Review: The South at Newark Palace Theatre
There is little doubt about the wonderful back catalogue of The Beautiful South, and it was very much in evidence — and much more besides — when The South visited Newark's Palace Theatre.
The nine-piece band, which includes two former Beautiful South members — Alison Weaver and Gaz Birtles — took an appreciative audience through many of the band's classic hits, as well as a few lesser-known numbers, and even a South original.
The sound of The Beautiful South is obvious from the very start, despite Gaz Birtles' vocals being very different to the band's original lead singer, Paul Heaton.
Surprisingly, they chose to start the night with a couple of lesser-known numbers, From Under The Covers and Pretenders To The Throne, but this set the tone for the evening.
It was not a Beautiful South tribute show, it was very much a The South concert, and was all the better for it.
Nevertheless, all the hits were there.
The first half was packed full of ballads and slower numbers, including One Last Love Song, A Little Time, You're The One That I Want (yes, really) Dumb and The Table, before ending with Song For Whoever.
They promised the second-half would be livelier, and so it proved with tracks such as The Woman In The Wall — which got the audience up dancing — Rotterdam, Perfect 10, Don't Marry Her, and Carry On Regardless.
A great night of music, for Beautiful South fans, or those who just like good music.
