★★★★★ Luke Bayer in Concert at the Crazy Coqs
‘One to watch’ is a
well-used, even hackneyed, expression when talking of an up-coming performer.
But, without a shadow of a doubt, Luke Bayer is that person. Making his
sold-out solo concert debut at London’s Crazy Coqs at Brasserie Zedel, he had a
captivated audience of over 80 people – his mother included - enthralled as he
took us through his eventful career from an aspiring, tearful fourteen-year-old
on The X Factor to now.
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| Luke Bayer as Jamie in Everybody's Talking About Jamie |
So it was no surprise that Luke started his set with Don’t Even
Know It from Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, where he is currently the
alternate Jamie New and seemingly has a large and loyal following – just look
at his social media.
His story about his journey on X Factor was amusing and
insightful, especially the stories about the array of audition pieces that he
prepared on the way to eventually getting in front of Danni Minogue at judge’s
houses where he ultimately sang Mandy before losing out. I particularly liked
the indiscreet story about Miss Minogue which can’t be repeated here for legal
reasons!
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| Luke Bayer in concert |
Luke’s concert was as much about his friends who supported him
with great grace throughout, all of whom deserve immense praise - Jodie Sam
Steele currently in Heathers, Danielle Steels presently in Bat Out of Hell, and
Toby Marlow, writer of West End smash Six.
His duet, Only Us from Dear Evan Hansen, with Jodie was beautifully
heart-warming, and the new song, I’ll See You Again by Toby, exceptional.
Dear Evan Hansen seemed to permeate the evening with other
songs, For Forever and You Will Be Found, from the Broadway show, soon to be
seen in London. As was explained to me by an older fan as I left, ‘there’s a
movement to get Luke the part’ – well, I am a great believer if you don’t ask,
you don’t get!
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| Cameron Burt, Danielle Fiamanya and Martha Kirby with Luke |
The concert also included a very amusing medley, Parts I’ll
Never Play, put together by excellent MD Joe Beighton, together with an excerpt
from Prom Queen, a new musical which I saw in a workshop performance earlier
this year. As with the workshop, Luke duetted with the very gifted Cameron Burt,
who formed part of his backing vocalists with Martha Kirby and Danielle
Fiamanya, all incredibly talented students of Guildford School of Acting.
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| Luke Bayer |
That having been said, the night belonged, quite rightly, to
Luke Bayer, who sang, joked, moved, chatted with consummate ease and style, and
his determination, ambition and undoubted talent must be unequivocally admired
and encouraged. He is an enormous asset to the West End and undoubtedly has
that indefinable X factor!
Note to self - Must get to see Luke Bayer in Everybody's Talking About Jamie
currently booking at the Apollo Theatre. For tickets CLICK HERE
Luke Bayer is scheduled to appear as Jamie between Monday 17 - Wednesday 26 September 2018 but check first!
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