‘My name is Groove Terminator, and this is History of House’.
And with that, GT and the (five-time Grammy winning) Soweto Gospel Choir treated their eager crowd to 90 minutes of incredible music, phenomenal beats and pure, unadulterated joy. Superstars in their own right and comprising some seriously impressive talent from a combination of 16-strong performers, the audience was taken on a journey through house, disco, funk, soul, pop, freedom anthems, world music and some latter-day bangers. GT and the Choir threw their hearts and souls into the performance, spanning four decades and including classics from artists such as Donna Summer and Le Freak, through to the synth pop of the 1980s, the peak of 1990s house, early 2000s tracks, and into crowd favourites such as Everybody’s Free and You Don’t Know Me.
This high-energy, breathtaking set showcased impressive vocalists, dance moves and musicians. Melding traditional African drum beats with gospel, funk and freedom, the Choir delighted the audience, with highlights including their very own version of Good Life, the driving rhythms of Madan, and an unexpected and beautiful performance of Yothu Yindi’s Treaty. The performance was sheer perfection from the opening track to the last strains.
History of House captured the sound, memories and atmosphere of generations, spanning decades, showcasing incredible musical talent and thumping tunes. With our fists in the air, MLK on screen and hearts full of hope and house music, History of House is a transformative, unmissable foray into musical perfection.
Leila Hallak-Low