... The Barron Knights Hayes Thirty five years in showbusiness have given the Barron Knights something which can only be achieved through success on the cabaret circuit or via television--a devoted audience--and a rapport was created as soon as the guys appeared on stage. It is to their credit also that their fans have remained with them despite their decreasing number of public appearances. Work ...

... 5-Alive Island Theatre Cabaret act 5-Alive struck me as remarkably good entertainment offering super large helpings of the feel good factor. The name is apt for a five strong team of guys whose eyes catch yours and send messages. What is communicated has as much to do with individuality as with group style, and an insis tence that pitch, pace, and ges tural niceties should all be tight. The ...

... Vince Hill Cafe Royal For those of us not around in the Talk of the Town days, the name Vince Hill is not synonymous with West End cabaret, what there is left of it. But this very experienced singer appeared pretty much at home in the Cafe Royal's Green Room. What was most engaging about Hill's performance was his way with the audience. At one point, when he couldn't hear any one singing along ...

... Cantabile QEH Versatility is what audiences have come to expect from vocal group Cantabile and their latest show, Songs of Love and War, again embraces a whole variety of musical styles. Arcadelt's song of the tor ments of love, for instance, was written in the 16th Century, while Poulenc's setting of a poem by Apollinaire is of much more recent vintage. So, too, is Billy Joel's powerful ...

... The Rubettes 20th Anniversary Tour Middlesborough Scottish band Marmalade kicked off the night looking splendid in full tux dress, but by the end of song one the ties were off, collars open and the hall rocking with good live music. Just four men, three guitars and a drum kit--not a sequencer in sight--but loads of talent, tight harmonies, and melodies of youth. All the hits, and more were ...

... More than fair folk High Wycombe Fairport Convention Fairport Convention's winter tour relies chiefly on promoting songs from their newly released Jewel in the Crown album, the first combined studio offering from the band for four years. For those dedicated Fairporters in the audience, the new numbers are a welcome addi tion to the band's already exten sive repertoire, although anyone wishing ...

... Those witty women who paved the way BY LISA MARTLAND To search for contemporary queens of comedy you need look no further than performers like Victoria Wood, French and Saunders and, of course, the 'slimline' Jo Brand. But they follow in the footsteps of some quite special comic ladies, a number of them still raising a laugh today. The Comediennes (R2. from Thursday, January 19) is a series ...

... Paul Motian Trio featuring Joe Lovano Jazz Cafe Strong blowing American saxophonist Joe Lovano is a man of two jazz worlds, as he demonstrated at the Jazz Cafe, backed by fellow Paul Motian Trio members, aptly named drummer Motian and guitarist Bill Frisell playing a mandola-looking stringed instrument for a wide range of sounds. With hat and beard Joe began in a free expression, rather ...

... Don Grolnick Group Queen Elizabeth Hall Don Grolnick's CV is not of the kind that one might expect to find on a Contemporary Music Network tour--roducer of James Taylor albums, keyboards player for Linda Ronstadt and various producing and playing sessions for others in the high-grade pop spectrum, notably Steely Dan. Back in the seventies he was also associated with the Brecker Brothers and ...

... Stars from Stars in Their Eyes Hackney Empire This one-off concert from Hackney's KMS Promotions gave us a chance to see several sound and look like acts at one go. It was a cheerful, light heart ed show, well received and full of likeable easy going performers. A bit too easy going at times because one of the problems with this type of show is that however much an artist looks, or sounds, ...

... Up town top Rankin Dominion The Rankin Family There is a strong Celtic tradition on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island, the Rankin Family's home. That tradition permeates their music, both old and new. Some songs and tunes had been brought over from Britain and Ireland more than a century ago. Others had made the journey far more recently, with such popular groups as the Chieftains. And some ...

... Bootleg Buddy Clacton If I'd looked at the posters more closely, I would surely have guessed from the start. As it was, on the third date of their tribute tour, the Bootleg Buddy boys had me, and most of the audience, completely fooled. Along with the rest of the everybody else at the West Cliff Theatre, I sat through an hour long support set by a band called Cut Loose. I rather enjoyed their ...