FESTIVAL MUSIC | Reviews & Previews
SHOWS ABOUT THE BEATLES Fab hours about the Fab Four It’s been 45 years since the Beatles called it a day, but thanks to their lasting influence, people still have a lot to say about the foursome. Two shows this year take John Lennon as their centrepiece: Lennon: Through a Glass Onion (see review, right) and John Lennon: In His Own Write (pictured) which presents his first book on stage in its entirety.
with the Beatles explores the scene from the view of road manager Neil Aspinall, and takes place during the recording of ‘A Day in the Life'. In Come Together, Barb Jungr and John McDaniel present classic and unexpected versions of the band’s biggest hits, while adding even more absurdity to the Beatles’ tale, Honky Bonk History of the Beatles promises ‘it’s gonna get weird.’ (Kirstyn Smith) ■ Lennon Through a Glass Onion, Assembly Hall, 623 3030, until 28 Aug (not 25), times vary, £15–£17.50; John Lennon: In His Own Write, Voodoo Rooms, 226 000, until 30 Aug, 5.10pm, free; A Life with the Beatles, Sweet Grassmarket, 243 3596, until 30 Aug, 5.15pm, £9 (£7); Come Together, Assembly Rooms, 0844 693 3008, until 21 Aug, 1.45pm, £12; Honky Bonk History of the Beatles, Heroes @ Bob’s Blundabus, 226 0000, 27–31 Aug, 9.45pm, £5. 68 THE LIST FESTIVAL 20–31 Aug 2015
Spreading the Beatles net more widely, A Life The ‘we’ refers to himself (an award-winning
Ask any Fringe act to describe their show, and usually, you’ll get a quick answer. For Antonio Forcione however, it’s not all that easy. ‘We don’t describe ourselves, we perform,’ he says. ‘We let other people describe what we do.’ guitarist) and percussionist Adriano Adewale. ‘We are both musicians that love performing and love playing organic instruments. By organic, I mean we don’t use any loop effects, backing music or anything,’ he explains. ‘Whatever we’re doing as performers, we make it there. There’s a lot of improvisation and we are going to play a celebration of African rhythms and European melodies.’
SOWETO AFRO POP OPERA Downsized to a trio, but nonetheless breezy and confident ●●●●●
Comparing reviews of this ensemble’s appearance in Edinburgh last year with their 2015 vintage is a study in contrasts. Twelve months ago, reviewers spoke of a larger vocal ensemble backed by a full live band that merged western and African contemporary song styles to create a lively and dynamic show. This year, presumably mindful of their festival budget, the Soweto Afro Pop Opera group have no backing band and are instead reduced to a trio performing to a backing track. Even without this knowledge there is a sense that the space feels slightly large for them, that there should be more happening up there. Yet taken within the context of what’s going on, it’s an enjoyable show, pitting three voices against and alongside each other in a lively recreation of styles from both spheres of their influence.
The trio have a breezily confident way with their vocal parts, incorporating modern western soul-pop styles and a crooner’s sensibility, although the show is light on the opera element. Among their numbers are a delicate version of ‘Somewhere from Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story and ‘There’s Music in the Air’ by Soweto- born jazz singer Letta Mbulu, and the light, populist aesthetic their music builds up has the audience clapping in time on command. (David Pollock) ■ C, 0845 260 1234, until 31 Aug, 5pm, £9.50– £11.50 (£7.50–£9.50).
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ANTONIO FORCIONE AND ADRIANO ADEWALE Guitar and percussion celebration of African rhythms and European melodies LENNON – THROUGH A GLASS ONION Australian duo recount late Beatle's life ●●●●●
There’s something deeper and richer than just a straight-up tribute show going on here, although that’s what it remains at heart. The stripped-back duo performing the show – Australian singer, actor and guitarist John R Waters and pianist Stewart D’Arrietta, himself a sometime Tom Waits tribute man – have fortunately not gone for the full mop- top and Sergeant Pepper costume look, instead appearing as themselves on a darkened stage with minimal set dressing. Waters sings the songs and in between plays a
passable Lennon, his flat-ironed Liverpool drawl touching upon the Beatle’s life and career in a manner that might be a bit peripheral for both knowledgeable devotees and casual fans.
Forcione and Adewale have been playing together Yet the tone is engagingly mournful rather than
for 15 years. ‘I loved his playing before meeting him,’ Forcione says. ‘Since then, we’ve been playing all over the world and we’ve recorded five albums together.’ ‘I’m very happy to come back to do the Fringe
with Adriano,’ he adds. ‘[He] is like a soul mate for me musically.’ (Rebecca Monks) ■ Assembly George Square, 623 3030, 23–30 Aug, 8pm, £14–£15 (£13–£14).
sycophantic, and the choice of songs lends a sense of narrative using Lennon’s own words. For every marquee hit like ‘A Day in the Life’, ‘Norwegian Wood’ and the inevitable finale of ‘Imagine’, the spirit and rawness of ‘Isolation’, ‘Working Class Hero’, ‘Crippled Inside’ and a drawn-out, haunting ‘Help’ elevates this show. (David Pollock) ■ Assembly Hall, 623 3030, until 28 Aug (not 25), times vary, £15–£17.50.