I caught the last concert for this year’s Fringe Festival and was impressed by the smooth sounds and richness of the often-complex music.
It is easy to see that Galea is a very emotional singer, which is why she can pull off a tribute show to someone like Dr. Nina Simone. The passion and feeling comes through in her voice.
While the venue isn’t ideal for a concert because it is basically shaped like a school hall (if there are tall people sitting in front of you, most of the show can be blocked from view), Galea never presents the performance as any more than a tribute and doesn’t presume to sing ‘like’ Nina Simone, yet the right chord is struck. She did not disappoint.
Highlights included ‘Four Women’, ‘My Baby Just Cares For Me’ and ‘Please Don’t Let Me be Misunderstood’. The images projected on a modest screen and narrative banter in between each song, helped deliver what was an enjoyable live show.
Five culturally expansive stars!
Bonnie Lee Galea, in her JAZZ in CHEEK Quartet honouring the legendary ‘NINA SIMONE’, performed at Adelaide Fringe 2025.
