Cabaret, Cabaret

I might have once or twice mentioned the forthcoming Glasgow Cabaret Festival. It didn’t make its crowd source funding target, but the organizers have managed to find a way to put it on regardless. The complete Festival Programme is now up on the website, and you can keep up to date with what’s on on a daily basis via organizers, Rhymes With Purple’s facebook  pages. Even better, you can follow them on Twitter.

My own involvement in the festival (as one half of Markee de Saw & Bert Finkle) will comprise the following:

GCF 2011: Spangled Cabaret, Mon 10/10, 8pm, Rio Cafe, Partick (Free)

Tales From A Cabaret, as guests of The Creative Martyrs, Tue 11/10, 8pm, The Art Club, Bath St (by donation)

GCF 2011: The Not So Secret Society Festival Special, Wed 12/10, 9.30pm, The Art Club, Bath St (£6, £5 with password!)

GCF 2011: Matsuda Cabaret with Thomas Truax, Thu 13/10, 8pm, The Attic @ The Garage, Sauchiehall St (£8, £6 in advance).

But there’s a WHOLE FESTIVAL to investigate too. Having seen almost all of the acts on offer at one time or another I can honestly say that any ticket you purchase will deliver maximum levels of  entertainment. Here’s my personal top five of the evening shows:

Pop Centre Plus – there’s a reason that Frisky and Mannish are Radio 1 regulars and presented their own slot on the Culture Show. They are simply brilliant at what they do. Their sharp pop rearrangements and mash-ups may be wickedly clever and outrageously funny, but they work on another level too, making you listen to over-familiar songs in a fresh way. They love pop music and they celebrate it with utter exuberance. It’s the top ticket of the festival.

Last Of The Magic Dragons – Piff The Magic Dragon’s deadpan comedy  split the sides of Penn and Teller on their Fool Us, TV show, but you know what? He’s an absolutely fantastic close-up magician. Go for the laughs or go to watch a master conjuror at work or just go to see how sweet canine sidekick Mr Piffles is, but go!

Tales From A Cabaret – The Creative Martyrs are one of the few acts capable of completely and utterly owning an audience. Their Tales From A Cabaret show is a darkly satirical delight which manages to be cynical and naive, funny and tragic, all at the same time. You may be required to participate. You will consider it a pleasure.

Thomas Truax at Matsuda Cabaret – Truax is new to me, but anyone who makes his own amazing instruments of a style that will appeal to fans of Steampunk (but makes me think of old Wilf Lunn), has to be seen and appreciated.

Approaching 80: A Cabaret – US legend, Lynn Ruth Miller is sweet, naughty, utterly charming…and nearly 80. Saw her at the Fringe a couple of years ago and was bewitched. She’s flying in to perform her one-woman show at the Art Club on the Friday night.

I would have added Frank’s Wild Band’s After Hours At The End Of Time to this list too, but I hear it’s already sold out. I’m gutted at missing out, and so should you be if you love the music of Tom Waits (check the Tron for returns though).

Hey, I’ve not even mentioned the hugely entertaining Desmond O’Connor who appears in premiering new show Once Bitten AND Fringe success Vive Le Cabaret (why did I limit myself to a top five?), or the special CabFest editions of Glasgow’s great variety nights, Spangled Cabaret, Gatsby Club and Not So Secret Society, or the late night shenanigans at Nude, or the Fiona Wilson burlesque themed art exhibition.

Seriously, do yourself a favour. Treat yourself to a night out next week.  Any night. Then go to the festival site and choose something to go and see. You’ll love it.