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The Fleetwood Mac Story

 
Stuart Mckenzie Review by Stuart Mckenzie 5 Published: 17 Aug 2025 theSpace @ Symposium Hall Show Dates: 1 Aug 2025-24 Aug 2025

It’s a pretty sight in the Space’s Auditorium. The lights hang low, shifting slowly from purple to green to blue. A murmured awe pervades in the effervescence as the shadow of five musicians looms larger in the dimmed room. And then, a gentle glissando, as we bleed softly into our acoustic opener Rhiannon for Maia Elsey to emerge, adorned in classic boho-chic dress and fingerless gloves as our Stevie Nicks for the evening. It’s a nostalgic mood, fearless and witchy, hurling us back to memories of The Midnight Special of 1976. Elsey is thoroughly captivating, addressing us directly as she sings: “Would you stay if she promised you heaven? Will you ever win?”. There’s an ethereal dreaminess to it all, broken only by the gradual background cymbal swells. All until co-vocalist Sarah Leanne’s appearance breaks the softness to harken the guitar, drums and bass to kick in. It’s a powerful statement, one that tells us to love not judge the performers before us. In one of Night Owl’s most prolific acts, arguably their greatest demonstration of unified group dynamics, The Fleetwood Mac Experience’s bold opener is only eclipsed by the rest of the show to follow.

A fleeting comet of a musical tribute that shines brightly with unforgettable warmth and remarkable talent

An inter-musical nod to the success of Rumours sparks Alex Beharrell into action as lead vocals on Don’t Stop, his uplifting tenor an excellent tribute to Lindsey Buckingham. The enthusiasm is palpable and infectious, with the backrow of the auditorium already on their feet, and love from the crowd is certainly not lost as we transition into the mystified Dreams.

One may assume that the soft ballad Songbird would deprive the show of its vitality and urgency; quite the opposite. Sarah Leanne, our Christine McVie for tonight accompanied by Harry Whitty on keyboard, delivers a heartwarming rendition that makes for the perfect halfway point, allowing us a brief respite from the more frantic numbers, and gives pause for reflection on Fleetwood Mac’s past. Peter Green’s battle with mental health is addressed, as is the turbulent band’s constant rotation of members, along with the alcohol-fuelled tit-for-tat clashes between Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. It’s a curt history lesson, but necessary given the demands upon the performers.

The watershed moment comes in the endearing performance of Everywhere, presenting Leanne a brilliant opportunity to display her mezzo-soprano, with excellent back and forth between Leanne and Elsey in the call-and-response outro. Evidently, the heavy hitters are best relished at the show’s conclusion, with Go Your Own Way shining a spotlight on Bernthall’s tremendous vocal range, but it is also where the entire band comes together: everyone throws their heart into it, from Louis Porter’s finesse on drums to James Sinclair’s splendid guitar solo, it exceeds all expectations as a tough act to follow, only for the septet to pull it off with an unforgettable closing rendition of The Chain.

Beyond the on-stage skills, the production values cannot be undersold with credit to Harshad Jadhar’s expert handling of sound and lighting transitions. Praise must also go to the Night Owls' artistic direction where they have made clever choices in their song selections that abide within the confines of tight Fringe slots. Unfortunately, as with all their shows, they must make sacrifices: fan favourites like Little Lies or Silver Springs simply cannot make the cut. But that’s okay, we can live with that. The show is a loving testament to one of rock’s most adored music groups, one handled with care but willing to take risks where afforded. Truly, The Fleetwood Mac Story is that fleeting comet of a musical tribute that shines brightly with unforgettable warmth and remarkable talent as it blazes through a galaxy of emotions from laughter, sadness and joy.

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The Blurb:

After three consecutive sold-out runs, the celebration of the 120-million-album selling supergroup returns to Fringe. Features The Chain, Everywhere, Dreams and more delivered by Alex Beharrell, Maia Elsey, Sara Leane and the Night Owl Band. Night Owl bring you more than just the music with a new take on the tribute genre that has won awards and standing ovations worldwide. Experience the emotion and euphoria of Fleetwood. Don't miss Night Owl's flagship show which is sure to sell out with every show ending in a rapturous standing ovation. Winner of the Adelaide Fringe Weekly Music Award.