Review: 27 Club, Fringe 2025

A loud, proud and powerful tribute to musical legends gone too soon. The ’27 Club’ is the sad, infamous group of iconic musicians who all died at the tragic age of 27. From Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix to Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse, their legacies have shaped generations.

Taking on such a catalogue is a monumental task, but Australia’s Amplified House is more than up to the challenge in this high-energy rock homage at the Assembly Music Hall.

Hitting the Right Notes

The magnificent Assembly Music Hall is the perfect venue for a show of this scale, its grand space filled with blistering guitar riffs and soaring vocals. It was great to see a cast of both male and female singers, offering a wide vocal range to tackle the diverse sounds of rock and roll royalty. It’s an almost impossible act to follow, but Amplified House does their very best.

The show is at its absolute strongest when the performance style is a direct match for the artist being celebrated. A powerful female voice channelling the raw soul of Amy Winehouse is a highlight, as is a grungy, gravelly vocal performance that does justice to Kurt Cobain. It’s in these moments that the show feels less like a tribute and more like a resurrection.

The main challenge, however, was the setlist. The show arguably saves its biggest and most universally loved anthems for the final stretch. While building to a crescendo is a classic strategy, the show’s late start on the night meant some audience members were already leaving to catch trains just as the performance hit its peak. It was a shame to see the energy build to a fantastic finale, but with a slightly diminished crowd to enjoy it.

The Devil’s Music

The performance opens with a striking image: a sinister goat at a crossroads, a direct nod to the old blues myth of musicians selling their souls to the devil for talent. It’s a well-known trope, particularly in the history of jazz and blues, and it’s a provocative way to frame the genius of the 27 Club.

However, the show cleverly acknowledges this myth before dismissing it. The real point, as Amplified House makes clear through their sheer passion and skill, is that these icons weren’t demonic supplicants. They were dedicated, hard-working artists who honed their craft through relentless practice. It’s the right way to handle the legend: acknowledging the romance of the myth, but celebrating the reality of their hard-won talent.

The show’s 8+ age advisory on the Fringe website feels ambitious. A few f-bombs were dropped, but as any parent knows, that’s something of an occupational hazard when taking an eight-year-old to an 8 pm rock show.

Overall

A few nitpicks about the setlist aside, 27 Club is a blast. It’s a loud, respectful, and hugely enjoyable homage to some of the greatest musicians of the modern era. The talented cast deliver a show that is a must-see for anyone who loves the music of these departed legends.

A powerful and talented tribute.”