"Songs For Swinging Ukuleles" at the Not Television Festival, Chelsea Theatre, 30 August 2014
"Tricity’s show, Songs for Swinging Ukuleles, marks the flowering of a longstanding interest in man-drag: earlier in the year, she chopped off her very long hair
and bought a very nice suit and the rest is history. It’s a charming
suite of songs, a slow-burner that eases you in with a couple of saucy
call-and-response numbers about swinging of various kinds then starts to
soar. It reaches a dreamy new plane with an infectious waltz about
joining the circus (enhanced by audience bum-bum-bumming along), goes
dark (red bike light excepted) for a bedroom thriller, tugs the heart
with a love song of impossible simplicity then sends you out with a
foot-stomping anthem backed by volunteer voguers. Throughout, there are
opportunities to lend a hand, in gentle yet essential ways: singing
along here, using keys and change as percussion there, being dragged on
stage to do drag on stage for a couple of brave souls at the end."
Ben Walters, nottelevision.net
"Songs For Swinging Ukuleles" at the Edinburgh Fringe, 1-17 August 2014
Here are some audience and published reviews for my solo show, 8.45pm nightly in the Lounge at Laughing Horse @ The Counting House. Full show details here:
“Full disclosure: I’ve been working alongside Tricity Vogue
for a couple of years now, and this year had the honour of being the technician
for her show, Songs For Swinging Ukuleles. Consequently, this meant I heard
each of the nine songs in the set sixteen times, which some might consider a
way of killing any kind of music. Repetition might satiate that fix you need to
hear a hook again, but it can kill even the best songs.
And yet I would wake up every August morning with one of the
songs from Swinging Ukuleles playing in my head, and I would still be happily
singing along later that evening when watching the show. It’s a testament to
Vogue’s songwriting skill, crafting a set of songs that are friendly, catchy,
humorous, and lasting beyond the end of the show. In most cases I’m not one for
live albums, but with Swinging Ukuleles, I have come to relive the live experience
over and over, enjoying the audience participation or additional backing vocals
and, consequently, would love such a product to come about. Indeed, even Vogue
seems to thrive with a live audience before her. A small crowd of people who
sit, smile, and won’t turn their noses up at some audience participation seems
to be the impetus that allows Vogue’s personality to shine.
Transferred into studio time, though, the songs are a
delight. Though just Vogue and her ukulele, the sonic effects play a key role:
On “The Bedroom In A Dangerous Place” Vogue’s voice is affected to sound like a
muffled trumpet in the dark distance; and the cheeky yelp on “Bad Showgirl” is
a delightful detail. But sweet numbers like “Run Away And Join The Circus”, the
alliterative double entendre of “My Favourite Fanny”, or the delicate “I Spent
The Night With You” stand on their own. She slides between personal intimacy
and rousingly relatable choruses at the flick of a wrist. All this might be
criticized as being the subject of bias, but I’m not lying when I say that
weeks on from the last performance of Songs For Swing Ukuleles, I still wake up
in the morning to the chorus to “Don’t Let Them Drag You Down” playing in my
head.”
“Bowled over by Tricity Vogue's ingenious mixture of her own
songs coupled with costume flair (loved the suit!) on the theme which amusingly
explored gender. She cleverly entertained us with a collection of original
lyrics on varied topics from 'Swing' with delightful sexual innuendos, through
educating us on alliteration (focussing on 'Fanny'!) and scary tales of
nightmares, whilst allowing us to evocatively share her personal experience and
romance. All the while the audience was happily drawn in and encouraged to
participate by her spontaneous warm and witty interaction with them, singing
along with choruses no more taxing than "Bum,bum,bum!! The tunes resonated
and entertained and we all loved it. This was a consummate performance. Miss
Vogue you are a star.”
Jo Millar via Edfringe.com
“Great show, great entertainment. Audience very happy to
'bum' along! Also wonderful ukelele playing - better than other ukelele players
charging much more in the fringe... Enjoy the circus! Thanks!”
Fiona and Aileen via Edfringe.com
“An hour in the company of the most charming, witty,
entertaining cabaret artist. The intimate venue encourages frequent audience
participation and you will want to join in. An hour is not enough and we would
have happily spent another hour in the company of Tricity Vogue.”
Keith Phillips via Edfringe.com
“It don't mean a thing if you ain't got that swing... And
Tricity NEVER fails to disappoint... With more witty self-reinvention than
Madonna ever envisaged, and command of her small instrument, she will woo the crowds
at the Fringe once more with her delightful one-woman show. We sat in a first
night throng, overflowing from the small room, in sweltering heat, but even
that could not dent the lady's 'cool'. It was a charming delight of a show. And
the singalong chorus from the Circus song had everyone happily 'bumming
along'... For days afterwards in fact, as my hosts could not stop singing and
at any given moment that refrain would be trilled along to. Gorgeous. And as
ever, hilarious, and poignant too. Tricity takes you on a journey. And you will
only ever leave entertained and upbeat. And that, in the world at large at the
moment, is a gift. Keep strumming, you talented plucker, you. :)”
Amelia Clark via Edfringe.com
“Tricity Vogue is one of those performers who I would travel
anywhere to see, Her Songs are Beautiful and memorable, I have been singing
them in my head all week now...”
Steve Mackenzie via Edfringe.com
“I turned up at this show and was greeted by the most
charming lady herself in a three piece suit. She looked so cool. Before the actual
snow started Tricity was charming the audience with her cheeky ways and hit.
The show itself is a delight. It went by too quick as Tricity played her funny
and catchy tunes and encouraged the audience to join in with her, which I find
always such fun.”
