After 2 years, Newbury's live music venue is packed again for Fleetwood Mac tribute

Fleetwood Bac at Arlington Arts, Snelsmore, on Friday, January 14. Review by Brian Harrington

From the moment the lights dimmed and the kick drum beats opened for The Chain.

Fleetwood Bac had the capacity audience at Arlington Arts eating out of the palms of their hands.

The band has received numerous plaudits from critics and even from former members of Fleetwood Mac, including the late Bob Brunning, Mac's original bassist, who joined and played with them on stage. There is no doubt that they are musically superb and recreate Mac's sound brilliantly. For me, they were at their absolute best when the two female lead vocalists joined forces in harmonies which were virtually indistinguishable from the originals. If I were to nit-pick it would be to say the American accents did not, for me, add anything to the show.

Without pausing the band shifted to You Make Loving Fun and Dreams, from the 1977 Rumours album. Tonight was truly a celebration of the best and most popular tracks of Fleetwood Mac, who it should be remembered, have sold over 120 million records worldwide.

Before the interval they fitted in a string of hits including Oh Well and Tell Me Lies and had the audience in the standing area singing along and dancing enthusiastically.

After the break the hits kept coming. They resumed with Big Love and included (among others) Seven Wonders, Edge Of Seventeen and a brilliant rendition of Tusk. The much demanded encore consisted of Don't Stop and Go Your Own Way and they were fittingly played-out with Albatross on the sound system as the band took their final bows.

Fleetwood Bac went over a storm and undoubtedly impressed the audience tonight. Hugely entertaining and an excellent tribute.

After the last two years it was great to see Arlington Arts packed again with people having a great time with a band playing great music