Reviewed by Barry Lenny, Wednesday 15th June, 2016
John Thorn is a very familiar face around the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, accompanying many of the big international stars on piano every year. This year, John Thorn - Background Boy, allows him the opportunity to present just a few of the multitude of his own songs. A few came from Looking for Lawson, Thorn's settings of nineteen of the poems of Henry Lawson, some from his five musicals, and a good few more on top to complete a packed programme of music. He finds his inspirations in a wide range of sources, including his ragtime tune in response to the Roaring Twenties, the influence of various other composers, as well as writing for various shows and other projects. He is already renowned in Adelaide as an excellent pianist and accompanist and, following his performance last year of Looking for Lawson, those few who were able to get tickets have been aware of his fine singing voice. This year he has reinforced his position as a songwriter and singer with this wonderful performance.Videos