THE ‘SWEETHEARTS OF SONG’ WOWED AUDIENCES WITH A ‘JOURNEY FROM ANDREWS SISTERS TO ABBA’ IN IPSWICH, FOREST HILL AND KUMBIA

Enthusiasm has been likened to an electric eel in a pool of catfish and based on the recent energising reactions by audiences at ‘Studio 188’ in Ipswich and the Memorial Halls in Forest Hill and Kumbia, the Sweethearts of Song were, in each venue, certainly swimming in that pool!  Fired with expectant fervour, these audiences were lifted both physically and emotionally throughout the dynamic performances by the Sweethearts and by the end, were calling for more.  

It was in recognition of the signing of the Armistice 100 years ago, that the Sweethearts, sparkling in sophisticated black, set the mood with a montage of Andrews Sisters’ upbeat favourites and other reflective songs from the 20s and 30s.  With the ever-reliable Tom Byrne at the audio controls, pushing all the right buttons to allow the show to flow, the girls Boogie Woogied, Chattttanooga’d, and positively absolutely put smiles on faces with their sentimental journey through the war years.

A quick change into more casual accoutrement set the tone for a deflection to some of the well- known and loved songs from the 50s and 60s.  The Pony Tails, Eydie Gorme, Dusty Springfield to name but a few and a tribute to the sorely snubbed girl group, The Mermaids whose name and their sublime harmonies in Popsicles and Icicles will continue to live on through the Sweethearts of Song. However, when it comes to expressing one’s self through song there is no one quite like the late, great Aretha Franklin and through Maree at the microphone and Kathie, Carolyn and Susie lending their harmonies, the ‘Queen of Soul’s’ powerful electric sounds continued to ignite audiences.

What would be the 60s without an appearance by the iconic Sony and Cher whose relationship tended to dominate the era…one way or another; and who better than Kathie and Maree in full ‘boho’ disguise, to pull it off with arguably the couple’s greatest hit, I Got You, Babe?

He was supposed to be the ‘extra’ allowing for audience entertainment during costume changes.  However, the only thing ‘extra’ about Peter Edward aka, ‘Pete the Plummer’ is his extra-ordinary talent.  Beloved by audiences in the Somerset Region and beyond and becoming a bit of a regular at Sweetheart’s performances, Pete again had concert goers swooning with his many voices, the likes of Rod Stewart, Elvis Presley, Engelbert Humperdinck, the sounds of Axiom, and a ‘smokin’’collaboration with the Sweethearts of the ’Chris Norman/Suzi Quatro, Stumblin’ In.

In a timely celebration of the sounds of ABBA, the Sweethearts of Song, for their finale, bounded onto the stage in a vision of blue and white to take the audiences back to that time, fondly remembered, with their visually dazzling, lively performances.  With plenty of crowd participation, the concert concluded with the dance-floor hits, Mumma Mia and Dancing Queen, leaving audiences begging for more and a celebration of song which will long be remembered.