29/05/2025

Roachford – Tuning Fork: May 28, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)

Andrew Roachford brought his 80s-style r&b to the Tuning Fork while channeling the soul greats of the 60s and 70s.

With no opening act at The Tuning Fork tonight, the headliner hit the stage early…with the first half of the show starting at 8:30pm.

The 60-year-old singer looks and sounds to be in fighting form, despite having recently played over 40 dates with Mike + The Mechanics.

Tonight he is accompanied by a tight three-piece band, anchored by one Jackie Barnes on drums…son of Australian legend Jimmy Barnes. Bass player David Levey and guitarist Chris Moorhead round out the group with Roachford himself playing keys.

The setlist is a combination of early Roachford hits and solo dep cuts, many taken from Andrew’s 1994 album, Permanent Shade Of Blue.

Like everyone and his mother, Roachford goes on about great it is to be here, but tonight, one can’t help believe him, as his energy and enthusiasm are infectious.

The well-attended crowd is singing along by the second song. Roachford’s stage manner reminds me of some of the soul music greats I’ve been lucky to see back in the day…Sam & Dave, James Brown, Wilson Pickett.

We get an unorthodox arrangement of Bill Withers’ Ain’t No Sunshine, a snippet of The Temptations’ Papa Was A Rolling Stone and a full-fledged version of Tom Petty’s Free Falling.

Much as I enjoyed the band, it was Andrew’s solo spot during the second half of the show, that really sealed the deal. Perched alone at the electric piano, he seemed to just let his mood take him wherever it happened to lead. And it lead us through a jazzy tune I couldn’t pick out through to Johnny (there’s always a Johnny), Insecurity and a partial Dancing In The Dark.

After Mike + The Mechanics’ Over My Shoulder, the band returned and stormed through Free Falling, Get Ready and, of course, Cuddly Toy.

By now, The Tuning Fork had transformed into a dance club and Only To Be With You…another standout from Permanent Side Of Blue…sent us home with a spring in our collective steps.

I’ve gotta say, I wasn’t really expecting much from this show, which just goes to prove, “you’ve gotta be there!”

Marty Duda

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