Review – The Magnets: All This Time
You know you’re in for an entertaining hour when an a capella group opens their performance with Acca Dacca’s “Long Way To The Top”, with drums, base and the works with not a single instrument in sight. The Magnets are a six-piece group from the UK with thirty years of experience behind them. The show is choreographed by the base Fraser Collins (who can also sing, by the way) and includes the vocal stylings of beat-boxer Andrew Frost on percussion, with lead-singing cycling between Nicolas Doodson, Michael Welton, Callum McIntosh and Stephen Trowell.
The show was sharp and tightly set up, with singing and dancing and of course smooth vocals. The set included songs from the group’s own albums as well as some crowd favourites from the era of jazz and big band. But they also delved into the current top 20, including one of my favourites, “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, which got feet tapping, hands clapping and got the brave to fill the aisles with dancing. Audience participation was always encouraged, and almost everyone participated enthusiastically. Things to look out for (in my humble opinion) are the beat-boxing solo by Andrew close to the end, which will leave you wondering where those sounds come from, and the grand finale, where you will never know what modern Aussie songs will get included in the final medley.
All in all, this was a wonderful show with beautifully sung melodies. If you’re looking for an hour of family friendly entertainment with no musical instruments, no foul language and definitely no male nudity, then The Magnets is a group not to miss this year.
