up and donated further prizes to the draw and some people left with some superb prizes:
Dinner at O Almbique restaurant in Poço Barreto; dinner at the Café Inglês in Silves; dinner at Prima Pasta in Vale de Parra; dinner at Satchmo’s Bar and Restaurant in Montchoro; a €50 voucher for great British foodstuffs at Let the Magic In in Algoz; a €50 voucher for personalised clothing at Absolute Zero; an hour long massage donated by an unknown individual in the audience, a non-surgical facelift at Senses Skin Care; a weekend for two at the Hotel Garbe.Everyone who contributed was a winner and those funds will going towards the AOA’s