Eurovisionary

Joe Louis Robinson performed Eurovisionary, a love letter of sorts to Eurovision, to a packed house as part of the Perth International Cabaret Festival. The audience, a mix of Eurovision Super Fans, and some who’d never seen a Eurovision Final, were enthralled throughout, with this talented, relaxed and very comfortable performer.

Nicely dressed (was that a European Union Star on his back?), adopted Perth local Joe Louis Robinson was supported by Karl Florisson on bass and Gregory Brenton on drums, as he accompanied himself on piano. The show kicked off with what may be the best-known Eurovision hit, ABBA’s Waterloo.

Revealing a love/hate relationship with the United Kingdom’s Eurovision entries, the next section of the show includes some video coverage of British entries, before performances of some of the most iconic, such as Lynsey St Paul and Mike Moran’s Rock Bottom, Brotherhood of Man’s Save All Your Kisses for Me and Buck’s Fizz’s Making Your Mind Up.

Interspersed with some funny and occasionally disarmingly honest banter, the first half ended with Spanish modern classic Eris Tu, then a medley of the Australian entries.

A jacket change to one with plenty of sparkle, marked a celebration of some of the LGBTQI positive Eurovision entries. Fabulous performances followed, such as a rendition of Maria Šerifović’s “big Balkan belting ballad” Molitva and of course Conchita Wurst’s Rise Like A Phoenix.

With lots of fun throughout, the show closes with a Hall of Fame Medley that had the audience singing along.

Given the huge crowd, that had a ball, do not hesitate to book for any future Joe Louis Robinson cabarets. A fantastic performer who really knows how to hold an audience, 

Kimberley Shaw