Musician taking on 34 care home gigs in two weeks

A UK performer is taking on 34 gigs in care and community venues across Guernsey in two weeks to promote healing and wellbeing.

Bob Gessey is working in partnership with the Guernsey Healing Music Trust and the charity Music in Hospitals and Care. His first gig was at Guernsey Cheshire Home on Wednesday.

Gessey said his performances were beneficial for everyone and hoped those attending would "get a lot out of it".

He said: "Live music for people with, in these cases, learning difficulties, or in any environment really, live music enables me to engage with people, bring them out of their shells, perhaps."

"It's that human interaction, I think, which they get out of it, and obviously I do too."

Gessey questioned "what's not to like" when enjoying live performances.

He said: "When people are singing along, the actual physical aspect of singing, the brain releases endorphins and serotonin.

"It's that feel-good drug and when people have a sing-along they all come out... having a good time, so it's encouraging what people already have within them."

Nehemia Nyatanga, clinical lead at the Guernsey Cheshire Home, said Gessey had already made a big impact on those in the home.

He said: "On the psychological kind of things, they don't feel alone, because they're used to our faces and to see a different face is great.

"Music heals a lot of things. They see a fresh face and music which they're familiar with and they can sing along with it."

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