UK Theatre Network

Kiki Dee & Carmelo Luggeri: An Acoustic Experience

The Customs House, South Shields

Kiki Dee may never escape the legacy of her 1976 chart-topping duet with Elton John, ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ but, nevertheless, she is a singer-songwriter whose contribution to the music industry cannot - and must not - be underestimated.

Her latest acoustic concert demonstrates the versatility and integrity of an artist who, despite the fact that she no longer sells-out vast arena’s, still has much to offer an industry that is becoming ever-more formulaic and increasingly driven by commercial success rather than creativity and talent.

The concert combines a mixture of Dee’s own material, hits from her back catalogue and collaborations with her musical partner and producer, Carmelo Luggeri, from their two most recent albums – ‘Where Rivers Meet’ and ‘Walk of Faith’ – with stunning cover versions of hits by artists including The Lotus Eaters (The First Picture of You) Frank Sinatra (A Very Good Year), Buddy Holly (True Love Ways) and Kate Bush (Running Up That Hill). The result is an intimate evening that encompasses pop, soul, ballads, swing and rock.

 Of course, many in the audience secretly yearned for Dee to perform the classics that cemented her status as a star performer, such as the sensuously beautiful ‘Amoureuse’, ‘I Got The Music In Me’ and, of course, ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’. When she did, they were rapturously received.

However, Kiki Dee has constantly developed and moved on and this is reflected in her more recent, though lesser-known compositions. Numbers including Everybody Falls (Habit of a Lifetime), ‘Like Nobody’s Child’ and ‘Soul Man’ certainly have the potential to be hits – if only they were given the radio playtime.

Dee does not need to hide her sensational voice behind the might of a full orchestra and, instead, relies on only the backing of Carmelo Luggeri’s guitar, her own keyboard and the vocals of Annabel Lamb.

Kiki’s ‘acoustic experience’ is one that, for all the right reasons, will linger long in my memory. Truly Terrific.

Steve Burbridge.