REVIEW: String Revolution - Honour Productions

From the very first downbeat, this concert made it abundantly clear that this was not going to be a polite evening of string quartet. Nope, this was strings unleashed.

The event, hosted by Nicholas Tam in partnership with Honour Productions, began with an exhilarating rendition of Adele’s Rolling in the Deep. The performance showcased four outstanding string musicians, accompanied by keyboard and drums, all enhanced by dramatic programmed lighting, swirling fog, and a fully electrifying sound experience. Free earplugs were provided at the entrance, as the performance was magnificently loud and immersive!

One of the most impressive elements of the performance was the cohesion between the instrumentalists. With string superstars Kat Augustakis (Violin I), Nyssa Corney (Violin II), and Asa Deacon (Violin III), alongside Sam Hewerdine on keys, Mitchell Patullo on guitar, Julian Sagan on bass, and Nathanael Clyde Tadle on drums. With no conductor, this ensemble was completely locked in with each other, listening attentively and responding instinctively. The setlist itself was clearly curated with purpose, personality, and a deep love of music spanning all genres. And this year’s song choices were absolutely fire!

The program dipped into classical territory with Fauré’s Pavane Op. 50 and Corelli’s Christmas Concerto, offering moments of elegance and restraint before launching straight back into contemporary and film. Nicholas Tam on cello beautifully led Hans Zimmer’s Time from Inception. The slow tempo, rich tone, and low pulsing orange lights created a moment that begged the audience to close their eyes and simply feel. It was cinematic, meditative, and quietly breathtaking. Then came Test Drive from How To Train Your Dragon by John Powell, and honestly.... goosebumps from the first note. Somehow, with just six instruments, the ensemble created the illusion of a full orchestra. The drive, the lift, the sheer scale of sound was astonishing.

Vivaldi’s Winter received a rock-infused makeover that absolutely ripped. Cymbals crashed, the harpsichord shimmered, and each violinist had their own frantic, virtuosic solo moment. When the kick drum hit and fully synchronised lighting blasted along with it, I genuinely felt like moshing.... at a string concert.

The millennial heart of the setlist then made itself known quickly! We veered into Britney Spears’ Toxic in a killer metal arrangement, Linkin Park’s Numb, and a Green Day medley featuring American Idiot, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, 21 Guns, Holiday and more — all expertly arranged by Kat. There was something genuinely surreal about hearing the strings absolutely slay the melody of Numb while my brain filled in the lyrics from 23 years ago! It felt like an out-of-body experience. Nostalgia hit hard during Boulevard of Broken Dreams, where I could see Asa mouthing the words while playing. These performers weren’t just executing notes; they were living the music. They were clearly having an absolute ball onstage, and I hope they could hear the whoops, cheers, and very enthusiastic reactions coming from the audience.

This was a show for all ages. I even brought along some aspiring music students of mine, and watching their faces light up was incredibly special. The lighting design deserves its own standing ovation. It went so hard, elevating every genre shift and accentuating the drama of each piece. It was bold, dynamic, and perfectly matched to the music.

Later highlights included an absolutely ferocious arrangement of Ozzy Osbourne’s Mr Crowley, arranged by Nyssa and Mitchell, complete with electric guitar solos that went all in. And of course, the Pirates of the Caribbean theme absolutely slapped!

The encore was the cherry on top... Holding Out for a Hero, the Shrek 2 version, made famous by Jennifer Saunders. It was perfection. No notes. A joyous, cathartic, crowd-pleasing end to an already stellar night. This concert powerfully showcased the unlimited potential of string instruments in contemporary music. It's always a loud, thrilling, and mind-blowing experience and I look forward to the next one! May I please request Avril Lavigne's I'm With You and the scores to Spirit: The Stallion of the Cimarron and Peter Pan (2003).

Photographs: Jamie Cripwell Photography