Rachel Vidoni Debuts New Show ‘Her Majesty The Queen Rock Show’
Vocal powerhouse Rachel Vidoni had a great Fringe season with her successful Beatles show Come Together and this winter she’s bringing that same energy to the Glenelg Winter Arts Festival with her new show Her Majesty – The Queen Rock Show. The team from Gluttony have joined with City of Holdfast Bay and Jetty Road to bring some heat to the winter season and Vidoni has created a new show to bring alive with her unique rocking style the songs of Queen.
Playing two shows at the Colley Reserve precinct Thursday 20 and Friday 21 July, Rachel chatted with the Hi Fi Way about the show and what audiences can expect.
Have you come down from the high of the success of your show Come Together – The Beatles Rock Show?
I’m still coming to terms with it all. I was totally overwhelmed, and never expected such an amazing response.
I am so proud of what we achieved, I definitely pushed my cast to dig deep and give everything they’ve got, and they exceeded my expectations, tenfold! Not only am I blessed to be surrounded by some of the best in the business, but we are one big family who get to share the love for music, performance and creativity together.
It was a mammoth task not only on the cast and crew, but on myself. Taking the role of producer and also lead was a daunting process in itself, but to come out the other end with multiple 5 star reviews and a bunch of awards (Best Weekly Music Award & Overall Best Music Award of Fringe 2023) made the triumphant season that little bit sweeter. I am so grateful to be part of the Adelaide Fringe festival every year, and the love and support we received before, during and now after has definitely pushed me to think and dream bigger.
You have a new show Her Majesty The Queen Rock Show that you will be debuting at the Glenelg Winter Arts Festival. How did this show come about?
Funnily enough, I’ve wanted to do the ‘female fronted’ concept with Queen for years!! I had previously spoken to so many musicians and producers about it, but never fully committed to it, and I also don’t think they fully understood my concept. Our previous show was able to project my ideas and visions into the spotlight, and with such a well received debut as a solo producer it’s given me the confidence to pursue bigger and crazier things! Additionally, I once was terrified of tackling Freddie Mercury’s music and performances, but with the success of my Beatles show backing me, I am confident that we can provide the audience with something that they will love and enjoy.
I also won’t fail to mention that the team at Gluttony love to challenge me, so when the phone rang with the offer to debut something brand new, at the Winter Arts Festival, I figured there was no better time!!
What can audiences expect from this new show?
I’ve really focussed on how I could authentically represent Queen’s music for this show – and I don’t mean that theoretically, more in a delivery sense. I am treating this as an exclusive ‘soft launch’ at the Winter Arts Festival, and if all goes well I will re-develop the show and add in all the extra glitz and glam for a season, hopefully for Fringe 2024. To elaborate, this show is solely focussing on the genius of what Queen wrote in the studio. Majority of the songs have theatrics and texture within the tunes themselves, rather than us having to dress them up with elaborate costumes, dancers and props.
Expect an hour packed of power and rush, but a time to simply enjoy and listen to the music and absorb the lyrics. I have made a point in removing the visuals of dancers & props to prove that we are first and foremost musicians, and we take great pride in being able to perform such an epic catalogue of songs, in our home town.
Queen is a pretty iconic band and we know what you can do with songs from iconic bands. Are you going to give the songs from Queen that rocking Rachel Vidoni style?
Of course! It’s the beauty of playing music, live. A lot of the music we hear today, and even a great deal of the songs on record have been produced, in great detail, in the confines of a studio. Freddie would have layered his own vocals, then added embellishments from Brian, Roger and John. Even Brian May’s guitar work was overlapped and doubled, which makes replicating it live a very difficult task.
My ‘edge’ is my vocals, but I am a sucker for a traditional ‘rock band’, so we really focus on using the ideas from the past and mixing it with the technology of the future to give the songs new life with our own ’twist’, so to speak.
You will be performing with a full 8-piece live band. Is it the same band as your Beatles show?
Majority of the Beatles cast will be up on stage with me, minus my beautiful dancers. I have employed a new drummer, Hayden Ryan, who adds an additional vocal, seven of the eight on stage are singing which really helps fatten up those magnificent choir-like choruses. Hayden, myself and the rest of the team have worked previously together, and he is a great asset to the band. I am also welcoming virtuoso guitarist, Cam Blokland (The Superjesus, 27 Club, Southern Empire + a tonne more) to the ‘Little Things Productions’ family, as I have admired his playing, as well as phenomenal vocals for many years. Being able to get him on board has been a great honour, so I am super grateful to be able to finally share the stage with him. Bringing back Emily Isaacs and Kylie Ferreira on backing vocals, along with Russell James (keys), Lee Nash (bass), Ben Whittington (guitar) from the original Come Together – The Beatles Rock Show Band.
Will all the big Queen hits and fan favourites be on the set list?
Similar to ‘Beatles’, it’s been a delicate task. Not only to select the ‘right’ songs, but also in how it flows as a 60 minute set, how we can realistically deliver the songs with eight musicians, or how it showcases our strengths. I would have loved to invite a full orchestra or have an accompanying choir to belt out songs like Let Me Live or Innuendo, but sometimes my ideas are far greater than the depths of my pocket or bank account! Personally, I think we have a great set-list and I guarantee everyone will hear a selection of their favourites.
The show will be at the Glenelg Winter Arts Festival, are you excited to be a part of this new festival?
Absolutely! I love performing and I love Adelaide! Being able to live in a city that wants to support the arts world, outside of the typical summer months, is incredible. I really hope the people of Adelaide get amongst the festival and witness that there is plenty still going on throughout the year. Previously, in the months of June-August I would find myself looking at venues to hire for a night and put on a show, but the atmosphere of being part of a festival, where the common goal is just to get out of the house, explore, relax, be entertained, and fall in love with new things – is just incomparable to a hall or theatre. There is a time and place for all, but there’s that added electricity in the air when it comes to these types of events.
You’re once again working with the team from Gluttony. How supportive have they been with your show and for you to be included in their line up for events?
The team at Gluttony have always been massive supporters of not only the performing arts community, but of me and my business. As I mentioned earlier, they love to test my abilities – but they have given me an incredible platform and opportunity to explore new ideas, concepts and dreams. It’s truly an honour to be part of the Gluttony family, and I always look forward to answering their calls and seeing how I can push myself to reach a common goal. This instance was a no-brainer – the brief was “New Festival – New Shows”, and they were extremely excited when I told them that I had always wanted to do a Queen show.
At the end of the day, without the Gluttony Team, Come Together would have never happened the way it did, and I will be forever grateful for the chance they gave me. It’s not something that comes along everyday, or an opportunity that lands in someone’s lap. Yes, I and the ‘Little Things Productions’ crew have worked for decades perfecting the craft, but doing it alone can get boring, so I am very lucky to have the relationship I do with the team at Gluttony.
Interview by Anastasia Lambis
Tickets and show information for Her Majesty The Queen Rock Show at Glenelg Winter Arts Festival.
