Many gathered in Cheltenham town centre on Saturday night, braving the cold and wet to see the wonderment of the Christmas lights and illuminations being ignited. They were, however missing out on the true spirit and warmth of the night, taking place across town in The Fiery Angel. The Cheltenham Underground fired up the engines yet again, showcasing local talent in aid of raising money for street children in Kenya, which was certainly a success. First act Thrill Collins set the mood with their reggae/ska take on classic pop songs, including the odd Christmas anthem, bringing the mood of the town to the small venue. Rob Beckinsale carried on this merry theme with his selection of upbeat acoustic tunes fused with chirpy melodies, greeting weary travelers through the door. Heating up the night even more was Men Daimler's performance, rich with passion and volume, launching donations from pockets to the cause in an instant. This passion took a different form with next act, singer Juey accompanied by Tom Mitchell on guitar, warming the crowd with her sultry melodies and lyrics dripped with emotion. Then, just as the lights flickered to life in the heart of Cheltenham, so did Charlie Baxter's set, alive with electronica musicality, trance beats and angst-ridden lyrics. Lisa Capener took the stage and set off the true party mood with her renditions of popular classics, like Bryan Addams' gem 'Summer Of 69', bringing the whole venue together, both in song and contribution to charity. By this point, a large audience had gathered, proving that local talent really was effective in raising money, and always will be. Now that everyone was warm and settled into the night, the simmering Cadbury Sisters brought out their beautiful harmonic repertoire, leaving the crowd stunned. After a brief but enjoyable performance by the skillful covers duo The Correnettes, John Madden and Tom Mitchell closed the night's lineup of talent perfectly with their cool and colourful collection of acoustic covers. Saturday night's performances definitely proved that as we approach the season of giving, nothing upholds that spirit more than the talent and work of fine local musicians and artists. All that without Santa's presence, and um...presents..........
Ben Hawling
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