Review – Thank You For The Music – Tunbridge Wells

 

Million-selling hit follows million-selling hit as the world’s longest-running tribute show to the Bee Gees and Abba takes to the stage at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells. Thank You For The Music is now in its 23rd year, but their sound is just as fresh today as it ever was.

The first half of the show features the mega-hits of the amazing Bee Gees. Early hits like Massachusetts, I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You, To Love Somebody sit well alongside their later hits like How Deep is Your Love and You Win Again. Their authentic impersonation of the Gibb Brothers’ falsetto also helps to re-ignite the disco groove with You Should Be Dancing, Stayin’ Alive, Jive Talking and, of course, Night Fever.

As well as their own tremendous back-catologue of hits we also get to hear some of the million sellers penned by the Bee Gees for other artists including Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers superb Islands in the Stream and Tavares hit from the soundtrack of Saturday Night Fever, More Than A Woman.

After the break, two of the members of the Bee Gees return, after a quick makeover, as Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus and, joined by their versions of Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, the parade of the hit songs of ABBA begins.

With a set list that includes Super Trouper, Waterloo, Mamma Mia, Thank You for the Music, Knowing Me Knowing You, Lay All Your Love On Me, Honey Honey, Ring Ring, Mamma Mia, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme and, of course, Dancing Queen, the audience spends much more time dancing than sitting, and there is a real party atmosphere throughout the performance.

Although the backing music is mainly pre-recorded, the vocals are sharp and, with the amazing songs that they get to perform, the audience love every second and, as the curtain falls on the evening, they can still be heard screaming for more.

***                 Three Stars

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