Greg Holstead, Author at North West End UK

Back to Black: The Music of Amy Winehouse – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

15Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Back to Black: The Music of Amy Winehouse – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

A fantastic night of Jazz and neo-soul from singer Reine Beau who inhabited Amy Winehouse down to the last growl. There is nothing so enjoyable than watching an expert singer purring along, completely in her comfort zone and with plenty left under the bonnet if she needs it. In what was one of their first, and most well-travelled shows the winning Night Owl docu-style formula works really well with Beau filling in the blanks and video and audio clips from Winehouse’s back story. There is also the superb musicianship of the Night Owl band, who are as usual fantastic and note perfect. No more so than Luke Cunningham jazzing it up in fine style on the keys. A whistle stop tour through the Winehouse back catalogue in less than an hour, we hear the classics, Me and Mr Jones, Tears...

Baby Wants Candy – Assembly George Square Studios

14Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Baby Wants Candy – Assembly George Square Studios

The concept of this, from the group that also produces Shamilton earlier in the day, is to take shouted audience suggestions and to create a hilarious comedy musical on the spot. When I visited, Mimi Todd and Dear Euan McGregor were considered, but the clear winner on the shoutometer was Barbies of The Galaxy – the Musical. And I grudgingly have to admit that it was pretty damn amazing what they came up with. A funny, quirky, catchy musical with some inspired choreography, amazing music, great singing. It was a bit like watching a very early workshop run of a comedy musical that a comedy musical genius has been working on, in his garage, for the last six months. That’s the kinda vibe we are talking about. How?? This is a fickle thing, a show that one night might produce a one sta...

The Blondie Story – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

14Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

The Blondie Story – The Space @ Surgeons Hall

Comparison is the reviewer’s critical tool, and at 35 shows into the Fringe of 2023, it is only getting sharper! In the world of good, better, best, this one is good but could be better. And ironically, front singer Reine Beau might well be the first one to stand up and agree. In this brand new show, the winning Night Owl docu-style formula works really well with video and audio clips from Blondie’s back story throwing new light on areas that even die-hard fans might be surprised to see and hear. There is also the superb musicianship of the Night Owl band, who are as usual fantastic and note perfect. What works less well is Beau straining at times to reach the intensity and high notes of the new age Punk sensation that was Debbie Harry. Less than half way through the run I rea...

IMA (pray) – Assembly, Murrayfield Ice Rink

14Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

IMA (pray) – Assembly, Murrayfield Ice Rink

Hungarian group Recirquel Cirque Danse led by Bence Vagi bring this highly unusual aerial gymnastic show, to the equally unusual venue of Murrayfield Ice Rink. No ice here but this is certainly a pretty cool show, as evidenced by my two teenaged children who were simply blown away. Operating as six individual performers each with one solo performance per day at times ranging between 12:00 noon till 19:30. We signed up to the 16:30 performance, which featured artist Renato Ille’s, who gave a simply stunning performance, combining dance and aerial gymnastics, not to mention extreme strength, set within a light and sound experience that takes your breath away. As to the ‘performance’ itself, no spoilers here, suffice to say that it was an emotional almost religious experience wit...

Lady Blackbird – Festival Theatre – Edinburgh International Festival

14Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Lady Blackbird – Festival Theatre – Edinburgh International Festival

Ending her three week long debut album Black Acid Soul tour, LA-based Lady Blackbird, AKA Marley Munroe, brought it home in fine style at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre tonight cheered on by a packed crowd of adoring fans. On what was her first visit to the Capital, and hopeful not her last, it was clearly an emotional moment for the artist and her band as the evening came to a climactic end with tears and a group hug on stage. And why not, it has been a long time coming, as she reached out her hand to the crowd she explained, ‘I’m closing one of the most incredible chapters in my life’. The set list is made up of many of the tracks from Black Acid Soul, released in 2021. The concert features jazz covers such as Blackbird, which Monroe took as her stage name, and also some folk covers alo...

