For the last five years the 27 Club has been a staple of many people’s Adelaide Fringe viewing. This year not only marks this high-octane production’s fifth birthday, but it also will be the last time Adelaide sees this show.

The 27 Club pay homage to iconic musicians who all sadly died at the young age of 27. Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison and Robert Johnson have each left an enduring legacy for the music industry and were all at the top of their game when tragedy struck.

On the opening night of 27 Club, Dusty Lee Stephensen (Wanderers) opened with a rocked up version of Robert Johnson’s Crossroad. From there, the hits and the stars kept rolling out. Kevin Mitchell (Jebediah, Bob Evans) raised the roof with Nirvana/Kurt Cobain hits like Smells Like Teen Spirit, Sarah McLeod (The Superjesus) rocked the house with a cover of Janis Joplin’s hit Cry Baby and Carla Lippis (Mondo Psycho) and her phenomenal voice raised the roof with hits like Amy Winehouse’s Valerie.

Supporting these rock gods and goddesses is an equally impressive band featuring Jack Strempel on keys, Cam Blokland on guitar, Danny Leo on drums, and Milush Piochaud on bass. My goodness can these musicians play. Their sound is electric and their musicianship is second to none.

There are so many memorable moments throughout 27 Club, but for this reviewer standout numbers would have to include Sarah McLeod’s a capella rendition of Mercedes Benz (vocally backed by the cast) and Carla Lippis’ emotional and stripped back version of Lithium. What a voice and what a powerful arrangement of this Nirvana hit.

27 Club is running until the end of the Fringe at 6.30pm in The Fantail in Gluttony. Check out the show’s page on FringeTix for the line up for each night as there are several nights featuring guest artists. 

Joplin, Winehouse, Hendrix, Cobain, Morrison and Johnson may have left our world far too soon, but as Dusty perfectly said they would make up “one hell of a house band down below”.