The trouble with tribute acts and long-running shows is keeping things fresh. Being both, ‘Blues Brothers – Live’ sometimes feels a little stale, though not for want of trying. The eponymous brothers perform with energy, leaping around the auditorium with fitful enthusiasm and belting out all the mandatory numbers, but they can’t help being upstaged by their backing singers, who shine on soul standards like ‘Think’ and ‘Shake a Tail Feather’. The large session band turns in uniformly fine performances but never cuts loose, and by the time the audience finally gets up to dance, it’s with a slightly embarrassed sense of obligation. Though it’s good enough to get your feet tapping, this will never make you groove like it should.

C eca, 1-27 Aug (not 14), 9.45pm.
tw rating 3/5 | [Dave Fargnoli]