Described as 'sassy, classy, and a bit bad-assy', award-wining cabaret artist Catherine Alcorn will feature at Sydney's entertainment cabaret venue, Slide.
Her exhilarating cabaret 'Cathartic' revives classic material by introducing experimental sounds, looping, and harmonies. She and her three-piece band of world-class musicians will transform familiar tracks by artists such as Blondie, Coolio, Led Zeppelin, Madonna, and Bon Jovi, into unique and contemporary showcases.
In the past, Catherine has dazzled audiences at Bette Midler ('The Divine Miss Bette') and Fleetwood Mac's Christine McVie ('Go Your Own Way'). Now, she will return to the stage as Catherine herself, blending her signature, soulful vocals, razor-sharp humour and magnetic presence with a collection of personal stories.
The Cabaret Queen took the time to answer some questions about her show.
How long have you been performing as a cabaret artist, and when did it all begin?I’ve been performing forever. The living room counts, right? I experimented with dinner theatre when I was at uni studying acting, but the true lure of cabaret didn’t really hit me until I first saw my friends perform their show at Slide circa 2009. From then, it was on.
What can audiences expect from ‘Cathartic'?
A major singalong and to get to know ME! The song list is SO fun. You’ll know all of them, but as you’ve never heard them before. We’re playing rearrangements of everything from Led Zep, to Blondie, to Beyonce, with a couple of surprises thrown in, and some gossipy showbiz stories to boot. Everyone loves a goss.
Talk us through the selection process in choosing your track list?
Most of these songs have shaped my life in some way or another and I really just wanted to rub some of my soul into these songs and see what we got. And we’ve found gold, Jerry. Gold!
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In what ways have you made each song your own?
I've tried to connect myself to the songs and the relevance they’ve had to me then and now. I live near Kings Cross, and am obsessed by the history of that bohemian era (bring it back!) and the underground characters, so I’ve taken a certain rap song and have rearranged it to be performed through the eyes of Tilly Devine. It's the story telling mixed in with a cool new groove that the band and I have given to these tunes that give them a new identity.
Who are the three band members joining you on stage?
Oh man, these boys are so hot. Joining me are my good (super hot) mates and long time collaborators Jamie Castrisos on percussion, Glenn Moorhouse on guitar and Jeremy 'little finger' Brennan on keys. They’re also on BV’s so we have a really cool four-part harmony/call and response thang going on. It’s pretty epic.
How much practise and preparation has gone into the cabaret?
We've worked together so long that there's stuff in there that we've been messing around with when we have the chance to just hang. This particular show was several months in the making with all four of us coming to the table with ideas of how and which of these songs will work. The collaboration is the best bit and how I love to work the most.
How does it feel to perform as yourself, as opposed to stage characters such as Bette Milder or Christine McVie?
As the title suggests, it's cathartic! Don't get me wrong, I love belting as Bette or crooning as Christine, but now I have the chance to just be myself.
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What s it that you love most about cabaret?
The intimacy and the thrill of being locked away in a roomful of strangers and not knowing what the hell is going to happen.
Why would you encourage audiences to drop by Slide for the show?
Well now that 'RuPaul’s Drag Race' and 'The Real Housewives of NYC' are done for the year, what the hell else are you going to do on a Wednesday night?
