Berko Civic Centre hosts total audience immersion in ELO tribute show
With live music venues aiming for complete audience immersion with a combination of classic live performance and high technology, the Electric Light Orchestra Encounter tribute band did Berkhamsted Civic Centre proud on 13 June. Lyn Drummond reports.
As the ELO Encounter’s lead singer and pianist, Jack Rownes said: ‘Every time I listen to Electric Light Orchestra, I get this unique sense of hype, and I think that’s one of the main reasons that I wanted to create a tribute band to them. Performing the songs is such an exhilarating experience, especially when you see the reaction of the crowd, dancing and singing to every song.’
Other band members are: Henry Rownes – bass/vocals; Martin Donald – guitar and backing vocals; Dacre Peck – drums and backing vocals; Mary-Kate Ingram – violin and Lulu Andrews – cello.
For bigger shows, there are more string players from a small pool of Mary-Kate and Lulu and Sarah Wormell-Evans – violin, Malachi Siner-Cheverst – cello, and Kath Joyson – cello. They all continue their classical concerts outside ELO Encounter.
Jack, who is a self-taught pianist, performed in theatres around the UK and beyond, before creating ELO Encounter, a project that stemmed from his love of ELO’s amazing string arrangements and pioneering synthesisers.
One review of the original ELO co-founder, Jeff Lynne’s approach to songwriting and production gave it a distinctive sonic identity.
I asked Jack what ‘sonic identity’ meant to him, that it wasn’t just rock with strings but a fusion of genres, and, if so, how does ELO Encounter replicate that identity in its presentation.
Jack explained: ‘It’s hard to pin down exactly what made ELO successful, but a few reasons I can think of are Jeff Lynne’s perfectionism, Richard Tandy, Kelly Groucutt, Bev Bevan being a fantastic rhythm section, Louis Clark with his beautiful string arrangements, Reinhold Mac’s inimitable approach to production, all tied together with a really strong and fun original concept, fusing the music of the Beatles with high energy rock ‘n’ roll and orchestral arrangements.’
ELO Encounter wanted to continue keeping the music alive, always striving for the accuracy to the original recordings. Bigger venues, more fantastic lights and lasers, Jack said.
‘We have a tour in Europe coming up which we’re very excited about. The audience’s love and appreciation for the show is what keeps us going.’
Drawing inspiration from all of ELO’s phases, from their debut single 10538 Overture to their seminal 1981 concept album Time, the ELO Encounter combined lights, projections, lasers and a seemingly unstoppable finale on Saturday of all-time hits, including Roll Over Beethoven, Turn to Stone, All Over the World and Livin’ Thing.
Total immersion for band and audience.
Contact Maggie Procopi at info@berkhamstedentertainment.com for programmes.