Lulu

No doubt about it, Lulu should be up there among the greatest British rock vocalists. Six decades into her career and going strong. Somehow, though, her star never seems to shine as brightly as some of her male counterparts who rose to fame during the same era. Is it because she has allowed her career to be guided often by the agenda of other people? Maybe there was a penalty for moving into the entertainment business so early in life? Maybe it was Saturday evening entertainment? However, there is absolutely no doubt who is in charge these days and she is a miracle of survival in a challenging business.

After a couple of warm-up acts (singer/songwriter Chloe Reynolds followed by the very able and entertaining singer/guitarist Darren Hodson from Lulu's live band) the band came on and played an "overture". After what felt like a long build-up, Lulu took the stage in red and black, with trademark trilby and dark glasses, which she kept on for the first couple of songs. It was only after losing the glasses that she seemed to begin to communicate with the audience. At first she seemed apprehensive, but she did eventually relax into the show.

It is great to see her working with a band. It is something she should have done long, long ago. She looks and sounds amazing and, even though she has had to learn to pace herself, she gave full value for money on Saturday night to the capacity crowd in Norwich. It is also a delight to see her taking pride in the discovery that she can write her own material and she featured a number of her own songs from her 2015 album, "Making Life Rhyme" where all but one of the songs carry a credit to Lulu Kennedy-Cairns and her brother, Billy Lawrie. For me, her own songs were the most interesting part of the evening.

Lulu included well-known songs from throughout her career - among them To Sir With Love, The Man Who Sold The World, The Boat That I Row, The Man With The Golden Gun, Relight My Fire and, of course, Shout - and she shared stories from her life over the past fifty-plus years. There was an extended tribute to the Bee Gees in the second half of the show (she was, of course, once married to Maurice Gibb) and shared some interesting insights into the way the Gibb Brothers worked together.

Seeing Lulu tonight was the conclusion of unfinished business. The first and only other time I saw her perform was when she opened for The Monkees at The Empire Pool, Wembley in 1967 - wow, was that really fifty years ago? I barely heard a note she sang that night above the screaming of the crowd. I have always had a feeling that Lulu could hold her own with any rock band, and would love to see her blitz the stage with a gang of sweaty, bluesy rockers. Trying to put my personal fantasies aside for a moment it too often feels as though she plays safe. She shows a commendable a loyalty to her mainstream past and audience and has a competent band of musicians onstage with her, but I can't throw off the feeling there could have been, (and maybe still could be?) so much more. Having confessed that, if you have ever enjoyed any of Lulu's work go and see her. You will have a great night. She is still completely fabulous and, although she of all people has surely earned the right, there does not appear to be an ounce of diva in her.

WE-E-E-E-E-EEEEELLLLLLLL. What can you say about Lulu's live show? Nowadays, it involves a lot less shouting and far more matured blue-eyed soul and pop music. The Scottish songstress and Eurovision winner has enjoyed a decade spanning career all on the back of one major hit and despite this track losing its appeal almost immediately after it was released, Lulu has managed to drag fifty years of fame from it.

If you actually look at her discography, you realise she has no real original hits due to never being a songwriter so tonight she performs a variety of covers by far more iconic artists including Tina Turner and The Beatles. She has very little vocal range though so most of these fall flat yet the audience applaud partly out of embarrassment for the upbeat Scot. When it gets around to performing the unrelenting 'Shout' Lulu seems to be the only person genuinely enthused whereas everybody else seem slightly bemused at best. The one thing a Lulu gig does offer is an answer to the age old proverb, how long can you flog a dead horse? According to Lulu its 51 years and counting

Lulu is a pop singer who's rocked everyone's lives for a very long time. She is classified as pop and pop rock music, which gives her a big crowd to please. From the 1960's until the late 2000's Lulu has proved to keep going with life and entertain everyone. She has fully adapted to the changes across the years and has had fans stick with her from the beginning, and also picked up quite a few fans along the way. She still continues to gain new lovers of her music today as well.

Her venues range from anything to simple to extravagant and her music gets everyone in a great pumped up mood. She has a few blues songs, but with her catchy voice and tone, it picks you up instead of pulling you down. Her visuals are great, no matter what her age is, she has proven to give a beautiful performance.

Her voice has not changed much throughout the years, she has only adapted her songs and beat to the current time of the ages. She has proven that no matter how old you are you can still sing and give people a wonderful experience live, no matter what the age you are either!

First a mention for a young Christian singer/songwriter/instrumentalist, Chloe Reynolds who opened the show with a short set gleaned from two of her self-funded albums (I Am Brave and Broken Beautiful).
A great young talent who is a real wordsmith. Songs full of pain and redemption, worthy of an old blues player old enough to be her grandfather. Don't arrive late and miss her!
The main course?
Take a sassy Glasgow girl on her (gentlemen don't tell) birthday; add a multinational cast of very energetic and talented musicians/vocalists (2 X lead/acoustic guitarists, 2 X keyboards, funky bass and drums), stir in hits, heartaches (yes, the Bee Gees are in there) and a moving tribute to the recently departed Tom Petty (Stop Draggin' My Heart Around - in case you were wondering) and you get some show.
Shout? You bet. The whole audience did!
Treat yourself - you deserve it.

The lady opened with a rousing rendition of “Shout” and filled the venue with life, love and song for 2 hours. Her catalogue is amazing: The Boat That I Row; To Sir With Love; The Man With The Golden Gun; The First of May; To Love Somebody; Independence; Where The Poor Boys Dance; Relight My Fire... all this and more brought the audience to their feet in joyous dancing.

If Lulu is coming up for 71, then I must be a Chinaman. (I’m not!) She danced across the stage like a 30-year-old and sounded better than ever. There has never been a British singer who could out-perform this great artiste. Don’t miss out!

Absolutely fantastic show. Lulu was great - she sang many of her greatest hits, as well as some new material and well selected covers. The Southern Companion was also a wonderful warm up act. Enjoyed every minute of it.

Lulu was great - however the venue wasnt (apex bury). It was cold and the sound was distorted. Lulu came on in the second half wearing fur. When she was relaating stories only a third or so was intelligible...

Absolutely brilliant concert with Lulu sounding better than ever. Lulu and her band were just so professional and great fun. Loved the way the concert was structured with Lulu being on in both halfs.