Reviewed by David O’Brien
Cabaret Festival. Dunstan Playhouse. 17 June 2022
Louise Blackwell is a well known musical Francophile around Adelaide’s live scene. Partnered with her exquisite band The French Set, Blackwell has extolled the joys of French song to live music lovers with great, committed passion.
Review by Matthew Hocter
Growing up with European Grandparents that were not only from different parts of Europe themselves, but also both multi lingual, meant that diversity was a mainstay in our household whether we liked it or not. From these differences, ‘diversity’ as we now refer to it, came with an incredible amount of music, food and of course conversation.
Read More→Reviewed by Peter Wilkins
It is both regrettable and cause to be thankful that many of the acts at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival are one night stands. Regrettable because of the high quality of the performers who are able to be seen for only one performance, and cause to be thankful that audiences are given the opportunity to experience the best cabaret talent in the country, and in South Australia especially. Adelaide born Louise Blackwell’s tribute to French chanteuse Juliette Greco is a perfect case in point. In Love on the Left Bank Blackwell expertly and stylishly segues from accounts of Grecos remarkable life to the songs that gave her the title of Le Muse de existentialisme. “I don’t even know what that means” she would say.
Read More→The Chamber, THE QUEENS, Domain Theatre, Marion Cultural Centre and Saint John’s Anglican Church Until March 20
Paris is out of reach but don’t worry. Adelaide is the other City of Light, and Louise Blackwell is the ideal guide. She’s cool, stylish and whimsical and she knows her way around French song.
Eleven songs, interspersed with anecdotes of the singers and songwriters, and her time living in Paris, created unforgettable moments in the uncabaret setting of an Anglican church filled with sunlight, not the smoky and seductive atmosphere of a Montmartre cafe.
Songs of Greco, Ferre, Brassens and the obligatory Piaf, Mon Manege a Moi, were side by side by lesser known but equally enticing artists. Her Brel, Chanson des Vieux Amants, was absolutely magical.
Her backing band the French Set is worth the price of admission alone: four of our finest musicians.
Awarded the The Advertiser 2021 ‘Pick of the Fringe’ for Music
Here is a review for A Night in Paris at the 2019 Adelaide Fringe…
And here’s one for 2019 Fringe also The Clothesline
