This was the show I was meant to have begun my Fringe 2026 experience with, a fairly late addition to the roster at Out of the Blue’s invitation. But a 235-minute delay (actually longer than that, but who’s counting when a full refund was given) to my train journey up to Edinburgh meant I was still somewhere in the Lake District by the time OOTB’s performance that day came to a close. So it ended up being the last show I saw instead. And what a show these lads put on.
Speaking parts were kept to a minimum, with a brief introduction, a mid-show spiel about Helen & Douglas House, an Oxfordshire-based children’s hospice, the first in the world, and a couple of very brief check-ins to ensure we were still enjoying proceedings. Otherwise, there wasn’t a lot of banter, as the vocal harmony group let the music sing for itself.
I’m getting a bit too old to recognise one chart music song from another these days, though there were some recognisable tunes for us oldies. It was easy to forget, especially when a rendering of Bon Jovi’s ‘You Give Love a Bad Name’ went through more than one key change, that there wasn’t a band backing up these boys’ vocals. A medley of songs from Disney’s Frozen (1 and 2) was quite inventive. Indeed, the overall choice of songs was a healthy mixture of high-octane numbers and mellow ballads. And these guys go for it, singing their hearts out like a massive boyband. I found it mesmerising to watch.
The beatboxer – or, to use his proper title, vocal percussionist, Otis de Ville Morel, had his own solo (as did, I think, everyone else), and like all the best concerts, this one was over all too soon. An invigorating and lively experience.
Review by Chris Omaweng
Following their fan-favourite run at the Fringe last year, Out of the Blue are back again for their 22nd year with tighter harmonies, crazier choreography and enough high notes to reach the stratosphere! OOTB is Oxford University’s internationally acclaimed a cappella group and, after jet-setting across the world earlier this year, are excited to return to their home turf to showcase new talent and new songs. Don’t miss your chance to see these singers in action for an hour of incredible music with something for everyone, from Olivia Rodrigo to Jon Bon Jovi!
Thomas Wong (President, bass)
Will Jacobs (Music Director, tenor 2)
Tristan Hood (Business Manager, baritone)
Ronav Jain (tenor 1)
Mars Proppé (tenor 1)
Levi Asare-Dompreh (tenor 1)
Grayson Palermo (tenor 2)
Niall Blaskett (tenor 2)
Jack Prior (tenor 2)
Thomas Zhang (baritone)
Izagani Aquino (baritone)
Nicholas Moreau (bass)
Otis de Ville Morel (vocal percussion)
OUT OF THE BLUE
Assembly George Square Studios at the Edinburgh Fringe
5 to 31 August 2026