The Aretha Franklin Story – The Space @ Symposium Hall

14Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

The Aretha Franklin Story – The Space @ Symposium Hall

Cleopatra Higgins of 90s girl group Cleopatra, is probably as much of a draw for this one as fans looking for the back story to Aretha Franklin. They both come together brilliantly in this short musical programme. There is no doubting the quality of Higgins’ performance as she takes us through the hits of the undisputed Queen of Soul, with high energy versions of Think, Natural Women and Respect. Likewise, there is the brilliant Night Owl band behind her, pretty much note perfect. Producing no less than 11 shows at Edinburgh Fringe this year, the Night Owl formula is fast becoming a Fringe staple. You can take your pick, with shows ranging from Fleetwood Mac to Amy Winehouse and Blondie, and many already sold out. Cleopatra is also on later in the day in The Whitney Houston Story...

Picasso: Le Monstre Sacre – Assembly Roxy

14Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Picasso: Le Monstre Sacre – Assembly Roxy

Guy Masterton’s name attached to any Fringe production usually guarantees quality and this piece is no exception. Brilliantly acted by Peter Tate, who is electrifyingly terrifying as the human Minotaur Pablo Picasso. One cannot love the Minotaur, and live, Tate portrays the Infamous womaniser as the ultimate home fatale, as he crawls from needy journalist to idolising art student, all looking for a part of him that he is more than willing to give, for a price. Tate starts the show astride a paint-splashed ladder, at the top of his game, later in his life, looking out intently at a single spotlight, the sun. Behind and around him a muslin cloth hangs limply to the floor from a high semi-circlular rail, his canvas, but also the thin veil that surrounds his boudoir, the spiders lair, to...

12Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

As Far As Impossible – Lyceum Theatre

The stage is set with a giant white cloth, held up in places by cables and pulleys. It looks like snow covered mountains, peaceful and serene. This is what ‘the impossible’ looks like from far away. Like a picture postcard. But look closer. Four actors of different nationalities and a drummer combine at various times under, in or in front of the vast cloth structure, which is raised, dropped, illuminated in various ways. This is a land that most of us do not know of, or ignore, or just wish were not there. But it is. A land visited by aid workers and humanitarians, at least for as long as their sanity can stand it. In the face of civil war, genocide, mass killings how long can anyone’s mind last before cracking apart? And yet, incredibly, some are drawn back again and again to the...

Dusk: A Bite-Size Love Story – Greenside @ Infirmary Street

12Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Dusk: A Bite-Size Love Story – Greenside @ Infirmary Street

Congrats should go the PR team of Dusk, I guess, for making this production a complete sell-out, (this early?!) via the viral wonders of Tik Tok, whatever that is! But is it any good? Well, yes and no. Firstly, I must profess to being a 50+ man, knowing absolutely nothing about the show Twilight upon which this is based, never watched a single episode, but with an open mind I take a seat amongst the 20-something sea of hormones. Feeling very much like an old cod. Missing every reference, every in-joke, every internet discussion group thread meant that the audience were in howls of laughter around me. And well, I wasn’t. However, I have to say, I was blown away by the sheer energy and commitment of this large cast but in particular by the performance of Eva-Marie Blaire as B...

Sunshine on Leith – Assembly Rooms, Bijou (tent) George Street

12Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Sunshine on Leith – Assembly Rooms, Bijou (tent) George Street

Set in the inspired venue choice of a giant tent on George Street, Captivate Theatre bring this breezy and lively musical which can easily cope with some background street chatter. In fact, it fits right in (as if it’s meant) to many of scenes; in the pub, on the football terraces or in the hospital. And as for the lighting techie! It took me a while to realise that we were at nature’s mercy, and miraculously it seemed that the light rose and fell at all the right points. Behind a cloud for the sad scenes and full sun for the bright ones. Miraculous! To the wonderful music and lyrics of Scotland’s finest, The Proclaimers, Scottish Country (without the Western), we follow two likely lads, Ally and Davy, discharged from the army and returning home to Edinburgh (no, Leith!) to try to carve...