Fringe World Presents Festival 2013, 1/25-2/24

Start spreading the news! After sell-out and return seasons across Australia, Trevor Ashley (Hairspray, Little Orphan traAshley Fat Swan) channels the superb talents of the iconic Liza Minnelli. From pill popping to her showbiz family, Liza dishes the dirt like you've never seen before, accompanied by a big band & featuring all her greatest hits!

Ali McGregor returns, coming straight from sold out tours at Adelaide and Edinburgh Festivals, with her new show Alchemy. Ali draws on all her influences, from opera to trashy 80s pop divas and rock gods. Backed by a trio of jazz musicians she creates hybrids and mash-ups from the likes of Salt n Pepa, Blur & INXS.

Bawdy, brash and as fabulous as the original, critically acclaimed Sydney performer Catherine Alcorn channels the legendary Bette Midler in the smash-hit cabaret, The Divine Miss Bette with the all singing, all dancing staggering Harlettes! Featuring showstoppers such as Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Delta Dawn, Wind Beneath My Wings, From A Distance and The Rose. Catherine has been trained by Steve Ostrow, the man who discovered Bette Midler.

Local soul band Stratosfunk celebrates the music of legendary Etta James, join them in a hip-wiggling, soul-stirring good time. Stratosfunk have swelled to a spectacular 10-piece band for the occasion and feature special guests jazz diva Libby Hammer and RockaBilly King, Rusty Pinto.

It's going to be an action packed, amazing summer!

Trevor Ashley is Liza (on an E)
Genre: Cabaret
Venue: De Parel Spiegeltent, Urban Orchard, Perth Cultural Centre
Season: 10-16 February 2013 // All shows at 8.15pm

After sell-out and return seasons across Australia, Trevor Ashley, known for his recent performance as Edna Turnblad in the hit musical Hairspray, channels the superb talents of the iconic Liza Minnelli in Liza (On an E) (plus some special appearances by her mother). From her marriage to Australia's song-and-dance darling, Peter Allen, to pill popping and her showbiz family, Liza dishes the dirt on her extraordinary life like you've never seen her before, accompanied by a big band, as she brings the house down with all her greatest hits. The critically acclaimed Liza (On an E) is a "must see" evening that will have you laughing, crying and screaming for more.

See Trevor Ashley perform as Miss Liza Minnelli https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4VCMBE_8sM

Ali McGregor's Alchemy
Genre: Cabaret
Venue: The West Australian Idolize Spiegeltent, Perth Cultural Centre
Season: 11-17 February 2013 // All shows at 9:30pm

Direct from a smash hit season in Edinburgh, Ali's new show 'Alchemy' draws on all of her influences from Opera, Burlesque, and trashy 80's pop divas for inspiration. Working with the finest jazz musicians she creates unique hybrids from popular songs, standards and blues. Expect to hear unique mash-ups and genre-defying versions of Madonna, Salt 'n Pepa, Radiohead and Elvis like they were sung by a 40's siren in a Las Vegas club. Ali is one of this country's most versatile singers and her incredible vocal range and entertaining and emotive performance style brings a truly individual flavour to some of your most favourite songs.

Excerpts from Alchemy at Edinburgh Fringe 2012 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg7eL5-Xh_k

The Divine Miss Bette

Genre: Cabaret
Venue: The West Australian Idolize Spiegeltent, Perth Cultural Centre
Season: 18-24 February 2013 // All shows at 8pm

Bawdy, brash and just as fabulous as the original, The Divine Miss Bette will push all your boundaries. This is your chance to become intimately acquainted with one of the greatest cabaret artists of our time, when charismatic performer Catherine Alcorn channels Bette Midler, transporting you back to the Palace Theatre, New York 1973 for a cabaret tribute to a timeless diva. Catherine has been trained by the one and only Steve Ostrow, the man who discovered Bette Midler and who owned the Continental Baths where he paired Bette and Barry Manilow together to make history. Showcasing musical hits spanning four decades, Catherine effortlessly moves between the sensual ballads and upbeat melodies - from Friends, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and Miss Otis Regrets to the mesmerising Am I Blue, The Rose and Hello in There.

Check out Catherine and the Harlettes singing 'In the Mood'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOmngcdgvE0

STRATOSFUNK Tell Mama: The Music of Etta James

Genre: Music
Venue: The West Australian Idolize Spiegeltent, Perth Cultural Centre
Season: 20-23 February 2013 // All shows at 6pm

Celebrate with Stratosfunk in a hip-wiggling, soul-stirring good time as they bring a little something of their own to the music and to the songs such as At Last, I Just Want To Make Love To You, Good Rock'n Daddy and Something's Got a Hold on Me, made famous by this great lady of Soul. Ms James was not easy to pigeonhole and her style spanned a variety of music genres including blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, soul, gospel and jazz. She is the winner of six Grammys and 17 Blues Music Awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, the Blues Hall of Fame in 2001, and the Grammy Hall of Fame in both 1999 and 2008.

Featuring ten piece high-energy band Stratosfunk with special guests renown Perth jazz artist Libby Hammer and RockaBilly King, Rusty Pinto.

To see the band in action please visit: http://vimeo.com/40241256