Vika And Linda Bull Live In Concert At The Garden Of Unearthly Delights – Adelaide Fringe Review

The Garden Of Unearthly Delights’ Aurora Spiegeltent, Fri Mar 13 Adelaide was blessed to have Vika and Linda Bull perform two vastly different shows in the space of a week. For those lucky enough to catch C.W. Stoneking at WOMADelaide last week they no doubt would have noticed the unmistakable and powerful unified force in the backing vocalists that are the Bull Sisters. The raspy voiced Stoneking combined with the charismatic and gloriously synchronised body sways of the Bull Sisters were a delight to both eyes and ears. But this Garden gig was the Bull Sisters platform to showcase songs and artists that have influenced their stylings and made them so respected amongst so many peers and fans. From Mahalia Jackson to Paul Kelly, each song is made their own and shared with passion. Vika and Linda have the ability to engender in the listener a range of emotions from joy to grief to pure sass, as with the tender Parting Song, a song in honour of their fit and active parents in their 80s, and the requests they have made of the family when the time comes of their passing. The band, as always, is comprised of exceptional musicians and highly capable vocalists in their own right; Chris Bekker (bass), Dion Hirini (guitar), and the nationally recognised drummer from RocKwiz and numerous live shows, Peter Luscombe. Gospel permeates every note, inflection and action and, I would imagine, every molecule in their being. Both sisters exude rhythm and soul in abundance and Linda Bull is one of the rare breed of vocalist that in her hands can make a tambourine or maraca an asset. No matter what musical genre these ladies sing or perform they mean it 100%. Anything less would not be honouring the music. If you ain’t religious you will believe in an almighty of some description by the end of a Vika and Linda gig – Halleluiah! Jenna Bonavita