Doc White

Australia's arts scene will explode with the saucy, raunchy musically driven romp of a show that is the
Lowdown Hokum Orchestra and Burlesque Revue at the Adelaide Fringe Festival in February 2015. The show debuted in August at Melbourne's Wonderland Spiegeltent to a rapturous sold-out crowd. The brain-child of revered blues genius Doc White, the 1920’s and 30’s inspired performance will feature some of the country’s finest artists in a hokum blues, jazz and sexy burlesque infusion set to wow audiences. The Lowdown Hokum Orchestra and Burlesque Revue is a ten-piece act made up of Doc (vocals, guitar and mandolin), Nichaud Fitzgibbon (vocals), Mark Cutler (narrator and director), Peter Howell (bass), Tony Martin (drums), Aaron Searle (sax, clarinet and guitar) and Alex Black (violin and mandolin). It also features three of Australia’s most talented and sassiest burlesque dancers in Miss Bettie Bombshell, Mimi Le Noire and Minnie Monroe.



Described by Doc as ‘more than a gig but less than a musical’, the idea behind the show was born from the proposition that many of the best live songs are simply snapshots of human experience. “Like any good novel or short story, a good song should have a beginning a middle and an end and say something that resonates,” Doc says. “With that in mind, I wondered if it were possible to construct a musical experience which used different songs by different writers in an idiom with which I was familiar to illustrate a longer narrative. The songs carry the show and the dialogue provides the general direction the story takes.”



The story line follows two people who meet as teenagers in school and form both a musical and personal connection that begins to deteriorate as they become successful. They lose contact, before a chance meeting 25 years later reunites the pair and they discover they still feel that initial chemistry and want to keep making music (together). The bump ‘n’ grind of the sexy burlesque performers Miss Bettie Bombshell, Mimi Le Noire and Minnie Monroe give an edginess to the show and enhances the emotional impact of each song that ties in perfectly with the theme.



Doc says the creative process of pulling together such a sense intoxicating musical extravaganza was a new experience in itself. “Although I have been driving it, a show of this nature is a pretty collaborative effort,” he says. “It also uses an art form - burlesque - with which I am completely unfamiliar. I have always been interested in dance and the way dancers use their bodies to illustrate a story. Some of the most powerful theatrical experiences I have witnessed have been dance. In this show, the dancers got to choose the song they wanted to perform and come up with their own interpretation.”



Nichaud Fitzgibbon, who features as one of the key ‘characters’ in the Revue, says she is excited to be part of the unique show. “I love collaborating and the idea of this show is fresh,” she says. “I have always loved colour and movement… I come from a family of entertainers and I adore performing on stages, theatres and especially circus tents! I love the song choices and have brought some of my own suggestions, which seemed to come together perfectly. Doc and I sound great together and I can’t wait to get this show on the road. It’s going to be fun for blues, country and swing fans everywhere.”

Noted actor Mark Cutler (Let The Blood Run Free) came on board as director to steer the ship theatrically and also act in the production as narrator, a role that is crucial in linking the story line with the music and burlesque.



The cast of musicians and performers featured in the Lowdown Hokum Orchestra and Burlesque Revue is the crème de la crème for the genre, a prerequisite that was critical for Doc. Simply put -
“great songs deserve great players,” he says. “Everyone in the band has a musical pedigree to die for and it shows when we start playing. Because the music is the main medium through which the story is told, it needs musicians who understand the vocabulary of this particular style and can add their particular take on the song. The songs were chosen on the basis of lyrical content, style and how much fun they are to play and sing. I first floated the idea of this show about 18 months ago and it has taken a while to come to fruition but it has been worth the wait.”

The funds will be used to transport the show to and around Adelaide and accommodate us once we are there.
Hire minibus for 22 days - $1768
Accommodation for 22 days - $4,400

The challenge of taking a large troupe in the road is always transport, accommodation and food. The distances between gigs in Australia means long hours on the road. Festivals always provide a welcome respite from the constant grind of travel because there is the opportunity to do a longer season.