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| Now in its ninth year, the annual Women In Voice celebration is as much an institution of the Brisbane music calendar as the Livid Festival or 4ZZZ Market Day. As one of the few WIV virgins present on opening night, I was eager to take in the experience, and from the moment Barb Fordham took the stage with a bluesy rendtion of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" which made a mockery of Public Enemy's pathetic re-working a couple of years back, it was clear I wouldn't be disappointed. |  |
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Exploring basic themes of love, loneliness and relationships, but with a selection of songs from all realms of the musical spectrum, the Women In Voice experience is an amazing journey. Each performer was as brilliant as the last, from the Gypsy stomp and emotive wailing of expatriate Russian Zulya Kamalova, who presented traditional songs from the Tatar people of Russia and some Norweigan fables, to the beautiful vocal acrobatics of George vocalist Katie Noonan (a name to watch), whose usually powerful voice was restrained in her reading of Portishead's "Glory Box". Brisbane theatre veteran Karen Crone had the crowd in stitches with her tales of a failed relationship with a mysterious man named 'Linus' (and what Croney, as she constantly referred to herself, saw in this loser is known only to her!), and also got a good sing-along response to the Cab Calloway classic "Minnie The Moocher" - though let's face it, it's not too hard to sing "Hi-de-hi-de-hi-de-hi"!
The undisputed highlight of the show was eccentric performance artist and "Diva of The Dark" Christine Johnston, whose interpretation of the life of a flower has to be seen to be believed. It takes a perfomer of real class to get away with a haunting solo on woodsaw and bow (producing sounds which make you wonder why they bothered inventing the theremin), side-by-side with "Tiptoe Through The Tulips" and "Good Vibrations". Johnston pulled it off with ease. |
| Blues veteran Lil Fi concluded proceedings with a faithful take on "History Repeating", and then all of The Women In Voice took to the stage for "Love Is All" from The Butterfly Ball (Yaaayyy!) and "What the World Needs Now Is Love Sweet Love" (though personally, I preferred Mr Bungle's version a few weeks back!). A special mention must go to the band, led by Helen Russell, who hopped across genres like it was second nature. All in all, a top night out, and a must-see for any serious music lover. ~Kris Swales~ Women In Voice 9 is playing at the Princess Theatre from 8pm every night until May 20. |
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