Open Air Concert 2008 Report
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Around 2000 people attended the second Benenden Hospital Open Air concert on Saturday 21 June 2008. Situated outside Garland wing, named after the hospital’s benefactor within in the hospital’s beautiful grounds, crowds started to arrive for a full evening’s entertainment of four top tribute bands at around 4.30. The weather was warm, still and dry – an ideal evening. Car parks were easily accessible to the event making transportation of picnics convenient for all.
Luke Sabatini warmed the crowd up bringing his own style and humour to the early evening entertainment. Then at 6.30 the tribute bands started with the Spicey Girls taking the stage. Scantily clad and with several costume changes during their performance, they soon got the crowds dancing in-front of the stage with all the most popular Spice Girls songs featured during their 3/4hr performance.
Take That 2 smoothly took over. They were excellent, very energetic and lively, showing all the charisma of the original group and vocally very close to their namesakes. Signalled as one of the best Take That tribute acts, they certainly proved this claim during their spot.
Crowds grew and grew in front of the stage where the Counterfeit Bee Gees took over. The evening was now growing darker and the parties were in full swing, everyone having a first class evening. With a back screen projector, it helped recreate the life and times of the Bee Gees in visual form whilst listening and watching their performance.
There was a nice’ local’ touch to the evening as well, Happy Birthday wishes on and off were celebrated during the evening. It was an event for the crowd, with the crowd – with the musicians all interacting with their fans.
The group finale was Killer Queen, seen the previous year but again a sensational musical finale to the evening. The Freddie lookalike strutting onto the stage really raised the level of the evening, by now the crowd was really buzzing. The night was perfect to enjoy the fireworks at the end with a faultless display.
Overall, the light shows, crowd enjoyment and strength of the anthems and music was fantastic. People who had come the previous year were just as delighted with their favourite tribute bands as before. As quoted by some of those leaving it was terrific value entertainment within a lovely setting and superb atmosphere. Roll on next year!
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