Amp Fiddler - The Melkweg

Complete with felt hat, lapels and shades, Amp Fiddler and his entourage arrive onstage and proceed to give us some funk. The musicians and two soulful, smiling, swinging backing singers are all clad in Afro Strut t-shirts, as we later find under his top attire, is Amp Fiddler.

The evening is not without drama. Fiddler faux-stutters into a cover of Crazy as his backing vocalists shout him to “spit it out”, and impromptu dancing, celebrated synthesising and spotlighted drum solos (the well-accomplished drummer was actually on a side stage rather than hidden away at the back, which was certainly refreshing) are never far from the menu. On top of this, Amp Fiddler fans would appear to be the happiest people in the world. The crowd, who have some impressive dance moves themselves, are never without a smile on their faces, and the mood becomes more ecstatic as the night progresses. This is perhaps due to Fiddler’s own apparent optimism, as he encourages his audience to sing with him and take on a mantra from one of his songs – “deep in my mind I believe everything is possible.”

Before the encore, Fiddler’s entourage leave him and he moves from one mic. stand to another, encouraging the crowd to be his backing accompaniment – a task that they are more than willing to perform.

Naturally, the group return to the stage: In the Grande Finale Fiddler breaks down his act for us, encouraging the crowd to sing for each band member to come forward and individually show us what they do best. An accomplished performer amongst his entourage of talent, Amp Fiddler is once and for all bringing funk and soul to the 00’s.

Amp Fiddler - The Melkweg, Amsterdam - 15/10/07
Written by Emily Feist

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