Living in the ‘70s by The 60 Four

It was March 2^nd, 2019 at the Arkaba Hotel when I first saw a very entertaining group of young men who created a Franki Valli sound with style, energy and great harmonies. I had accidentally sat at a table of proud parents: theirs, and it was then that I learned the story of four local boys whose music teacher encouraged and nurtured their talent and potential, ultimately becoming The 60 Four.

Proudly South Australian, the group has honed and polished their always high-energy, entertaining shows to a level where they are now sought after internationally and are planning to journey to another world loved event, the Edinburgh Festival. Arguably, they are Scotland bound, but Vegas ready.

Living in the ‘70s is a tribute to the music of the generation who thought flares and sideburns looked good and had a collection of crocheted tops and platform shoes. The four boys unashamedly hit the nostalgia button for Boomers in this show, fittingly garbed in de rigueur hot orange era- appropriate jackets and shiny patent shoes.

In 60 energy fuelled minutes, they performed 14 of the era classics, paying tribute to The Bee Gees, Gloria Gaynor, Skyhooks, Kiss, Eagles, Queen and more. The icing on the cake is a dazzling ABBA medley encore with a bonus costume change.

Their carefully chosen 5-piece band features individually talented and features top-class musicians, led by Marco Callisto. His work as an arranger is superlative, particularly considering that songs for groups, and male and female performers have all been arranged to highlight the diverse talent and voices of each of the four.

Ben Francis a tenor with an impressive falsetto range has long managed the groups choreography. Never so rigid that each performer’s personality is not featured, the moves are slick, fun and totally song appropriate. The music and routine for Sherbet’s ‘Howzat’, threatened to bring the house down, only to be topped by songs including ‘Horse with No Name’, accompanied on acoustic guitar by Lachlan Williams, and Finnigan Green’s falsetto solo in the KISS classic, ‘I Was Made for Lovin You’. The hits keep coming.

The group has its Fringe 10^th Anniversary shows in Gluttony, Noarlunga, Elizabeth and a full length, end of Fringe concert in Norwood. Constantly updating and improving their shows, this world-class group always impresses, charms and engages audiences of all ages. Uniquely South Australian, The 60 Four are my go-to feel good entertainers. See them before the world claims them.

Jude Hines