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The project is built around the nucleus of songwriter, performer & vocalist Lucinda Shaw and composer & percussionist James Lees. From 1994-2002, they were key members of celebrated Brisbane band ISIS who released four CD's, toured Australia and regularly packed venues in Brisbane with their highly visual shows and special events. As a writer & performer, Lucinda has produced a series of stage works for La Boite Theatre's ‘Shock Of The New', Metro Arts' ‘Cab Sav' and the Magdelena Festival. As a musician, James has worked with many Brisbane bands (including Chalk, Saturn South, Tylea & The Imaginary Music Score and Speed Of Purple) as well as producing experimental cabaret & performance events. Together, they have produced performance & music for Brisbane Pride Festival & Brisbane Cabaret Festival.
In 2007, their latest collaboration, Silver Sircus, was conceived. Bringing together their shared theatrical & musical backgrounds, the project has grown to become a 7 piece musical collective featuring some of Brisbane's most eclectic musicians. They have performed for Brisbane Cabaret Festival (‘07 & ‘08), QLD Poetry Festival (‘08), Brisbane Pride Festival (‘08, ‘09 & ‘11), The Brisbane Writer's Fringe Festival (‘08), Murder Ballads Chapter II @ Judith Wright Centre (‘10) and the Adelaide Fringe Festival ('09).
In July 2008, Silver Sircus released their debut CD, a 4-Track EP entitled "Sovereignty". Following this, Silver Sircus quickly released their second CD "Dark Back Garden" which features one extended spoken word piece accompanied by tonal soundscapes and was launched at the 2008 QLD Poetry Festival."Theatrical, sinister & hopeful, the Sovereignty EP is brooding & lyrically brilliant" - Rave Magazine The band have spent the first part of 2011 hard at work in the studio, again with Lachlan Magoo co-producing with the band, creating what will become their third release and debut full length album "To The Place That Is Home", due for release in November 2011."It's almost entirely about death, loss & grief, I suppose these are things everyone can relate to. It's true that Lucinda & I have both experienced a lot of emotional upheaval over the last two years in various ways and I am pleased as an artist to see that a lot of this has seeped into the music. For me it's something shadowy that is there on the sidelines, like a fluttering in your peripheral vision. It's certainly not a Break Up album by any means but anyone who listens to it who notices these subtle shades... I am a fan of dark music and lyrics but there must always be hope and beauty in there too." Interview with James Lees, Rave Magazine, June 2011
For Melbourne Fringe Festival, Silver Sircus bring their new cabaret-noir stage work to the prestigious Butterfly Club... performing in intimate 4-piece mode (drums/loops/piano/violin/vocals), the show features most of the new album, a couple of left-field covers and revised versions of songs from the "Soveriengty" EP."Silver Sircus began their performance and the Zoo audience was drawn to the stage like moths to a flame. Five minutes in and lead singer, Lucinda Shaw, had already stolen the show with her siren song ‘Sweet Amnesia'. Enchanting is perhaps the best way to describe this very original Brisbane band who have combined classic instruments like the cello, violin and operatic vocals with drums, guitar and talent to transcend the ordinary. Their departure from the stage left me feeling bereft." Kate Swanson, Live Guide, June 2011
