The Ipswich Regent got its nostalgia kicks on Saturday night after a sterling performance from Birmingham legend comedian Jasper Carrott and his friends, the Bev Bevan band.
It seems the Stand Up and Rock tour has hit on a good thing – with the perfect blend of a half-an-hour of vintage Carrott followed by an ensemble who can belt out rock-n-roll favourites with ease.
The much-loved stand up opened the show with the flawless timing of an entertainer whose been performing for nearly five decades. Obviously Ipswich’s recent match against Birmingham City FC was on the agenda and Carrot started the show with a pop at the referee – all in good humour of course.
With a large back catalogue to draw upon he rolled through the troubles of getting old, fast food and the internet. There was not a polite chuckle to be heard; instead the walls of the Regent echoed a roar of belly laughs and applause.
The Bev Bevan Band and guests tapped out popular 60s numbers with a smooth 4/4 back beat from Bevan on drums. The lead singer from Rockin’ Berries, Geoff Turton, supplied more laughs and got the audience moving with classics from The Beatles and The Righteous Brothers.
On vocals as well was Joy Strachan-Brain from Celtic band Quill, who delivered an eye-popping Tina Turner rendition and Abby Brant, on keyboard, whose powerful vocals did I Heard It Through the Grapevine justice.
The show finished on a high-note with the audience greeting ELO’s Don’t Bring Me Down with a well-deserved standing ovation.
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