Keeping it Live!

Keeping it Live! asked vocal coach Jean Gillies to perform the unenviable task of offering a professional critique of each act appearing on the showcase. Reviewing a showcase of this size is not only a tremendously hard task but also is a no-win situation for the critic, as I know from my days reviewing events of this nature, as much of the comment can be assigned to personal taste, but I felt we were fortunate in having Jean assess the acts with her professional background not only as a vocal coach but also as a working pro act.

While Jean casts her critical eye on the acts onstage I would like to personally thank five very special performers without who the show would not have been such a success. I am, of course, referring to compere Steve Walls who held the show together superbly and to the Keeping it Live! band, musical director Mickey Watson, drummer Paul Smith, guitarist Andy Power and bass player Jerry Sallis. Not only did they offer sensational backing to those acts requiring it (one act was overheard to say “Wish I’d brought my dots”) but for many in the audience the opening and closing numbers of the show were a high spot.

I’d also like to thank The Keeping It Live! dancers (Siege Dance Troupe) for opening each evening session in true cabaret style.

Our Meet and Greet artists went down a storm and were kept busy both before and after each session, inside and outside the auditorium and, in one case, halfway down the prom! Memorable performances from Baron Von Grindle, Musical Ruth! and Karen Dalton certainly entertained the pre and post show audiences.

A thank you must also go to all the established acts who came along to Keeping it Live! to offer their support and particularly to Ricky Tomlinson who drew an audible gasp from the audience when he came out through the curtains to open Keeping it Live! 2008 and to Bobby Ball for his kind words of support onstage. Thanks to you all.

The act by act review can be found for each of the sessions of Keeping It Live! on the following pages.

Marcus Collingbourne - Event Organiser