After the success of Lady Sings the Blues at the Adelaide Fringe in 2022, Prinnie Stevens is back this year with the second instalment of her show. With such an incredible array of blues artists that have shaped today’s musical world, it’s only fitting that the music deserves a second chance.
This year the show follows the same theme, but has moved to the Kingfisher tent in the Gluttony garden. This intimate space allows the audience to watch Steven’s performance up close. She is accompanied simply by a pianist and double bassist, allowing her amazing voice to take centre stage.
Dressed in a sparkling red dress, Stevens tells some of the painful stories behind some of the musical greats. Artists such as Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Whitney Houston and Tina Turner are celebrated. Stevens tells the stories of some of the hardships they endured. Opening strongly with “It’s a Man’s World”, it’s clear that life would be nothing without a woman.
Steven’s voice is really the star of the show, with incredibly strong range and control. Her personality also shines through, with the anecdotes and stories addressed to the audience as if we were chatting casually at a party. She clearly enjoys being on centre stage ans sharing the music of her idols.
The inclusion of Diana Ross’ song “He Lives in You” from The Lion King was perhaps a departure from the classic blues tunes that comprised most of the show. Overall, though the selection of songs showed what an incredible amount of music that has been created by these talented artists.
