Kick it back to the 1980s with Retro FM! Let the outstandingly talented cast of 10 singers amaze you with the perfect blend of smooth vocals, sound harmonies, and side-tickling comedy between songs. The concept of the show itself is giving classic Australian 80s rock songs a facelift, performing them as acapella covers. And surely it can’t be easy transforming a killer rock song into an acapella arrangement, right? Well, thanks to the arranger in residence and singer Christopher Koop, audiences are sure to be impressed with the show!
But singing for an hour isn’t easy, nor is it forgiving for any performer’s vocal cords. As such, breaks between songs give audiences the opportunity to truly tune out the world and tune in to Retro FM, hosted by the characters “Tit and Tw*t” and featuring special guests like love doctor Kenneth. Doing so immerses the crowd in the show, allowing the songs to bring them back to moments of their lives lost to time. The show brought me back to primary school, getting stuck in the bumper-to-bumper traffic of the after-school rush and jamming out to anything 80s in the back seat of the car. These breaks also establish a great balance to the performance’s pacing, allowing for great laughs at characters like a caller in Hi-Vis requesting Australian Crawl’s “Beautiful People” on his cigarette break.
Having an opportunity to speak to producer, director, and singer Ryan O’Dea, musical director, marketing coordinator and singer John Khammash, and singer Lachlan McGuinness, was an outright honour. Not only does their talent really shine through in the performance itself, but they are truly remarkable people outside of the show. When asking about the inspiration behind choosing the time of the 1980s and the genre of rock, the three performers noted that this was the music they all grew up listening to. Whether it was Darrel Braithwaite, Men at Work, Air Supply, Mondo Rock or other artists, the show provides a great variety of music and caters for different tastes within the Rock genre.
Although the typical target audience may be an older generation, the singers perform timeless hits that resonate with all audiences regardless of age or background. You can’t help but bob your head or clap along to the singers’ perfect harmonies, not a single note out of place and every voice in tune. All singers in Retro FM have great energy and interact really well with the crowd, standing as role models of what all performers should be striving for on stage. With a few shows left, get your tickets now and tune in to Retro FM before they’re off the air!