Johnny Cash Tribute Show
William Snell Productions
Caos Cafe
Season Closed


Caos Cafe has shown itself to be a great cabaret venue through previous Fringe and Feast Festivals, and this year is no exception. With the flurry of shows to be seen, it's an absolute pleasure to be able to eat a meal, and a good one at that, prior to the performance. On this night a three course meal was on offer; bruschetta with tomato and basil (and a champagne cocktail of course), choice of fillet steak (which was cooked rare, just as requested!) or salt and pepper squid, and a creamy layer cake dessert. It makes for an overall experience, and with the variety of shows on offer at the venue, I think I'll be doing this again!

William Snell sings Johnny Cash songs, but I'm not sure the show is fairly titled. I guess I was expecting a complete narrative - you know, the life of times of JC as told in story and song. We didn't really get that; a couple of power point text slides with a stilted voice over ran over the story, then Billy T (Snell) sang songs with backing band The Boundary Riders. His stage craft does need work; the in between patter was nervous and unrehearsed and did not add to the performance at all.

While Snell is an adequate singer, the band could not be faulted. I don't know their individual names, but I can say the drummer was one of the best in this genre I have seen, the acoustic bass went off and the guest sax was just fabulous. At the close of Jackson, one of the better known songs performed on the night, the 'Riders went off, really pumping the stage and showing what they could do. Harmonies were tight, and overall, the collective made for a most enjoyable evening.

Arna Eyers-White