The 2024 Sydney Fringe Festival is set to erupt this September, bringing more than 400 events to four vibrant precincts: Inner West, Central, Eastern, and Greater Sydney.
The festival promises a dazzling array of theatre, music, comedy, dance, visual art, circus, and cabaret that will light up the city.
This year’s highlights are nothing short of spectacular: two headline performances by the globally acclaimed Soweto Gospel Choir, an expanded takeover of The Rocks featuring the Sydney Fringe Sideshow, and the debut of the Queer Hub at Qtopia Sydney, a groundbreaking addition celebrating diversity and inclusion.
Check out the programme here.
Adding to the excitement, the electrifying ‘27 Club’ from Amplified House will make its Sydney debut at the Fringe. This high-octane tribute to rock legends like Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, and Jimi Hendrix, which has already mesmerised audiences in Adelaide and beyond, is now set to shake the Sydney Spiegeltent to its foundations.
Image © Saige Prime
Carla Lippis, one of the powerhouse vocalists at the helm of ‘27 Club’, couldn’t be more thrilled about the show’s Sydney debut. "We've been doing the show in Adelaide for four seasons and taken it on tour around Australia, but never to the heart of Sydney," she says, clearly buzzing with excitement. "Sydney Fringe has really fired up, and it’s great to see pockets of fringe opening up across the country. We’re ready to bring this show to the big smoke, to Sydney."
Described as a "full frontal rock 'n' roll assault", ‘27 Club’ offers something more than just a concert – it’s an experience, a sonic blitz of legendary anthems reimagined with fresh twists. "You’ll know the songs, but we interpret them in a way you wouldn’t have heard before," Lippis explains. "It’s like this wall of sound that’s still super enjoyable and accessible but played in a fresh way. People come to see this show three or four times – they just can’t get enough."
What makes ‘27 Club’ so irresistible? According to Lippis, it's the alchemy that unfolds on stage. The performers' chemistry is palpable, pushing the show’s energy to electrifying heights. "We all bring something different to the table – our voices, our styles – and when you mix us together, it’s like a rock 'n' roll cocktail."
Image © Saige Prime
All the ingredients are unique, but they blend perfectly, creating something that's greater than the sum of its parts. It's that potent mix that keeps the audience coming back, night after night, for another round.
But it’s not just the music that resonates; it’s the way these legendary artists' stories are honoured and embodied by the cast. Lippis shares a personal moment in the show where she performs Nirvana’s 'Lithium' in a way that’s both vulnerable and powerful. "It’s really special to me because I get to show my vulnerability while still belting my head off. We’re channelling the raw emotion of these icons, but not necessarily living the same crazy lives they did. It’s about embodying their vocal prowess and their stories without losing ourselves."
In the midst of ‘27 Club’, Lippis recounts a moment that encapsulates the show’s raw, unfiltered energy. As Dusty Lee Stephensen takes the stage, he morphs into what Lippis describes as a rock 'n' roll medium, channelling the likes of Michael Hutchence and Jim Morrison. The audience's response is immediate and visceral – people leap from their seats, caught in the frenzy of the performance. Lippis and her co-star Sarah McLeod can only sit back, grinning at the spectacle, as the crowd loses itself in the moment. McLeod affectionately dubs this Dusty’s "sexy Jesus" moment, a nod to his undeniable stage presence and natural charisma. It's in these unplanned, thrilling moments where the true spirit of ‘27 Club’ shines, drawing the audience into a shared experience of unbridled rock 'n' roll.
Image © Saige Prime
Sydney Fringe is known for its eclectic performances, and ‘27 Club’ is set to be a stand-out show which will have audiences buzzing long after the final chord is struck.
Lippis sees the show as not just an event, but a gateway for festival-goers to explore the broader landscape of Sydney Fringe.
"Hopefully, people will come, get drawn in, and then take a punt on another show as well. Live performance is an art form, and unless we support it, it will get lost. F... being at home all the time – you want to see something in the flesh with your eyeballs and your ears because when it’s good, it’s damn good."
For those who haven’t yet been pulled into the wild orbit of ‘27 Club,’ brace yourself for an unforgettable ride. Lippis describes it best: "It’s like we’re channelling some shamanistic energy on stage. The show’s over in a flash, and you’re left thinking, 'What just happened?'" It’s more than just a performance; it’s an experience that hits you hard and leaves you reeling, in the best possible way.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the 27 Club legends or simply on the hunt for an unparalleled rock experience, this is the show you can’t afford to miss at the Sydney Fringe.
Tickets are on sale now.
'27 Club' plays Spiegeltent Festival Garden – Entertainment Quarter 30 August-29 September. Sydney Fringe is on from 1-30 September.