Clive Holland via Edfringe.com
“The sheer number of shows at the Fringe can make it hard to
truly find a niche, but Tricity Vogue has managed it with her ukulele drag
cabaret. Playing songs on a variety of themes, it’s impressive how much
enthusiasm she’s able to eke out of the cramped room her audience were up for
it within minutes. Vogue involves them in almost every song: two people are
hauled up as drag backing dancers, one is the object of a love song and another
provides atmosphere by holding up a bike light (why yes, this is a free show!).
Vogue ends on a number from an in-progress “drag action musical” that I’m now
desperate to see. A storming slice of cabaret.” ****
ThreeWeeks
"Great show this evening, loved it!
Came away thinking about 3 things: Victor Victoria (predictably); Regina Spektor (your scary night song); and Chaucer\'s Wife of Bath:
Gat-tothed I was, and that bicam me weel;
I hadde the prente of seinte venus seel.
As help me god! I was a lusty oon,
And faire, and riche, and yong, and wel bigon.
Good luck for the Uke of Edinburgh... "
Fiona via email
“Tricity Vogue, well known for her cabaret shows
accompanying herself on the ukelele, has staged a preview of her new show to be
taken up to the Edinburgh Festival.
Playing with the concept of cross-gender and drag, she
dresses up in a beautifully tailored suit and, displaying great commitment,
sports a slick man’s haircut – cut live on stage in a previous show at the same
venue.
Songs for Swinging Ukeleles consists entirely of her own
compositions, with anecdote and changes of costume, at one point re-applying
her own shorn hair. The atmosphere created evokes a feeling of 1920s Weimar,
though with less of the darkness associated with that era, and is refreshingly
light and charming. The theatrical
effect takes us gently into another world where we willingly suspend our
disbelief.
As the title suggests, she sings of swingers (both of the
sexual and dance kind), showgirls, sartorial elegance, love and her fear of
joining the circus- she has been invited by a French one, it transpires.
Throughout the show, Vogue uses various devices to keep the
audience participating and investing in the piece, and such encouragements are
subtly and playfully done. She is a very engaging performer, cheeky without
being crude and quite delightful.
The standout items, though, were the ones that struck a
different note. The song on
nightmares changed the tone of the piece reaching a deeper level, demanding a
greater degree of attention, and her ballad on a date starting as a one-night
stand and leading to a declaration of love added contrast.
The preview was performed in a South London pub, the Royal
Vauxhall Tavern, on one of the hottest nights of the year, thus attracting very
little audience. Nonetheless,
Vogue was able to sweep the small rather disparate group along and it was clear
everyone had a very enjoyable night.
Both Vogue and the show deserve bigger crowds up in
Edinburgh – she should do well.”
Tessa Bamkin via twitter
The
sheer number of shows at the Fringe can make it hard to truly find a
niche, but Tricity Vogue has managed it with her ukulele drag cabaret.
Playing songs on a variety of themes, it’s impressive how much
enthusiasm she’s able to eke out of the cramped room her audience were
up for it within minutes. Vogue involves them in almost every song: two
people are hauled up as drag backing dancers, one is the object of a
love song and another provides atmosphere by holding up a bike light
(why yes, this is a free show!). Vogue ends on a number from an
in-progress “drag action musical” that I’m now desperate to see. A
storming slice of cabaret.
Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, until 17 Aug.
tw rating 4/5 | [Jon Stapley]
- See more at:
http://www.threeweeks.co.uk/article/ed2014-cabaret-review-tricity-vogue-songs-for-swinging-ukuleles-tricity-vogue-free-festival/#sthash.HvU5daLj.dpuf
"Tricity Vogue's new show is sublime. Edinburgh-ites, you are
in for a treat. *# proudoftalentedmate
,. *# wishididnthavetoleavethelockin
,... the ballad, and lovely circus song were highlights, plus all the lovely naughty
you come to expect. Night terror song also hilarious well done Uke diva, well done!!!
Xxx lovely company, host, and audience too... "
Amelia Clark
 |
| Photo by Clive Holland |
"Our thanks to the funny, flirtatious and frankly 'fenomenal'
Tricity Vogue. Another winning show."
Anne-Sophie & Emma-Jane Dallison
"Thoroughly enjoyed @tricityvogue's
preview last night. Favourite songs were the soppy ones. Oh how I've changed
as I've gotten older."
@maaaud via twitter
"Tricity Vogue re-defines entertainment with a ukelele! A truly
unique, charming and funny show."
David Carr
"Tricity Vogue's show is great fun. It's glitzy and
glam with catchy songs and lots of opportunity for audience participation. A
definite must see!"
Helen Morrissey
 |
| Photo by Clive Holland |
"What A Show, What A Gal, What A Great New Look… Tricity Vogue: Sharper Than Ever!"
Alastair Choat, Landlord, Coach & Horses
"Your manner is so fun, you can get
away with anything."
Heather Uprichard
"I really enjoyed your show and was glad I went. It
had a genuine Music Hall feel with a modern twist. You are clearly a talented
player of the ukulele and singer. I particularly liked the audience participation
elements - it was great fun and perfect for the venue and size of audience. Your play on drag and gender was very tastefully done
and I thought you looked fantastic - the make up must take some practice!"
Rachel Bull
 |
| Photo by James Millar |
"Tricity vogues new show "Songs for Swinging Ukuleles": it's not what you think, it's even better. You'll have the most swinging, tuneful, fun-filled night you can have with your clothes on. Tricity Vogue is cabaret's answer to Eurovision, but wth so much better songs. She's part showgirl, part sharp dressed lady in a mans suit (without a beard!). This is a show that make you want to swing and sing and laugh and smile. Tell all your friends about it. Don't miss."
Clive Holland
"Loved the show... you create such a special atmosphere. I came away with a lovely nice glow."
Pete Saunders
 |
| Photo by Clive Holland |
tessa bamkin
