About Us Algarve Karaoke.

"Simply the Best Karaoke Listing Site in the Algarve"

My name is Alfie, I ran and presented "Simply the Best Karaoke" in numerous venues in the Algarve, in the season 2008-2009 I presented Karaoke seven nights a week in The Sporran Pub Praia da Rocha, but circumstances has brought me now to Germany.

This site was originally to let my followers know where I was performing, and perhaps find a picture or two, but as I am no longer in the Algarve I thought it was too good an opportunity to miss. So now is your chance to get a little publicity.

Below you will find the original wording of my advert and what the local paper THE RESIDENT had to say,.
"Simply the Best Karaoke"
Available for Bookings, everything supplied, all latest HK L.U.C.A.S. Sound Equipment, Best Quality Professional wire free SURE Microphone's, over 5,000 Tracks to chose from, friendly Fun Presenter, Promotional Material supplied, available for Pubs, Clubs, Restaurants, Hotels, Private Functions, Birthday Parties etc., Special Off-Season Rates, Discounts for Block Bookings.

THE RESIDENT, 21.10.2005 by Jenny Grainer

"Unforgettable karaoke night

KARAOKE is not really my scene. In fact, the idea of being in a crowded bar with holidaymakers, usually over-stimulated by alcohol, at a sound level guaranteed to make them use a deaf aid in their 30s, having fun with a microphone, fills me with dread. As a long term Algarve resident and a child of the Sixties, I prefer a good meal out, in places I have learned to know and enjoy over the years, in the company of friends who share common interests.

Now, having said all that, one of my regular haunts in Portimao, (Mac Mariners) which often does nights of live music, usually jazz, decided, six months ago, to do - you've guessed it, yes - karaoke nights! ("Simply the Best" Karaoke) I ignored the whole thing for the first two months, but curiosity and a non functioning TV took my husband and me in there, one Wednesday night, to find out what it was all about. To my surprise and delight, I discovered a lot of my own generation there, singing wonderful old songs from our past and good melodic songs from the present.

The sound system wasn't too loud and many of the performers were good singers (or not), having a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing evening. it took three return visits before I was coerced onto the floor for a performance and managed a passable duet with the granny version of Big Spender. I have now performed this on several occasions and we are a very slick pair of grannies with moves that will spell bind you.

After a break of some two weeks, we turned up one night to a somewhat different atmosphere, which was to provide us with one of those unforgettable nights that mark you forever. The place had most of the usual regulars, but there was also a table of 17 people of a mixed age range, all enjoying a meal. It took me a while to realise that these were not your run of the mill holidaymakers. Several were in wheelchairs and it became obvious that most had a disability of one sort or another.

When the music started at the end of their dinner, it wasn't long before each and everyone of them let rip with the microphones, whether from a wheelchair at the table or in the spotlight on stage. We were all treated to a truly emotion charged evening, watching this wonderful group show us that having a disability does not mean you can't have a great evening out doing what everybody else does. They knew all the songs (and some I'd never heard of), had actions to match and sang with such obvious pleasure that you could't help but get swept along with their obvious joy in life.

I discovered that the group hailed from Sheffield and called themselves ENABLE. Alan Finchett, who started the day care centre 11 years ago, was a steel worker made redundant in the 90s. He had been filling his time with driving people to day care centres run by social services and soon discovered that both the clients and often their parents of carers were not very happy with the treatment they were receiving. often, they sat around just painting or doing puzzles, with no one stretching their capabilities in the way that they would like. After discussions with all concerned, Alan decided to make a change in his life, which would be meaningful not only to him but to those who shared his aims and far seeing ambitions for these people.

He managed to obtain an unused classroom and set his students to the task of recycling toys. They advertised for broken or damaged items and, as they received them, Alan taught his willing learners the skills they needed to repair them. The items were then sold at local fairs and Alan's students began to enjoy the feeling of contributing usefully to society. As his clients increased, he had to find larger and larger premises. Alan sourced funds from everywhere he could think of and then discovered that the best way to approach the richest sources was by having a governmental seal of approval. So, inspectors interviewed his clients and listened to their opinions. Then, they spent time in Alan's practical workshops and watched the skills that were being taught and absorbed by the eager to learn participants.

It did not take long for them to agree that ENABLE had the right to use their important and coveted seal. Now. Alan can stamp "Investors in People" on his letter heading, whenever he writes yet another "please help us" letter - and it has proved to be a great help. hard work and a sincere belief in what he is doing have brought Alan a long way. A few of his people are now living on their own, able to care for themselves, like jacky, a mature lady with Downs' Syndrome. She lives along in a bungalow, takes care of her own housekeeping, shopping and cooking. and works in the coffee shop at the ENABLE centre, now a custom build premise completed 18 months ago at a cost of £850,000.00 Pound Sterling.

Through regular meetings with parents and families, Alan regularly discussed the importants of letting their disabled child or sibling do things for themselves at home.It always seems easier to do it for them. "But what will happen when you die, if you don't let survival skills be practised now?" he asks them. They know the answer all too well - the helpless ones will end up in institutions with no stimulation until they just fade away. Alan is determined that that will not happen to as many of the current 56 people attending the centre as he can possibly help. "My studens have their own committee, tell me what they want to learn, how they want to be entertained and choose where they will spend their holidays. They want to be motivated into reaching beyond everyone's expectations and be treated the same way as anyone else. Is that too much to ask?" I think not, Alan, and I hope they choose to return to Portugal, even if it lacks a lot in wheelchair friendliness."