Friday 28 June 2024.

Friday 28th June 2024. THE FIZZ live at Indigo at The 02 Arena complex. Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and Jay Aston – three names that are iconic in Eurovision history – once members of the 1981 Eurovision-winning group, Bucks Fizz, now known as The Fizz. With a string of over 20 hits under their belts, including their No. 1 Hits, “Land of Make Believe”, “My Camera Never Lies” and, of course, “Making Your Mind Up”. With support from The Ultimate Earth , Wind and Fire. I saw Bucks Fizz headlining Hammersmith Odeon in 1982, on the back of their Eurovision win. I saw The Fizz in 2017 , when they played in Windsor. I have seen the real Earth, Windsor and Fire a couple of times. Indigo is a start of the art venue that opened in 2007....in that year i saw two Prince secret gigs there , and i saw The Eagles playing a private show there for 500 bankers. Acts after that I have seen here include Ted Nugent ,Blue Oyster Cult, PiL and Bill Wyman's 80th Birthday Gala concert. ------------ This plush venue looks very full, and the air-con is on and both bands have big side screens showing live footage of tonight's gig ...and the sound is perfect. THE ULTIMATE EARTH , WIND and FIRE arrived on stage at 7.40pm for their 60 mins set. They are certainly taking it seriously as there are twelve musicians on stage, including a four man brass section and two vocalists. Lots of hits played in a really good set , including 'Shining Star,' ' After The Love Has Gone' , 'Fantasy' , 'September ', 'Lets Groove' and 'Boogie Wonderland ' . THE FIZZ (ex Bucks Fizz), arrived on stage at 9.10pm for a nice long set lasting 1 hour 55 mins. They are backed by a full band and three backing singers. A nice touch is they are playing the original videos on the big screen behind them for each song. A great mix of their many hits, plus album tracks and some cover versions. The hardcore fans down the front are copying all the dance routines and the hand gestures , as all three members share the lead vocals. We had some stage props including umbrellas, rain macs and bowler hats...and light-hearted stage banter. Final song had that iconic moment where the two girls skirts came off during 'Making Your Mind Up'. Near the end of the show Cheryl Baker gave out some sad news that Mike Nolan's last ever gig with the band will be on 20 Nov 2024 at The Stag, Sevenoaks. A very enjoyable show , that everyone here loved. Highlights of THE FIZZ setlist tonight... Another Piece of the Action Run for Your Life My Camera Never Lies When We Were Young Dancing in the Rain I Hear Talk A medley of tracks from the four Fizz albums. If You Can't Stand the Heat Now Those Days Are Gone The Land of Make Believe Encore: 80s covers medley. Making Your Mind Up ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Thursday 27 June 2024. GLADYS KNIGHT live at The Royal Albert Hall. Gladys Knight is playing a ' Farewell UK Tour', to celebrate her 80th birthday . Gladys Knight, known as the "Empress of Soul" , is an American singer. A ten-time Grammy Award-winner, Knight recorded hits through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s with her family group Gladys Knight & the Pips. Knight has recorded two number-one Billboard Hot 100 singles ("Midnight Train to Georgia" and "That's What Friends Are For" which she did with Dionne Warwick, Sir Elton John and Stevie Wonder), and is an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . In 1989 Gladys released the hit single ' License to Kill' for the James Bond film soundtrack. I have seen her just the once before , in 2009 when she headlined Wembley Arena. ------------ Tonight is fully sold out, but the extra show for Friday still has lots of tickets for sale. A 99% middle aged white folks crowd. LEEE JOHN from Imagination and SINITTA were in one of the ground level boxes. MICA MILLAR on stage at 7.30pm for her 25 mins. Northern lass with a great white soul voice. Mica Millar, the rising star of British soul music, is set to deliver a breathtaking performance! Her debut album, 'Heaven Knows', released to critical acclaim in 2023, showcases her intense emotional sincerity and exceptional skill in balladry. GLADYS KNIGHT on at 8.20pm for just 70 mins. Another one of those shows where the stage timings were pretty much fake news...venue website put her down for a 100 mins set, but it actually ended up being only 70 mins....30 mins shorter is quite a lot. Gladys looks great for her 80 years of age. Wearing a sparkly black gown, and that lovely smile, she looks like Michelle Obama's older sister. Backed by a band and three female backing vocalists This London audience clearly adore her. Lots of her classic hits played,in a really good show. GLADYS KNIGHT highlights tonight.... Baby Don't Change Your Mind (Gladys Knight & the Pips song) Shake Your Body ( Down to the Ground ) ( Jackson 5 cover ) Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me (Jim Weatherly cover) Come Back and Finish What You Started (Gladys Knight & the Pips song) I've Got to Use My Imagination (Gladys Knight & the Pips song) Licence To Kill I Heard It Through the Grapevine (Gladys Knight & the Pips song) The Way We Were (Barbra Streisand cover) Take Me to the King (Tamela Mann cover) Midnight Train to Georgia (Jim Weatherly cover)

Posted 28th June 2024