FIFTY+SA Arts Reviewer, Dr Diana Carroll, reviews the fabulous feel-good fun, The 60 Four: Living in the ‘70s, at Adelaide Fringe.
February 20, 2024
·by Dr Diana Carroll
 
The 60 Four: Living in the ‘70s is a fabulous feel-good show celebrating all those classic songs from an era we know and love. The four singers – Ben Francis, Lachlan Williams, Jack Conroy and Finnegan Green – give it all they’ve got as they sing and dance their way through so many of the all-time greatest hits. This really was a golden era for pop music, even if it was about thirty years before these boys were born. Their passion and dedication shines through in every song and every synchronised dance move.

The show celebrates many global superstars of the time, including The Bee Gees, Elton John, Abba, and The Beatles. And yes, Australian rockers are in there too. Skyhooks’ anthemic Living in the Seventies is up there near the top of the set, alongside other great Aussie hits of the time such as John Paul Young’s Love is in the Air, Sherbet’s Howzat, and the iconic Eagle Rock. They were joined on stage by a brilliant 9-piece band who added plenty of bass and brass to the songs.

It was a hot, steamy evening in The Flamingo but the boys kept up the enthusiasm and encouraged the audience to dance in the aisles – not that this adoring audience needed much encouragement!

The 60 Four really are a brilliant local success story. The four original members were school mates who were inspired by their Scotch College music teacher Michael Griffiths – who coincidentally has his own show in the Fringe. Griffiths was already an accomplished star of cabaret and musical theatre.

From their early days of playing small 40-seat venues to filling the 900-seat Flamingo, it’s been an amazing musical journey. Led by vocalist and musical director Ben Francis, the current line-up work beautifully together with great harmonies and just enough cheeky humour to charm the audience, comprised mainly of ladies of a certain age – this was our music and we love it!

The 60 Four have been dubbed ‘Australia’s greatest tribute band’ and it’s an accolade they absolutely deserve. This really is a show of non-stop pop classics and feel-good fun. They look good, they sound good, and they love what they do – you really can’t ask for more!

Living in the ‘70s played at The Flamingo, Gluttony Feb 16 – 18. The 60 Four are now touring with dates in Noarlunga, Elizabeth, Norwood, Port Pirie, Renmark and Whyalla from Feb 24 – March 23.

 adelaidefringe.com.au