Audiences got Lost In Music at the Grand Theatre last week, as they re-lived timeless hits from icons like Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sister Sledge and Chic. Amber Archer went along with her mum out for a night that celebrated this timeless music.
Before the curtain even went up, people were buzzing in their seats – dressed in their sparkles and disco attire – ready to get on their feet for A Night to Remember.
And the singers didn’t disappoint on the style front either, with the outfits throughout the evening being nothing short of spectacular, perfectly curated for a night of disco – think glittering jackets, bold patterns, and enough sequins to give the Strictly costume department a run for their money!
As the curtain rose, so did the audience – on their feet to Chic’s instructional 1977 hit Everybody Dance. Groups of disco dancers were immediately toe-stepping in the aisles and around the circle, pulling people out of their seats and into the rhythm, in a packed-out theatre – and on a school night, too!
As the quartet effortlessly harmonised, they reminded the audience, “tonight is all about disco”, taking us through an immersive journey through the sound of the golden age of the genre. They were accompanied by a layered septet band, spanning trombone, trumpet, saxophone, electric guitar, bass, drums and keyboard.
By the time they launched into their second track – the show’s eponymous number, Lost in Music by Sister Sledge – the crowd were certainly that, with most of the audience jumping out of their seats to join the aisles to move their feet.
The setlist moved from full-band numbers to duets and a flurry of stand-out solos, particularly in the second half, where the group featured classic female-led and female-empowered songs like Whitney Houston’s I’m Every Woman, The Bee Gees’ More Than a Woman, and my mum’s favourite, Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive.
As the quartet led into their evocative rendition of September during their spotlight on the beloved Earth, Wind & Fire, they encouraged the audience to build on the atmosphere with their phone torches in hand and synchronised swaying.
For the finale, the female performers took on a fiery take of Donna Summer’s Bad Girls before the group came together for a loyal rendition of the Rose Royce classic Car Wash.
But the night was not over yet! The group barely left the stage before launching into my absolute favourite disco anthem for their encore – The Trammps’ Disco Inferno, before rolling straight into a euphoric Boogie Wonderland which is an apt description to what the Lost in Music cast transformed the Grand Theatre into for the evening.
Sharing the evening with my mum, who grew up with these disco classics, made a brilliant night even more special. With each song change, she didn’t miss a beat. Her love for these classic tracks made it obvious why I’ve come to love these in my own right and it felt like a proper shared celebration of music that spans generations.
If you’re after a night to remember in Blackpool, The Grand Theatre has some more brilliant music shows arriving on stage in the coming months – Think Floyd, ‘80s Live, and The Rocket Man – you can find tickets here.
