When Keeping it Live! hit the scene just under a year ago you just knew straight away that this was the showcase to be seen and heard at. When I arrived at The Horseshoe on Monday afternoon I was a shocked to see that there was hardly an empty seats in the house, which says everything about the show.

After the usual opening number from the Keeping it Live! band under the musical direction of Mickey Watson, because of the complexities of staging we had an unusual start to the show in the form of Boogie Super Stars. This was a presentation of a new form of green screen entertainment just coming over from the States where green screen technology is used to isolate the volunteers head and superimpose it onto one of various cartoon body moving to music. Great fun for holiday camps, corporate events etc.

Compere Steve Walls then introduced event organiser Marcus Collingbourne who welcomed one and all to the third Keeping it Live! national showcase.

A slightly nervous Ashleigh Wood, who is just aged 16, had the hardest task and that was to be first vocalist on stage and open Keeping it Live! Ashleigh proved through her set that she has bags of confidence and would fit into most clubs and holiday parks, a definite for the younger end of the market. Ashleigh would benefit from a little vocal coaching to stop the habit of glottal singing but she produced a set remarkably well performed for a young girl of this age.

The Business is a band that consists of four members with one lead vocal and a couple of the lads supporting with backing vocals. I loved their medley on their second number but had the feeling that the band was slightly drowning out the lead vocal. These are a great group for any function such as corporate and weddings etc.

Well what can I say about Phil Joseph other than “Pure Class”. Phil possesses a wonderful voice and oozes presence and professionalism all the way, not only in his vocal but also the way in which his personality shines through. Phil would fit into absolutely the highest of venues.

We have in on the past couple of Keeping it Live! showcases seen many Amy Winehouse tributes but May Winehouse was quite outstanding. It was nice to see and hear a live saxophone player on stage with her and this made the tribute very different. An excellent rendition of the lady herself.

Johnny Dimes is very similar to Gene Pitney in vocals, which in his hey day were a classic. A vocalist like this would suit most if not all venues. It was nice to hear the Keeping It Live! band being used today and playing with passion they blended well with Johnny and made his set a pleasure to listen and watch. Johnny showed us in his short set that not only is he a quality vocalist but his comedy showed us he was also a very funny man.

Melita is a female vocalist who has obviously been in the entertainment industry for quite some time. Opening with a classic by Shirley Bassey “This Is My Life” and with a little sound of the diva herself she swiftly moved onto another diva classic by Whitney Houston “ I Will Always Love You”. Melita would fit into most venues and also is able to use live backing, which is always a pleasure to hear. A spot pleasantly delivered.

It was nice to see Patsy Lee with her tribute to some wonderful classic singers of the 50s like Brenda Lee, Patsy Cline etc. With the look that represents this era Patsy delivered a wonderful spot. Well-done Patsy.

Young, funky group Hot M@le is made up of three young lads, two on guitar and one on drums. They have great personalities that obviously come through in their performance, which also consisted of a mini tribute to “Take That”. Well done lads - I really enjoyed your set.

At the tender age of 18 vocalist Alex Christy opened his spot with a big number that was recorded by the great Michael Buble. Not without bags of confidence this young man in a couple of years when his voice has fully developed will be hitting the bigger market of cruise ships and corporate work. It is also and always a pleasure to hear a young performer using the live backing, something which is not often done by the younger artists of today, so well done to the band and well done to Alex for using them and showing a different side of his show.

Comedy duo Slap Dash have a very witty sense of humour. I am somewhat stunned that with the voices that these two possess they are not a vocal harmony duo. I have to say that in my opinion, and only in my opinion, they should make more of the vocals because they where superb. Having said that they were also funny. Maybe they should look at having two different acts and get the best of both worlds.
 
Nice to see vocalist Debbie Miles again since I had the pleasure of reviewing at Keeping it Live! in Stratford Upon Avon last October. With her very bubbly personality and infectious smile and quality vocals Debbie should appeal to most venues and the corporate market. Debbie was very popular with the afternoon audience and delivered a great spot.

Yet again another familiar face in the form of vocalist Adam James. Adam has absolutely bags of energy and received a great applause from the audience, particularly after his first number, a super version of “Proud Mary”. Well done Adam yet again!

Wonderful!! Laura Jenkins seems in the last twelve months since I have seen her really come into her own. With fabulous control of both the chest and head voice and wonderful stage presentation this young lady is going to from strength to strength. Excellent Laura and I would love to hear you with a full band.

Edwin Dukes is a very energetic soul singer, lots of energy and stage presentation. Edwin really had the crowd going and on his side. I really enjoyed him and would really like to catch his complete show. Edwin should be very appealing to most venues. I loved it!

Well what a turn up! Having worked on the One And Only it was nice to see that I Should Be So Kylie never gave up on her dreams to continue this tribute. It was the most daunting thing to be thrown onto the BBC in front of millions of viewers and emanate a diva like Kylie Minogue, but she certainly has come out of her shell since the programme. An excellent tribute to the Princess of Pop.

Closing this first session of Keeping it Live! was showband 1 Stop Boogie and what can I say about this group - this is the third time I have seen them and they just get better and better each time. Once again I really enjoyed their fast moving set ,as I have every time I have see them. A great way to finish an excellent afternoons entertainment.

Special mention must go to compere Steve Walls, producer John Hopcroft and his superb stage crew for moving eighteen acts through bang on four hours.

My act of the session - Phil Joseph