The booming bass was felt throughout Christchurch Town Hall as the sold-out Synthony crowd buzzed with good vibes. The venue was transformed into a high-energy nightclub full of amazing visuals and a killer sound system. Cherie Mathieson had everyone singing along to ‘Show Me Love’ as she nailed it with her powerful voice, not missing a beat. Looking around, there wasn’t a single seat in use as every person was dancing along to track after track of club favourites. The collab between Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, DJs and live singers, all performing with an incredible light and laser show, made for an absolutely banging night.

Kicking off with DJ Craig Shaw, the mood was set and everyone was amped up as he played a sensational set. When the orchestra took to the stage the audience went wild, they were ready to take a journey through the last three decades of club classics. DJ General Lee was tasked with DJing alongside the orchestra, who were kept perfectly in time under the guidance of conductor Peter Thomas – looking like he was having the time of his life!

The mix of performers on stage complemented each other perfectly. Lewis McCallum looked oh-so-cool in his sunnies as he dominated the stage with his saxophone prowess; he helped to open the show and played along during ‘Levels’ – a tribute to the legendary DJ Avicii. The singers of the night were spot on and captivated everyone. Jenny B brought the house down with ‘Rhythm of the Night’. Kings killed it with ‘Galvanize’ as he performed alongside the strong violins of the orchestra, a very striking number. Other favourites included ‘Renegade Master’, ‘Right Here, Right Now’, ‘Cola’ and ‘Destination Unknown’. The night would not be complete without an encore and as Peter Thomas took to the stage again, ‘Sandstorm’ by Darude started playing, and the crowd erupted into a frenzy – a fantastic end to a unique and high-energy night. DJ Greg Churchill closed off the night with a set that kept the crowd wanting more and satisfying everyone’s dance cravings, with the action going late into the night.

The orchestra cut through the music at all the right moments and the set list showcased all aspects of the music beautifully. The city was swept up by the combination of electronic dance music backed by a classical orchestra with live singers and an awe-inspiring light show. This was the first time Synthony has moved beyond its Auckland roots and the magical musical lineup delivered the goods and then some!

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Photo credit: Lauren Constable