Review: The All Or Nothing Experience (05/07/25)

The All or Nothing Experience – Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe – 5th July 2025

Reviewed by Bryan Davidson, of Suffolk Sound (https://suffolksound.com)

I had only just started school in the mid 60’s, but I will always remember my father tuning in the radio set to listen to Radio Caroline & Radio London to hear those up-to-date tunes. Hearing the fresh sounds of the era was so joyful.

One song I remember singing along to was, 'Sha, La, La Lee' by The Small Faces.

Tonight’s show took you flooding back to memories through music, making you realise what great times & sounds they were.

The show, which originally started in the West End as a musical, was narrated by the talented Carol Harrison - the writer, producer, director, and an actress of the show. Her pedigree of acting & writing goes back to many well-known popular shows such as: Minder, Casualty, London’s Burning, Brushstrokes and EastEnders, to name just a few.

We were taken back to London, early 60’s, when Carol was a very young girl and a friend and neighbour of Steve Marriot.

Steve Marriot and Ronnie Laine, who connected over their love of music, formed The Small Faces, with Kenney Jones, and Jimmy Winston later joining on keyboards.

The band on stage not only sounded like them but looked like them as they belted out the hits.

'Itchycoo Park', 'Lazy Sunday', 'The Universal', 'Tin Soldier', 'Here Comes the Nice', 'Sha, La, La, La Lee', were just a few, oh and not forgetting that UK No 1 hit, 'All Or Nothing'.

Yes we were taken back in time, with song, dance, look and history, to what was happening in that decade.

The audience went back to the Mod and hippy days of the 60’s. They couldn’t contain themselves and were up from their seats and dancing and swaying in the aisles

It was a real good party feeling atmosphere, and it was great to see the costume changes to reflect this period. I loved how the artists really got the crowd involved with the show.

On the way home I was singing Sha La, La Lee, just as I did all those years ago in front of the Radio.

Just wish I brought a Vespa Scooter along to get real good feel.

Thank you, All or Nothing Experience, and The Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe, for a great night.

Photo: Bryan Davidson