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Brighton Goes Gospel Choir’s performance was absolutely outstanding. In a period of just 14 weeks, they have managed to create something so sensational, and I, luckily, was there to witness it. With a fabulous choir director, a fabulous band, and fabulous, talented gospel singers, this gospel choir were professional and clearly hard working. The audience were invited to join in, and boy we did; swaying in the aisles to Bob Marley, and momentarily silenced at an incredible performance of ‘Amazing Grace’. This was a rare night where you know you had witnessed something truly great and special, and felt inspired to join; my next port of call. I would advise anyone, one hundred and ten per cent, to not miss out on Brighton Goes Gospel Choir’s next performance.

21 May, Hove Town Hall

5/5

Laura Hayward

Candlelit tables in the characteristic Iambic Arts Theatre, a glass of red wine, and three talented jazz musicians: Saturday night doesn’t get much better. The atmosphere was just incredible, with people’s eyes glued to the talented Magdalena Reising. Her voice is beautiful and unique, and the compositions of the music (with Magdalena on harp and singing, the fabulous Terry Seabrook on piano and the wonderful Steve Thompson on double bass) touched something, somewhere, for everyone, I am sure. I left feeling relaxed and incredibly happy.

28 May, Iambic Arts Theatre

4/5

Laura Hayward

The final weekend at this year’s Festival saw a few dazzling opening-air spectacles and this piece of aerial theatre in the naturally stunning Wild Park was perhaps the most memorable. The Wired production company paired a tilting, crane-controlled stage (which would later turn completely on its side  to become a screen for projections) with a harsh ecological message to striking effect. Aerial dancers, dangling by wires, interacted with images of storms and nightmare as their bureaucratic world tumbled; though occasionally over-earnest with its clunky message, the image of one of Brighton’s most deprived areas transformed into living, otherworldly art felt truly unique.

Wild Park, Moulescoomb
Saturday 28 May,

Rating:
Nick Aldwinckle

This gig failed to reach the high standards we’ve come to expect from the Brighton Beach Boys. The first-half performance of lead singer Glen Richardson’s own material failed to energise the crowd, and created a sombre atmosphere that was never really overcome. Things picked up a little for the second-half rendition of The Beatles seminal final album, but the material felt less rehearsed and polished than the band’s previous outings.

The show’s highlights, including an engrossing version of ‘She’s So Heavy’ and a faultless, extended two man drum solo in ‘The End’, were overshadowed by poor
sound-mixing and a lack of gusto throughout the rest of the set. It was an admirable effort nonetheless, and I sincerely hope they give this album another airing in the future to give it the quality performance it deserves.

St. George’s Church, 27 May
Rating:
Adam Lindsay