The Dubliners in concert at Norwich Theatre Royal Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 14 March 2012 The world of fifty years ago was a foreign country when Ireland’s Dubliners began performing. Their celebratory tour recalls many changes of the decades. Original Barney McKenna is still playing, and while some have come and gone, all are long-serving. A certain magic binds them together, sharing their love of jigs and reels, instrumentals, ballads and folk songs, traditional and new. A packed house, many the same age as the band, others younger, was spellbound by quality Celtic folk tradition, guitar, banjo, whistle, fiddle, tapping along approvingly. 1967’s chart-topper Seven Drunken Nights was followed by songs, some poignant, others funny, about Ireland, mountains, alcohol and jobs long gone, like the ferrymen. Many lyrics were from the political-social commentary … Read entire article »

Theatre Royal, Norwich Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 15 February 2010 Paul Carrack How Long Has This Been Going On? So sang one of those greats of the last 40 years, a performer in the same league as Van Morrison, Phil Collins and Jools Holland, as a packed house rocked along. From rock-jazz fusion in the early 70s, to hit groups Ace and Roxy Music, through Squeeze in the 80s and with Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, to Mike Rutherford in Mike and the Mechanics, Carrack progressed to a solo career where his total eclectic background was given full rein. Wearing trademark dark glasses and backed by a 6-piece band and female singer who were impeccable, Carrack showed his versatility in singing and playing guitars and keyboards in numbers ranging from Loving You Tonight, … Read entire article »

Theatre Royal, Norwich Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 5 July 2005 The Rat Pack I did it my way. A philosophy for the generation who grew up with the Rat Pack. Songs like That’s Life, That’s Amore, Fly Me to the Moon, Chicago, New York … are the soundtrack of the 1950s and much of the 60s too. In the company of talented performers, unmistakable music, cool dance moves, it wasn’t hard to imagine being at The Sands, Las Vegas. Individually and together Sammy Davis Jnr, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra were a force in entertainment that is felt to this day. The show is a cabaret tribute and more. The luscious Berelli Sisters were the dancing chorus eye candy – It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing. They swung. The 15-piece … Read entire article »

Theatre Royal, Norwich Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 27 June 2005 Tamla Motown Along with mini-skirts, long hair and flower-power, Tamla Motown is the 60s. Those of a certain age have only to catch the opening bars of Reach Out I’ll Be There, Baby Love or Get Ready, to start grooving all over again. To have a string of the greatest mighty Motown classics in 60’s costumes, hair-dos and dance routines as performed by The Supremes, The Four Tops, The Temptations, The Miracles and Stevie Wonder, was sheer joy. These were living funky artistes, re-creating the heyday of that unique sound from Detroit that gave a voice to black and white people, then as now. Story there was none – the music spoke for itself. Just to list the titles of the songs is to … Read entire article »