Wednesday 02 February, 2022

Fabio, Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra


After over 20 + years attending concerts at the Royal Festival Hall, there has never been anything like this experience. The merging of the history of Drum and Bass into an orchestral concert space, with the addition of the Outlook Orchestra is a stroke of genius and ‘audience today’ programming. Picture a festival and club […]


After over 20 + years attending concerts at the Royal Festival Hall, there has never been anything like this experience. The merging of the history of Drum and Bass into an orchestral concert space, with the addition of the Outlook Orchestra is a stroke of genius and ‘audience today’ programming.

Picture a festival and club like atmosphere in a seated concert space, filled with people who were in prime position when the Jungle scene birthed in the early 90s onwards. Proper "old school ravers" attended this event, forging a new energy to a more settled and observational way of enjoying music..the audience of the concert hall is evolving.

The show contained something for everyone who experienced Jungle/Drum and Bass music throughout the last 30 ish years. The sound has stayed with us and evolved, Jungle to Drum and Bass, and touched every generation since its origins. It is the nucleus of Grime style music.

When the concert 'took off' many tried to firm their position in their seats, but it lasted a couple of minutes. Who can 'watch' a history of Jungle music mixed by Fabio and Grooverider with live instruments and be seated?

The visuals, enveloping innovation backing up the music perfectly.
Lighting beamed the best possible dance style design, limited by the hall's existing set up.
The Outlook Orchestra showed their immense talent.
The Conductor and event orchestrator, outstanding. What evolution to the art of orchestration he brings.
MC GQ created clubland for the audience, the icing on a musical delight.
The vocal Drum and Bass era was delivered by Cleveland Watkiss and Jenna G, both performing crowd pleasing renditions. Sending us home after the encore, lifted and feeling youthful exuberance.
Fabio and Grooverider - fully on form, what you would expect from two originators of Drum and Bass.

Watching the glee and awe on the young usher's face, experiencing the nature of this live music show and the vibrancy of the evening, made steps to establish an understanding of being in the midst of something special.

Looking forward to more of these music events as a part of regular programming at the Royal Festival Hall.

There is incentive to continue, with every bar packed throughout the concert until close, that extra revenue should make signing off future music concerts in this pocket an easy process.
Some adaptations can be made to the Royal Festival concert hall, helping improve audience experience.  Additional revenue from events like these can be invested back into the tech spec of the space. Advancing this area to accommodate more adaptable enhanced storytelling music events within the mission of the non profit Southbank Centre. In lighting, sound and visuals. 

The music incoming is definitely fuller in sound and more creativity can be allowed with progression.
Adaptable seating might be a consideration.
An augmented bass sound, if only in well placed parts would have added to  this particular event, with the Jamaican soundsystem entrenched in future classical British music. Perhaps we are still too early for such luxuries.
Looking forward to seeing how these spaces evolve.

Music delivered in a progressively intelligent way for those progressing in life's journey should be an essential part of music programming in concert halls.
Generation rave are now sitting firmly in this grown folks way of listening to music. This type of concert keeps the flavour of the underground alive for those outgrowing clubland.
The lone lighter in the air stood as a testament to a time where freedom reigned for many in the audience. Where rebel kids flocked to have a good time, in fields, underground clubs and after parties. 

The rule book flew out the window on this one, London is back post covid and moving forward.

Is a new era at the Royal Festival Hall born? Let's see.

More please.

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