Bloom – Paraoa Brewing CO, 6 September 2024: Review

Bloom brings Adele and Amy Winehouse to life at the Paraoa Brewing CO.  

It’s Friday night, and I find myself heading to the Paraoa Brewing CO in Stanmore Bay, a venue that’s quickly establishing itself as the new Kings Arms of Auckland.

With a reputation for hosting top-tier acts, there’s an undeniable buzz in the air tonight as fans gather at the bar, waiting to see Australian artist Amanda Canzurlo, known as Bloom.

But tonight, she’s channeling two of the greatest divas of our time, Adele and Amy Winehouse, in The Adele and Amy Songbook. 

Covering artists like Adele and Amy Winehouse is no small feat. These are powerhouse voices, each with their own emotional depth and raw talent. It could easily tip towards disaster, but from the moment Bloom steps on stage, she makes it clear, she’s not here to imitate. She’s here to celebrate their music. 

The show begins with an emotional video montage of Adele and Amy reflecting on their lives, with Amy’s raw and vulnerable moments of her struggles with addiction setting a somber, reflective tone.

Then, Bloom walks out, dressed in a sleek black gown, her presence commanding yet approachable.

Her first song, Adele’s Hometown Glory, is instantly captivating. Bloom’s voice, with its warm, rich tone, channels Adele’s signature sound so closely that it’s hard to believe this isn’t the real thing. 

Between songs, Bloom breaks the ice with a bit of self-deprecating humour, acknowledging that few in the audience probably know who she is.

We’re not a traditional tribute show, and I’m not here to pretend to be Adele or Amy Winehouse, she says. We’re here to celebrate their music.

And celebrate, she does. Bloom’s rendition of Make You Feel My Love is tender and heartfelt, while her soaring performance of Valerie hits all the right emotional peaks, leaving the audience spellbound. 

What truly stands out is Bloom’s ability to transition seamlessly between the soulful contralto of Amy Winehouse and Adele’s powerful range.

When she launches into Amy’s Back to Black, Bloom captures the raw emotion and smoky tone of Winehouse’s voice, honouring Amy’s legacy without trying to mimic her troubled persona.

Her performance of Me and Mr. Jones has a playful swagger, and the audience can’t help but join in, cheering at Bloom’s cheeky comment about whether anyone minds a bit of swearing before the song kicks off. 

Highlights of the night include a chilling rendition of Carol King’s Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow that feels like a soulful homage to both Amy and Adele’s vocal stylings. The entire room is entranced, clapping and swaying along.  

Later, the rhythm-driven Water Under the Bridge pumps with the precision of the backing band’s drums and bass, adding energy to the night. 

Bloom’s mezzo-soprano voice hits so close to Adele’s that, if you closed your eyes, you’d almost swear you were hearing the real deal. The only giveaway? The absence of Adele’s signature cockney twang on those lingering notes.

But here’s the kicker. Bloom isn’t here to imitate. She doesn’t need to. Her voice is a force of nature all on its own, carving out a space where she pays homage to Adele without ever slipping into mimicry.

This isn’t about impersonation, it’s about celebration, and Bloom brings her own powerhouse energy to the stage, proving she’s got the vocal chops to stand tall in her own right. 

The standout moment of the night? No question, it was Bloom’s jaw-dropping take on Adele’s 2012 Bond anthem Skyfall.

As soon as that haunting piano intro hit, you could feel the room tighten with anticipation. Bloom didn’t just hit the notes, she soared through them, effortlessly sliding between harmonies before launching into those iconic peaks.

It was like watching a vocal tightrope act, with Bloom playing the sherpa to Adele’s mountaineer, scaling those towering notes with precision and power. Few singers on this planet can pull off what she did. She took on that mountain and nearly stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the original. 

As the night draws to a close, Bloom’s encore, Adele’s Rolling in The Deep, feels like a final triumph. A song that blends soul, grit, and heartfelt emotion, which perfectly encapsulates what Bloom has achieved in her tribute to these two iconic artists.  

Having first discovered Adele on Later… with Jools Holland back in 2007, I’ve long admired her unmatched voice and range. Admittedly, I was skeptical about how tonight would measure up. Yet, as I left Paraoa Brewing Co., I found myself thoroughly impressed.

Bloom didn’t just meet my expectations, she shattered them. This wasn’t just a tribute show, it was an experience, a celebration of two of the greatest voices of our time, brought to life by a true talent in her own right. 

Paul Marshall

Photography by Leonie Moreland

1 / 40

Blooms band:
Amanda Canzurlo  (Bloom) 
James Morley,  Bass ( The Angels, Choirboys, Jon English) 
Eddy Santacreu, Guitar 
Trevor Stockton,  Keys 
David Kirby, Drums  

Blooms Set List
Hometown Glory
Make You Feel My Love
Back To Black
Set Fire to The Rain
Love Is a Losing Game
Skyfall
You Know I’m No Good
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
Easy On Me
Water Under the Bridge
Send My Love
Me And Mr. Jones
Tears Dry on Their Own
Rumour Has It
Rehab
Valerie
Someone Like You 
Don’t Stop (Fleetwood Mac)
Rolling In the Deep