Frank Bennett live at Adelaide Sky Casino

Frank Bennett - SkyCity Casino - Adelaide
Review by Allison O'Donoghue


Dave Wray aka Frank Bennett arguably the best crooner Australia has to offer has serenaded us for decades. Its safe to say he is a National Treasure, an untapped, unutilised resource available for weddings, parties or anything. I sat down with Dave to get the low down on where he's been and it seems he is never idle. Invited to serenade a couple at their wedding in Italy last year, nice gig if you can get it. He spent 10 days post wedding touring the beautiful Almalfi coast and Tuscan countryside. He did a cruise and would like to do more but mainly does exclusive corporate gigs. Frank has appeared on nearly every live to air show on Australian TV yet we don't see much of him these days unless you turn up at the Bronte Bowling Club situated in the Eastern Suburb of Sydney for jazz on a Sunday afternoon with Dave's band, whose name changes each week.

However, Adelaide is in luck. Frank Bennett appears every Thursday for the month of August at the Chandelier Bar at SkyCity Casino. The beautiful old railway station still in operation with the upstairs converted into a casino. Originally an outrage at the time but somehow its worked and at least the building has been preserved on the outside. But I digress.

As soon as Dave hits the stage he transforms into Frank Bennett and effortlessly entertains the masses with Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Andy Williams classics and does it with aplomb. So much so, punters down cards and stop gaming  unable to concentrate with the loud cheers and screams of approval echoing from the Chandelier Bar - which is an open air area with a beautiful enormous glass chandelier hence the name - so his vocals resonate throughout the casino. He is unavoidable. The passing parade stop to drink in his magnetic performance, his vocal pitch perfect with classics such as My Way, Come Fly With Me, New York - New York which had everyone doing high kicks - what is it about that song? Coupled with modern classics like Creep. 


Looking more like a like a 40's Rat Pack gangster dressed in black suit, frilly white shirt and stetson hat the full tilt. He would not look out of place in the latest Underbelly series Razor. But I digress again!!

Every song is delivered with conviction, as smooth as Baileys. Dave doesn't miss a trick. The audience is so close due to the design of the bar, every interaction noted and Frank will comment using his razor sharp wit and intuiting the audience's every move, so if you don't wont any interaction with Frank then I suggest you stand at the back of the room, however you'll miss the antics and that's half of the fun with a Frank Bennett show. He might turn into cranky Franky any minute and that is an hysterical experience. It takes a consummate performer to read the temperature of the crowd without losing the thread of the song, inserting his own dialogue to make it relevant to now. Dave doesn't miss a beat.

 Accompanied by pianist David McAvoy who does well to keep up with Frank and follows him closely as each song might be extended and shortened at a moments notice.

Eventually Dave pulls out his Sax - an instrument he is very adept with, so he's versatile. Again the crowd are up on their feet as the swingers do their best to navigate the small space without bumping into the crowd milling around the bar. I don't think they care - so engrossed in the dance and Franks vocals they're going for it.

Due to the success of this tour Frank Bennett may well extend his Thursday visits at the Casino. If so, don't miss your opportunity to kick up your heals, toss down an apple martini, throw your head back and laugh along with Frank Bennett as he takes you on a glamorous ride into nostalgia when the music was made to dance close together or come out swinging.

Prepare to be crooned and swoon. A must see and its FREE.

Pics by Jennifer Cotterell.

SkyCity Casino
Adelaide City
Old railway station - upstairs.
Every Thursday
Entry: FREE