October 2nd 2006

It was the stuff of dreams or, perhaps, acid trips: Katie Melua singing Nine Million Bicycles on a stage 303 metres below the sea.

Convinced to perform on the North Sea floor by a gas drilling company celebrating its 10th birthday, the singer set a Guinness World record for the deepest underwater concert ever performed.

Now a documentary of the strange event, which took place last October, has been released on DVD.

And what an event it was. Melua, 22, and her band underwent rigorous safety training while 22 tonnes of equipment was transported by 16 helicopters and three supply ships to the rig and then the whole lot had to be moved to the bottom of the sea.

Then there was the performance. We’re guessing the chart-topping singer had never played to an audience quite like the Statoil staff. Kitted out in hard hats and orange overalls, a few swayed and tapped their feet, while others, unable to abandon their duties, continued working through the concert.

Katie Melua - The Documentary Film: Concert Under The Sea is released on Monday June 28.

entertainment.timesonline.co.uk