ZAK ABEL JOINS CORONATION CONCERT AS REPLACEMENT FOR FREYA RIDINGS

The BBC has announced that British singer-songwriter Zak Abel is stepping in to perform at Sunday’s Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle, replacing Freya Ridings, who has had to pull out, due to being unwell and therefore unable to perform.

Londoner Zak will showcase his soulful vocals in a duet alongside classical-soul composer/producer Alexis Ffrench at the concert to celebrate the Coronation of Their Majesties The King and Queen, which will be broadcast from 8pm on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, Radio 2 and BBC Sounds on Sunday 7th May.

He said, “I am honoured and overwhelmed to be included in the Coronation celebrations. To have the opportunity to be part of such a historic moment is something I will forever be humbled by and will never forget.”

As well as creating his own compositions, featuring his instinctively soulful, funky and catchy melodies, Zak, who secured his first record deal whilst still a teenager, featured on Gorgon City’s top 20 song, Unmissable. He has also collaborated with some of the world’s biggest dance producers, including Kygo (Freedom – 193 million streams), Avicii (Ten More Days – 29 million streams) and Tom Misch (Beautiful Escape – 88 million streams).

Having being diagnosed with otosclerosis – overgrowth and brittleness of the stapes bone in the ear, which can lead to hearing loss – when he was just 21, Zak has overcome a number of hurdles in order to achieve success in the competitive world of music, which has led him to the opportunity to perform at this once in a lifetime event.