Buddy Holly and the Cricketers at the Lichfield Garrick Review

Reviewed by Cate Norris

In 1958 Buddy Holly and the Crickets completed their one and only UK tour, playing at 25 venues across England. 60 years on and Buddy Holly and the Cricketers are commemorating this special anniversary and recreating history by revisiting some of the venues that Buddy played at, on the same dates!

As if all that nostalgia wasn’t enough to pull at your heartstrings, Simon Fielder Productions have added a huge scoop of sentimentality. They have made Buddy Holly’s dreams come true by providing an orchestra, as performing with an orchestra was something he longed to do.

Buddy Holly and the Cricketers are backed by The English Rock and Roll Orchestra on this 60th anniversary show, and ‘oh boy’ what an orchestra! We got to hear the individual talents of the orchestra during solos. The audience seemed to really enjoy Darius on the fiddle as well as, the astonishing saxophone solo, but when everyone played together it was sensational and sent shivers down the spine!

A huge selection of Buddy Holly’s hit songs were performed including Peggy Sue, That’ll be the day, Heartbeat and Oh Boy as well as loads more that weren’t so well known (at least not to me) but were equally toe tapping and head boppingly infectious. A highlight was the stunning vocal from Buddy Holly with the gorgeous orchestra and the angelic notes of the harp. I don’t believe I have heard anything more beautiful in my life – thank you.

Aside from the Buddy Holly classics, the night was filled with other great songs from the era from artists such as Chuck Berry, The Beach Boys and my personal favourite, Big Bopper and Chantilly Lace which encouraged audience participation with everybody shouting Helloo Baaabyy. The whole evening in fact, demanded audience involvement and I have to say the older generation know how to party!

It was great to see such a good time being had on stage (as well as in the audience), with some slick dance moves, impressive double bass dancing and comical links between tracks. For a trip down memory lane which is guaranteed to have you dancing in the aisles and whooping and hollering all night long, you have to see Buddy Holly and the Cricketers. It’s a quality night out!

Rating: 5/5

For other shows at the Lichfield Garrick visit www.lichfieldgarrick.com or call the box office on 01543 412121.

Lichfield Garrick Theatre, Castle Dyke, Lichfield, WS13 6HR | 01543 412121