... 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 ...

... 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 ...

... A fruitful West Country show Bumham-on-Sea Apple County When a showcase is well organised, runs smoothly and offers a wide variety of acts it will attract many bookers. No wonder then that over 300 of them packed the Farmers Tavern at Brean Leisure Park for the Bridgewater based Apple County 1995 Showcase. The five and a half hour pro gramme included over two dozen first class acts from all ...

... 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, ...

... lolanthe Glasgow apparently, sir Arxnur bunivan heard that he had lost a vast sum of money just one hour before he appeared at the Savoy Theatre to conduct the first ever perfor mance of lolanthe in 1882. Had he allowed this to affect him, his audience may well have experienced the ponderous over ture which Stephen Clarke now offers for Scottish Opera. Having started at such a low energy level ...

... Vestris Lilian Baylis According to a note in Jonathan Burnett's programme for Vestris, one of his pieces was the result of 'a remark made by a member of the Arts Council that my work was not on the cutting edge but very suitable for the provinces.' The comment was disquieting on two counts, first that its recipient attached no thought to the possibility of euphemism, and secondly that ...

... Rock with Laughter Exeter The Barnfield Theatre was the venue for a variety show that thrilled a capacity audience. The evening's compere was comedian Rick Lomas, whose wealth of experience in TV warm- ups helped the show maintain a lively pace. Backing was provided by versatile musicians Zodiac. The show was opened by local song and dance act. Footnotes. They were followed by newcomer Sarah ...

... 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 ...