By Ashleigh Fielding | posted on August 17, 2019
WOWEE.
It’s not often that this chatterbox is lost for words but by golly gosh, I was on Friday night at the opening performance of Albany’s Got Talent.
You often hear people say that the Great Southern is full of talent, but you don’t actually appreciate that until it’s right there in front of you.
If Albany’s economy was reliant on singing voices, the word ‘recession’ would never be uttered again.
Now, I only have so much space here to talk about how amazing everyone was, so I’m going to have to be highly selective.
So if your name doesn’t crack a mention here, please don’t think it’s because you weren’t any good – you were all incredible but my editor has given me a word limit.
Let’s start with young Ethan Grobbler.
This young man – only Year 4 – got up on stage with his loop station, beatboxed several different rhythms, recorded them live, and proceeded to sing George Ezra’s Shotgun.
While others of that age are still busy pushing each other around on the playground, Mr Ethan had practised and practised his sweet voice and beatboxing before getting up on stage by himself.
What courage and talent from someone so young!
I already hope to book Ethan as my wedding DJ when he’s a bit older.
Sebastian Commons.
I first met Seb when he worked at the Weekender for school work experience and he mentioned a couple of times that he made his own music.
He shared with us some of his original work and I was mightily impressed, but not as impressed as I was on Friday when he sat at the piano beside his mum and belted out his own rendition of Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me to the Moon.
Watch out Sinatra and Buble, there’s a new crooner to town.
Seb blew the audience away and was more than deserving of the massive applause and cheering he received.
Maddy Marsh.
My oh my, Maddy, were you incredible.
Not only did she take on and absolutely smash one of the biggest songs of the year, she made me question whether the original artist was any good in the first place.
Kate Miller-Heidke’s Zero Gravity shot to fame at this year’s Eurovision song contest and featured a lot of glam and high notes.
Maddy nailed every single one of those notes flawlessly, including that part of the chorus.
She ki-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-illed it.
And I don’t think I can end this review without a mention of Susie Chap-man and Deon Utber.
An absolutely beautiful song, Slow Down reflected on watching children grow up and the difficulty parents can have letting them go out into the adult world.
The tear-jerker was enough to make me doubly appreciate my parents and give my mum – who was sitting dabbing her eyes beside me – an extra big hug.
I cannot wait to see what talent emerges for next year’s show.
