Concert review - Earth Wind and Fire at the NIA

Earth Wind and Fire

NIA, Birmingham

Concert review and photos by Ian Harvey

Earth Wind and Fire promised a Boogie Wonderland at the NIA in Birmingham last night but delivered much more.

Built around the founding trio of singer Phil Bailey, bassist Verdine White and singer and percussionist Ralph Johnson, the 12-piece band recreated perfectly the 70s disco vibes that we of a certain age remember so well.

See our photo gallery to the right

But 40 years down the line, Earth Wind and Fire showed they were much more than mere teen disco fodder, with forays into jazz, blues, African rhythms and samba, via extended solo musical breaks.

Still, with a manic Verdine White providing the visual focal point and Bailey astonishing with his falsetto exploits, it was left to the big hits, from September to Let's Groove and Got To Get You Into My Life to Fantasy to get the audience up and dancing.

With the gorgeous After The Love Has Gone, they put the seal on a perfect soul and funk-filled evening.

The band's founder, Maurice White may have been sidelined by Parkinson's Disease, but the spirit he instilled in Earth Wind and Fire lives on.

Music photography by Ian Harvey / RocktasticPix