Pregnant rock singer to stage special concert for mums-to-be in Capital

Published on Tuesday 31 August 2010 14:58

IT WILL surely be the mother of all rock gigs. A pregnant rock singer is set to stage a concert specifically aimed at mums-to-be.

The event, dubbed Wombstock, is to be held in Edinburgh later in the year with the aim of using music to help stimulate the unborn kids as well as allowing their mums to let their hair down.

Singer Gulzhan Ibraveya is leading from the front as she will be well on the way to the delivery ward herself when she hosts the gig on November 2.

The 32-year-old Kazakh, who formed Universal You with husband Paul Finnie, 42, and Mark Grant, 24, in the Capital two years ago, will be at the mic at the city's Voodoo Rooms just weeks from her due date.

The band, who recently played a sell-out gig to 12,000 fans in Kazakhstan, hope that hundreds of mums-to-be and their partners will flock to the concert and are even considering having medics on site in case any of the fans go into labour.

Ms Ibraveya, who met future husband Paul in Kazakhstan when the pair worked in the oil and gas industry, said they will be toning down their usual sound to serenade the unborn children.

She said: "Paul and I first had the idea for the gig after finding that our child kicked a lot during rehearsals.

"Midwives now tell mothers that music can really stimulate babies when they are developing.

"I think if the mum doesn't like heavier stuff then the baby won't either, but I've noticed that when the music is more upbeat you definitely feel more kicks and when it's more chilled out it soothes the baby.

"We're also thinking about having a medic at the gig. We wouldn't normally, but in a venue full of pregnant women I guess it might be a good idea."

While some experts argue that it is classical music, not thrash metal, that is best for stimulating babies in the womb, the band say it depends on the mother's musical preference.

Mr Finnie said: "We don't want to be scaring babies with thrash metal.

"We'll be playing our music which is more pop than rock but quite dancey.

"We'll probably have to have a few more chairs around than we normally would, as well as more breaks because pregnant women tend to need to go to the toilet more."

As well as hoping to show pregnant mums a good time, Ms Ibraveya said the gig is one of the few social events that cater for pregnant women.

She said: "I think we should move away from the concept that when a woman is pregnant she loses all dignity and starts wearing baggy clothes and doesn't look very glamorous.

"That's just rubbish. You can still look your best and do what you want to do. Most pregnant women meet at classes in the maternity hospital, but I don't see why we can't get together and have a good time in a different environment, doing something that we enjoy."