The British Babes Songbook - Adelaide Fringe Review

Image: Sadie Humphreys

Adelaide-based cabaret and vocalist artist Sadie Humphrey brings together a formidable force of powerful British pop women icons for a snazzy, heartfelt, and humorous hour of medleys, covers, and personal stories. The womanhood is strong, and so are the British Babes. 

Making her Adelaide Fringe debut, Humphrey brings together a 5-piece live band to belt out a long list of artists from the sixties to the modern era of British pop queens. Artists featured include Shirley Bassey, Kate Bush, Lily Allen, Bananarama, RAYE, Sade, Spice Girls, Amy Winehouse, Charli XCX, and many more.

Speeding through each of the eras, the audience is treated to a wide variety of tracks from some iconic choruses to full-length tracks. 

At times, it feels like a bit of a mish-mash sometimes though as you’re bopping to a fast boppy one minute, and the next minute the pace switches up to a slower jazzy-esque tune. However, it does seem to reflect the progressively changing nature of British women pop through each of the decades. 

Throughout the performance, she blends in some quintessential British humour, historical, and pop references along the way with her personal connections with some of the tracks. These personal stories help to break up each era, and graces the audience to Humphrey’s cheeky and witty personality, combined with her powerful vocals. 

She makes a sound effort to embody each of the pop star’s alter egos, feeling the melodies through her soul as she powers through each tune, all whilst not being afraid to get just that little bit rowdy when the moment calls for it. 

We get to see a wide range of Humphrey’s talents though each of the medleys and covers, of which her vocals deliver one powerhouse of a performance with harmonic melodies and impressive high notes. 

If you’re looking for a trip down nostalgia lane or looking to round up your gal pals to celebrate British women in pop, then The British Babes Songbook will be your jam. It’s fun, quirky, and full of badass babe energy.

Rating: ★★★★
Show details: The British Babes Songbook - Adelaide Fringe