Usher Hall
Edinburgh
28/06/2025
As Edinburgh’s Usher Hall started to fill up, we left the hot, humid air lingering outside and exchanged it for Tina Turner – Tribute Act “What’s Love Got to Do With It” . Once seated, my eyes become wondering nomads, assessing the audience – it was clear to see that Tina Turner has an audience spanning many a decade. Young, old, retired and middle aged fans were as excited as a seagull at North Berwick harbour on a sunny day. I have never been a big fan of tribute acts, mainly because I haven’t had the opportunity to witness them but with Tina Turner being a legend in her own right, why not start here.
Sculpturing oneself to imitate someone else is no easy feat, especially with someone who is held in such high regard, as ultimately you want to do them justice, so i was very eager to see “What’s Love Got To Do With It”. This show has been running since 2019 and has packed out theaters and auditoriums all over Europe and throughout the UK and continues to entertain to this day. It must be good !
Its Tina Time… House lights down, stage lights on and in a flash, Tina Turner’s tribute act thunders onto the stage to rapturous roar from the audience. The Hair, the dress, the legs, the high heels and wow, that voice, you nailed it girl. The impact was immediate, the atmosphere in the Usher Hall flipped like a coin in a coin toss. The audience couldn’t contain themselves, bouncing up only to be bounced back down by the bouncers (in the nicest way possible). It was like they were watching Tina herself but I could see why.
The resemblances were so similar it was eerie in a good way. Accompanied by 3 female backing singers / dancers and a very well arranged band that soon proved themselves to be extremely talented musicians in their own right. Tina Turner is a legend and a pure icon, a Queen of Rock n Roll, and with a back catalogue that few can match I was expecting some memorable songs tonight.
No stone was left un-turned. From start to finish the hits just kept on Rollin’! The dance moves, the body language and the thrusting were all key to Tina Turners character and they were pulled off with ease. Private Dancer, River Deep, Mountain High, Lets Stay Together, What’s Love Got To Do With It, Proud Mary, Simply The Best and Nutbush City Limits all participated in tonight’s show. Tina Turner – A Tribute Act is a sure showstopper. Full of energy, joy, connection, song, dance and sheer good fun, this is a one tribute act I would purely recommend.
Raymond Speedie
themumble.uk 