FullTone Gets Underway With Devizes Music Academy Showcase and Something About Jamie

Devizes annual orchestral festival, FullTone got underway yesterday afternoon with a showcase of local talent from Devizes Music Academy,  and finalised Friday night with their recent musical There’s Something About Jamie….

If today the stage is filled with the sixty-plus piece FullTone Orchestra and guest singers, Friday night was all about Jamie ….or something about Jamie! A contemporary set musical akin to Billy Elliott, save tap dancing is replaced by a desire to become a drag queen.

Prior, students of the Academy took to the colossal stage to sing solo, a tenfold more nail-biting experience than any open mic! At least, I’d imagine it would be, still waiting for the call!

Bravely and with confidence, Emma Nailor, Annie Coleman, and  Joe Thomas sang, and I’m sorry I missed them. I did arrive fashionably late to catch Braydon-Lee, who delivered an awesome set of pop covers from the likes of Ed Sheeran and others.

Brewing with confidence and stage presence blossoming, Braydon sang over backing tracks. His tenor voice is rich and expressive, able to handle the likes of Sheeran and Capaldi, but this boy needs a band as he’s got star potential.

Something About Jamie was fun. Humorously scripted, poignant, and contemporary. Both the acting and, particularly the singing was first class, kudos to the students of Devizes Music Academy.

Of course, FullTone Festival continues today with the orchestra in full flight. Classical beginnings, including Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at 2pm. Then, the songbook of the Beatles, a recreation of Enya’s groundbreaking album, followed by the popular dance anthems taking the crowds into the night. I’m heading down there now!