Keeping it Live!

Opening the show with a bang were The Commitmentz, a great eight-piece band with an outstanding line-up of vocalists and musicians. who gave us a mix of songs originally performed by the original band The Commitments. Emanating the music and vocals of that very famous band. Also downsizing to a six-piece as a soul band they could be featured in almost any kind or size of venue. Fabulous and very polished.

Opening with “Dance With My Father” Adam James is a young man with an obvious talent and and the number was nicely delivered. Would have liked to have heard the vocals a little softer as this song is quite emotional and I did not get the feel of the song because of the full belt. Once again “Valerie” raised it head and it seems to have been very popular with nearly every act over the past couple of days, not Adam’s faults. Nice spot delivered well.

Katie Marie is a young female vocalist who does two sides of the job - one she is a regular vocalist and the other is a country singer. At this showcase we where given an insight to the country side of Katie Marie. Great county vocals but yet again we have the artist taking every song by the original artist and trying to copycat. She has a great voice and keeps within her comfort zone. Great act for a country night and general working men's clubs. Good show.

A smartly dressed male vocalist dressed all in white Darren has a great stage personality and at last someone used the Keeping it Live! band. Darren has a great stage personality. His second song using backing track was another keeping It Live! favourite by artists appearing on the showcase. Lovely song Darren, but watch the diction. Great act and used the stage well.

Partners In Croon are a duo made up of two male vocalist from Stockport, who took us back to old days of the swingers, like Matt Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jnr, Bobby Darin and many more. A very polished clean-cut act and highly professional. Would be great in theatre, cruise or, in fact, any venue you can think of. Superbly delivered.

Leroy Small is a smooth, slick, cool vocalist oozing talent. He works as a direct act, so be quick if you want to be on the band wagon with this one. A very talented mid-range vocalist who can shift the vocals up into falsetto and makes it sound easy. Using some great light and shade in his voice he is very appealing. Loved his set very much.

Hailing from the Midlands, Mirage are two lads who have been together on and off they have been together for around seven years in different line ups except these have been together for that length of time. Although they have been together for some time, I feel that their stage presentation was lacking somewhat. They need to entertain. They have good voices and could present that well by taking time to look at their act and give it some pazazz, which will raise their profile. Great spot lads and good choice of songs.

Samantha Starr bounced onto the stage like a true professional to ”Candyman” by Christina Aguilera. Great dress sense and personality, she then ran into “Show Me Heaven” which showed great mid range vocals but a little weak in the head voice. Finally finishing her spot with the Keeping It Live! band and her rendition of “Wind Beneath My Wings” A performance well polished and nicely delivered.

Wow! Vocalist Jason Curvis showed great command of the stage from the very start of his first song, which was “Have You Met Miss Jones”. Using the Keeping It Live! band he certainly impacted the audience and made them listen. I was disappointed that after the start he had his vocals were somewhat lost to a backing track of “Rule The World”. Even so this young man is again going direct and if anyone has any sense would help put the lad in the right direction because he is very good!. Well done Jason, great personality and stage presentation.

Still as charming as ever - you never know what Sarah Dennis is going to do next with her act, but with a personality like hers who cares. Sarah is a vocalist that seems to be able to turn her hand to everything. Great hearing her again and with the band she was outstanding. Brilliant quirky second song “The Minute Waltz”. In this business you have to be unique to keep in the frame and with that song Sarah certainly is. Excellent vocals and performance.

Opening with a swing number, vocalist Matthew Roberts then went into another popular showcase song “Dance with My Father”, and with a very soulful sound it was lovely - if you closed your eyes you could even here some tones of the great Luther Vandross. Super light and shade with the song. Great set Matthew.

I hate to have to be horrible but I am afraid that for me Totally Take That are just not Take That. On this showing they need to go back to the drawing board and look at the act. The vocals appear to be mainly on the backing track so therefore it seems the lads are just singing in unison. If you need help ask, but please really get your act together as you obviously want to perform and have some talent but I am afraid that the show looks a bit like its been thrown together. Nice try though.

Personal Favourite of the Afternoon - The Committmentz