An Evening with Vika and Linda ~ Adelaide Cabaret Festival ~ Review

[Cabaret; Music] An Evening With Vika and Linda Dunstan Playhouse Thur 12 June There is a lot to be said for longevity and keeping good company. Vika and Linda’s storied career is well documented so tonight is a rare privilege to see them out on their own with piano accompaniment by Cameron Bruce. Though both capable lead singers in their own right, Vika as the raucous rocker and Linda as the soulful balladeer, the real magic arrives when those two voices merge. Just as Cameron’s playing sounds like more than one instrument at work, somehow when the two voices merge there is a third voice in the room. Masters of stage craft and perfect vocal technique the sisters sway in unison clearly revelling in each other’s company and talent. Slipping easily from the sound of a church choir to a blues bar band in an easy moment. It is impressive how much sound and energy is coming off the stage considering it’s coming from just one piano and two voices. Their set is a great mix from down the decades, songs written by or with their musical pals: Paul Kelly, Mark Seymour, Kasey Chambers, Joe Camilleri and the old soul standards from the likes of Nina Simone. Though they own each and every song by the sheer intensity of their interpretations, it is on their self-penned lyrical contributions where we feel their true soul shine through. Both Waiting on the Kid and Grandpa’s Song are fine examples. A brand new track, That's How I Pray, reveals something about their own spirituality; a natural flowing ocean of community, family, and real life experiences. This is what they are about and this is what makes them special in today’s auto-tuned TikTok virtual world. How lucky were the Bull family on the days Vika and Linda were born and how lucky are we to have Vika and Linda to call our own. 5 stars Peter Mciver An Evening with Vika and Linda continues until Sat 14 June at 7.30. Click HERE to purchase tickets. #The Clothesline