23 June 2018 11:03 AM
Once again HH’s intrepid reporting team made the annual pilgrimage down Cricketfield Lane to the Big Gig at Horsham Sports Club. Horsham`s premier family live music event goes from strength to strength and the line-up did not disappoint.
Hosted by Horsham’s own Newsagent Provocateur John O’Sullivan the crowd were treated to five great tribute/covers acts interspersed with comic interactions which made the afternoon - as did the Prosecco, Pimms and Beer.
Keeping with the local connection the first act up were Flairz, acclaimed and seasoned 70s and Glam Rock performers, knocking out hit after hit from Abba, T.Rex, Sweet, Mud, The Bay City Rollers, Suzi Quattro in their own unique style. With many tracks seamlessly linked together Flairz did not disappoint. A great start to a great afternoon.
Next up were A Touch of Little Mix. Great dance moves and a polished performance as these four girls packed the grass dancefloor with kids and grown-ups alike. Frenetic routines and hit after hit including Salute, Black Magic, Wings and Shout Out to my Ex kept the crowd going as the skies threatened to open but just about held back. A Touch of Little Mix are surely the next best thing to the real girls.
Michael Jackson tribute act Forever Jackson took to the stage next. A great tribute to the man himself, Forever Jackson wowed the crowd with many of Jackson`s finest tracks including Wanna Be starting Something, Black or White, Smooth Criminal as well as some Jackson classics including a sublime performance of I’ll be There and of course Thriller. A great tribute to a legend.
The penultimate act of the evening as last year were the superb Blunter Brothers. With a career of decades dedicated to funk and soul, the Blunters funked the field once again. Beats and basslines designed to make the feet move, a horn section bigger than most bands and fantastic all round musicianship and vocals, make the Blunters top of their game. Stevie Wonder, James Brown and the JB’s, Wild Cherry, Curtis Mayfield and Bruno Mars/Mark Ronson were among a blistering Funky Set. If ,in the unlikely event you haven’t seen this band, you really have to do so. Well done guys and girls – Another Funking Blinder.
Closing the show were Queen Tribute Act Pure Magic (pictured). Another fantastic blast from the past, the four piece performed timeless tracks including Somebody To Love, I Want To Break Free, Don’t Stop Me Now and Under Pressure. With great stage presence and authenticity Pure Magic more than did justice to this great British rock institution. If you like Queen as much as we do these guys are a must see - A wonderful end to a lovely day.
Even the weather just about held out with nothing more than a couple of very brief light showers and John kept the fun going in between sets, spending most of his time in the audience and around the site generally making mischief. He managed to keep it just about clean enough for a family event. He did a 4 minute tour of the many food and refreshment stands, and even the toilet facilities (which thanks to the organisers much improved on last year`s queues), and he culminated in shenanigans on a mobility scooter (possibly not the kind he would really like, but this was a family show).
All round a superb afternoon out and the HH team cannot wait for next year`s event
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