Adelaide Songs: A Thoroughly Enjoyable Romp Through Adelaide’s History ~ Adelaide Fringe 2019 Review

[MUSIC/CABARET ~ SA] La Bohème , Thu 28 Feb. The Adelaide Songs project has been created by HATS Inc., a group of people interested in History, Culture and the Arts. A talented group of musicians and songwriters have gathered under this banner and been presenting Adelaide Songs for a number of years now, the group membership has changed over time, suffice it to say that the band and songs presented this year the Fringe are first rate! Keith Preston, Paul Roberts, Alan Hartley and Paula Standing are the main songwriters and vocalists, backed by Satomi Ohnishi (percussion) and Ashley Turner (violin) – backing talent to make anything sound like gold! Songs come from the history of South Australia, its characters and places, as well as events (such as Festival Overload). Adelaide Songs provides a positive, but multifaceted view of this fair city and there's no question of the quality nor the variety of the songs. Further, it’s clear that these songs matter to the writers and singers. There were a few moments when the sound engineer could have done a little better (a little feedback, a mic stand that needed to be tightened and some vocals that would have been heard more clearly had the main vocalist been up a little in the mix – a trap when who is lead vocalist changes often every song!). I particularly enjoyed the Colonel Light song, and that about Marcus Clarke's bank being able to help anybody do almost anything – with extravagance and who can resist the ballad of the very colourful Stormy Summers being evicted by the Star Force – excessive force you say? A thoroughly enjoyable romp through Adelaide that was clearly enjoyed by the audience, young, old, Anglo and not – great value and quite multi-culturally friendly! 4 stars Clayton Werner Adelaide Songs continues at La Bohème from 6pm until Sun 3 Mar. Book at FringeTIX on 1300 621 255 or adelaidefringe.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets. #ADLfringe