The Johnny Cash Roadshow performing at The Playhouse Nottingham on Wednesday 24th February 2016.


Review by Kevin Cooper

Country music fans enjoyed a unique treat when the Johnny Cash Roadshow rolled into Nottingham’s Playhouse last night.

Endorsed by the Cash family, the Johnny Cash Roadshow is the leading tribute to the popular musician and features Clive John who really gets to the essence of Cash and that deep voice without striving significantly to be a sound alike. He has an appealing easy going stage manner and the banter with the audience between the many songs was easy and good natured.

The songs just kept coming and were accompanied by hundreds of evocative images and video clips taken throughout Cash’s lifetime which were projected on to a big screen behind them.

With an accompanying three piece band, all the fans favourites were given an outing. A Thing Called Love, I Walk The Line, Falsom Prison Blues and Hurt were fired out from the Cash canon. The harshly worded and bitterly felt prison song San Quentin was a particular highlight allowing for enthusiastic and raucous audience participation.

Other special moments included the haunting Long Black Veil, tenderly performed solo by John, and duets with Jill Schoonjans as June Carter Cash included Jackson and Long Legged Guitar Picking Man, whilst Help Me Make It Through The Night was beautiful.

Many of Cash’s back catalogue from his illustrious career from the 1950’s onwards were given an outing; A Boy Named Sue, Man In Black and the thoroughly enjoyable One Piece At A Time. There was the rousing Ghost Riders In The Sky with cowboys illuminated on the back screen, as each band member was given the chance to show their not inconsiderable prowess on their instruments.

Ring Of Fire with some excellent work from the horn section, had the audience swaying and clapping in the aisles as this extraordinary concert was brought to an energetic conclusion with a well-deserved standing ovation.