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The Review - MUSIC - grooves with CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS
Published: 21 June 2007

Motown star Smokey Robinson

Even Glasto ain’t got soul like this

GIG PREVIEW: R 'n' B SEASON
Royal Albert Hall
by Richard Osley

FEEL bad for the folk leaving town and heading to Glastonbury this weekend. They are eight years too late. The classiest moment that overrated festival ever produced was when Al Green stepped onto the stage in 1999.
It was pouring with rain. It was muddy. Sludge everywhere. Yet out he popped in a pristine white suit, hopped along the front row handing out flowers and smiled his way through his back catalogue.
He left the stage after running through Let’s Stay Together, Take Me To The River and the rest without a speck of dirt on him. That’s because he is cooler than Coldplay or the Arctic Monkeys or U2. We don’t want Bono. We want Al.
So, if you didn’t get a ticket to Glasto this year, don’t worry – a much better time can be had in the capital.
Green, genuinely one of the all-time greats, has been brought back to the London stage for Arts Council England’s exclusive R’n’B season.
There will be few spare tickets when he arrives at the Royal Albert Hall next Thursday.
He will be ably supported by Candi Staton, the southern soul singer turned disco diva who is a big enough draw on her own.
The mini-festival – no camping required – will also see John Legend play the BBC studios on the same night, Motown star Smokey Robinson at the Albert Hall next Wednesday and DJ Spinna next Saturday.
If you hadn’t noticed, the season was kicked off by Beyonce at Wembley arena earlier this month.
But Green is the best act on the bill and the Arts Council can feel smug at scoring the booking.
If he can bring a mudfield to a standstill, imagine how much fun he will have in the Albert Hall. Go see.

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