A work of unbridled passion and collective joy. 5 stars!
Entering the 27 Club is a respectfully curated journey into the musical legacies of musicians whose light dimmed at the age of 27, with their music reverberating through generations.
A veritable supergroup comprised of Kevin Mitchell (Bob Evans, Jebediah), Carla Lippis (Mondo Psycho) Sarah McLeod (The Superjesus), Sean Holton (Southern Empire), Justin Burford (End of Fashion) and Dusty Lee Stephenson are expertly backed by a tight band who transfix the crowd through the music of Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix.
On a balmy Tuesday, in The Fantail at Gluttony, the stirring tones of Crossroads by club member Robert Johnson welcome the packed crowd. The atmosphere was nothing short of sublime. Once the opening set kicked off, there was no rest for the audience and mesmerised crowd as each artist thundered through a cohesive set of classics from Kurt, Janis, Amy and Jimi. The mood was set for a night of unbridled musical emancipation.
From the moment the band took to the stage the atmosphere was electric, each artist performed with precision and finesse, imbuing their chosen club member with a sense of eternal musical magic The sensitive nature of the infamous ’27 Club’ brought the audience together, and perhaps we can dream that if at least one person dancing with reckless abandon found their voice tonight, then the work of these artists is done.
An open-air venue is always risky, but Adelaide is primed for perfect weather and the expansion of Gluttony has created a thriving hub for Fringe lovers to mix, mingle and discover. The crowd were a beautiful mix of punters who were curious to see what their parents were on about, to astute lovers of music, and people like me, who grew up in the shadow of Janis Joplin, mourned Kurt Cobain’s passing and feel a terrible symmetry in the story of Amy Winehouse.
Technically and aurally flawless, with an astute and compassionate bent, this show should set a standard for artists seeking to inject passion into the hearts and minds of their audience.
Artist Performance Schedule
Kevin Mitchell 27 Feb - 6 Mar
Sarah McLeod 25 Feb - 23 Mar (excl 15 & 22 Mar)
Carla Lippis 21 Feb - 23 Mar
Dusty Lee Stephensen 21 Feb - 23 Mar
Justin Burford 7 - 23 Mar
Shaun Holton 21 - 23 Feb
Virginia Lillye 21 - 23 Feb, 15 & 22 Mar
Genre: Music
Rating: PG
Price: $27-$99