Live at Frankie’s coming to Redcliffe

Published 5:00am 12 October 2023

Words by Kylie Knight

Acclaimed performer Thomas Armstrong-Robley will bring his latest show to Redcliffe Entertainment Centre for one special performance on October 17.

Live at Frankie’s: The Songs of Valli & Sinatra celebrates the music of the two musical trailblazers.

Originally created in 2017 by international vocalist, award-winning director and acclaimed theatre performer Armstrong-Robley, the show’s various iterations have been seen across the world, on land and at sea by about 500,000 people.

Live at Frankie’s features a line-up of musicians from across Queensland and is fronted by Armstrong-Robley as lead vocalist who delivers both the cool crooning and quick wit of Sinatra, and the soaring falsetto and light tenor of Valli.

The show, which will soon enter its seventh year, has recently been revamped with additions to the set-list, new material centred on Armstrong-Robley’s time directing and playing Tommy DeVito in the hit musical Jersey Boys, and new orchestra arrangements written by jazz musician Dylan Russell.

This heartfelt musical journey is filled with great music and humorous anecdotes, with a focus on audience engagement.

“I’m very excited to be returning to Redcliffe for my one and only performance in the area for 2023,” Armstrong-Robley says.

“Redcliffe, and in particular the Entertainment Centre, always have and always will be my proverbial home-pitch. I’ve done hundreds of performances in that venue over the years and I feel like I literally grew up on that stage, in front of our wonderful local patrons. It’s always a homecoming.

“Everything I achieve or experience in my career will always be inherently linked to the Moreton Bay region. If not for companies and key figures within our community taking chances on me from a young age, I wouldn’t have had the confidence nor credibility to move overseas and try to make it as a performer.

“The version of Live at Frankie’s that we will be performing at the REC on October 17 is a newly revamped iteration of the show. There’s a heap of new songs, beautiful new arrangements and more focus on my time in the show Jersey Boys which I directed and performed at the venue back in 2021. Redcliffe will see this version of the show for the very first time.

“People can expect 90 minutes of music that they know and love, heartfelt stories and plenty of laughs. It’s a feel-good show that should tap into your memory bank and have you singing and dancing along.”