“These singers will make you feel alive with their energetic ode to Motown.”
The A Night To Remember Motown Show is a joyous celebration of music from one of the most iconic and influential record labels of all time. Producing artists such as Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5 and The Supremes, Motown is well known for their talent. This show seeks to capture that same magic.
The show is produced by and features the lead vocals of Bizzi Dixon, former finalist on The Voice UK. Previously known for his work as the lead principal in Thriller Live, this production was yet another born out of lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic when theatres were in shutdown. Years later, this show has become a fitting tribute to a sensational era of music. Alongside the Motown Divas, Dixon honours the artistry of many Motown stars.
Audience members would be hard-pushed not to know any of these songs, regardless of age as the show features classics that have spanned decades and are truly unforgettable. The Motown Divas were a powerful trio, each having their own moment to shine, delighting us with songs such as “Heatwave” and “Heard It Through The Grapevine”. Dixon also joined the Divas on various numbers.
One choice in particular that seemed bold was to have “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” as the second song in their set. Usually known as a closing number, this stood out as the opener and proved to be an excellent choice, as there were many hits throughout the performance and this one immediately engaged the audience from the very start. The hits continued throughout with Tina Turner and Stevie Wonder both being highlighted by the vocalists. Two personal favourites had to be “Reach Out (I’ll Be There)” and “Baby Love”, a classic from The Supremes and performed perfectly by the Motown Divas.
The vocalists really made this a lively night out. Their infusion of energy and fun into each song and kept the audience entertained and there was no stopping point. They each kept the pace of the show going at all times. Even during a brief wig incident, the performers were professionals and carried on. It has to be stated that this was also a very well-crafted show in terms of the choice of music. As mentioned, Motown have so many incredible artists and songs that to condense that into a 2-hour performance can’t be easy but the right choices were certainly made. If you’re thinking of a particularly well-known song or performer from the days of Motown, chances are it was in the setlist. Plus, the vocals really couldn’t be faulted. Everyone was superb and when there are only four people onstage throughout the show, it’s crucial everyone be at the same level. Thankfully, this was indeed the case and there were multiple instances in which the performers sounded like the originals, while still having their own distinct flavour. Throughout the show, the Divas also had some timely choreography to fit the era which definitely added to the overall vibe of the show. The band were also incredible and alongside the vocalists, 100% filled the space with sound, making it feel like a concert.
Overall, this was a vibrant, entertaining evening of amazing music and a performance worth seeing, possibly even multiple times! It’s also nice to see that, as a passion project born out of lockdown, something good can come from darker times.
This performance will have you on your feet moving along to the music and it’ll be an absolute joy for newcomers to the genre as well as anyone who’s already a fan of Motown.
A Night To Remember Motown Show is currently on tour across multiple UK venues. The next stop is the Muni Theatre in Colne on Friday 6th March and the tour concludes at the Pentland Theatre in Edinburgh on Saturday 27th June.