Twenty Sixteen @ The Fantail At Gluttony, Adelaide 24/2/2026
Twenty Sixteen arrives just as 2026 begins, capturing a widespread urge to revisit the past. The current trend of returning to 2016, with its early social media, music, and fashion, is everywhere. This show taps into a restorative sort of nostalgia, not simply indulging in memories but actively exploring our reasons for looking back.
Twenty Sixteen honours legacy with high energy and reverence. The show doesn’t just play out as a nostalgia reel, but reflects on how music weaves into our lives, something we keep alive through the present.
Right from the start, the spoken-word introductions by lead singers, Kylie Auldist, Jaron Jay, and Dusty Lee Stephenson grab the audience’s attention. The show quickly establishes its purpose: this journey is all about memory, music, and meaning.
Using a giant TV displaying current affairs footage as a backdrop, the production shifts between moments of reflection and bursts of release. Soon, Prince’s music ignites the night with brass swagger, sax, and trumpet propelling the room from stillness to movement.
The setlist journeys freely through different eras and genres. You’ll hear echoes of Sharon Jones, the grit and joy of Earth, Wind & Fire, and David Bowie’s shape-shifting freedom, with the narrative that “every time he changed, he gave us permission to do the same.”
Leon Russell brings tenderness to the high-energy vibe, while George Michael’s Careless Whisper emerges with that unmistakable sax riff, sparking a collective response from the crowd.
From Paul Kantner’s communal call, Want Somebody to Love, to Prince’s Cream and Purple Rain, the show demonstrates that these songs exist far beyond the stage. They continue in pubs, at funerals, with mates, and in the quiet moments we carry forward.
Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah starts in classic form before Kylie Auldist reinvents it with her signature soulful style. Glenn Frey’s Take It Easy and Rick Parfitt’s Rockin’ All Over the World steer the evening towards a celebratory finale.
Twenty Sixteen delivers moving moments, amplified by a vibrant crowd and music that transcend both generations and genres. The show reminds us that legacy isn’t just what we inherit—it’s what we actively keep alive.
Fringe Review By Ilona Schultz
For tickets and show info head to FringeTix…