Lost in Music: Aylesbury Brought the Disco Spirit

Aylesbury was absolutely on fire last night.

No, it wasn't a sell-out crowd, but you'd never have known it from the atmosphere inside the theatre.  Every single person who was there had clearly got the memo: disco was back.

From the moment the lights went down, the audience embraced the spirit of the evening.  Sequins sparkled from every corner of the auditorium, and before long people were on their feet, dancing, singing and celebrating as though the clock had been turned back fifty years.

That's exactly what Lost in Music – One Night at the Disco is designed to do.

A celebration of the greatest disco hits of the 1970s, the show brings together a phenomenal live band and five incredibly talented singers to recreate the sounds of artists such as Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor, Chic, Earth, Wind & Fire and Sister Sledge.  It's not just a concert; it's a full-on disco party.

And what a party it was.

The audience perfectly mirrored what was happening on stage.  There were sparkles and sequins everywhere, but the performers somehow managed to outshine us all.  The costume changes were relentless and absolutely fabulous.  Honestly, I wanted every single outfit the ladies wore.

The vocal talent was extraordinary too.  I've unofficially renamed three of the female performers: there was a "Miss Aretha", a "Miss Diana Ross" and a "Miss Mariah Carey".  Alongside them were the two men; one a beautifully soulful vocalist, and another had all the moves including a mid-air split.  Boy, could he dance and he brought the personality.  He seemed to hold everything together brought such incredible energy to the stage that I simply couldn't take my eyes off him.  His dancing was phenomenal.  And those mid-air splits is worth the price of admission.  Collectively they delivered powerhouse performances throughout the evening.

Of course, the real star of the evening was the music. If you love disco, you're going to have a good time.  It's as simple as that.

You'll dance.  You'll sing.  You'll spend most of the evening on your feet.  And chances are you'll leave with a smile on your face wondering where the last two hours disappeared to.

The setlist was packed with classic feel-good anthems and plenty of songs celebrating strength, resilience and empowerment.  I was particularly delighted to hear I Will Survive and Young Hearts Run Free, and I'm Every Woman. We also had some of my favourite classic disco tracks such as Disco Inferno and Don’t Leave Me This Way.

Like any music lover, I did find myself wishing a couple of personal favourites had made the cut. I missed I Feel Love, and there was no You Should Be Dancing from Saturday Night Fever and Boogie Nights was another omission.  But that's the challenge with disco, isn't it?  There are simply too many great songs to fit into one show.

The production itself was visually impressive.  Bright colours, dynamic lighting and an LED backdrop filled with disco-themed imagery created a vibrant atmosphere throughout the show.  There was also a fantastic brass section whose musicianship was outstanding.  

If I had one tiny observation, it was that the brass seemed to get a solo in almost every song during the first half.  Not a major criticism by any means, just something I feel could be shortened so that more of our favourite songs could fit in the set list.  But honestly, that's about as critical as I can be.

This is a feel-good show in every sense of the phrase.  It knows exactly what it is, and it delivers it brilliantly.  It doesn't ask the audience to sit quietly and admire from a distance.  It invites them to become part of the experience.

And Aylesbury certainly accepted that invitation.

The crowd danced, sang, cheered and embraced every moment.  The atmosphere was warm, inclusive and genuinely joyful.

So if Lost in Music is coming to a theatre near you, put on something sparkly, gather a few friends and go.  You'll hear some of the greatest disco songs ever recorded, you'll probably spend most of the night on your feet, and you'll leave feeling lighter than when you arrived.

Aylesbury, you absolutely brought it last night.  What a party.