Midnight Lullabies

Ali, with her autoharp and Ben Hendry on drums combines her operatic purity with cabaret suggestiveness and a new-found love of 90’s rock anthems in this unique show.

With a collection of songs that keep you up at night and songs to sing you back to sleep expect to hear everything from Hugo Wolf to Radiohead via Tom Waits and Guns ‘n Roses.

Ali McGregor, an award winning principal soprano at Opera Australia for over 5 years, adds her classical experience to her flair for original interpretations of rock, pop and indie standards. Her version of Radiohead’s Creep was featured on ABC’s Spicks and Specks and has taken her to London to sing for private dinner parties for the likes of Elton John and Sir Bob Geldof. She has also taken this show to The Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne and to Edinburgh Fringe Festival with the Famous Spiegeltent .

'...a fusion of operatic purity and soulful improvisation..' The Adelaide Advertiser

'For most opera singers who jump genre and hazard into the world of pop and rock, well - they fail spectacularly at it. Perhaps it is the classical training but too often, what is supposed to sound smooth, cool and laid-back sounds like they are singing with a broomstick wedged up their bottom. And then there is Ali McGregor. A former principal soprano with Opera Australia, this is a woman who not only has coquettish sex appeal but also hits a high C as easily as she renders Tom Waits' gravelly growl... expect to hear one very warped collection of adults-only lullabies.' THE AGE

8pm Saturday 17th May 2008
KINGSTON ARTS FESTIVAL
Kingston Arts Centre, 979 Nepean Hwy, Moorabbin
Theatre seats - $24/22
Cabaret table of 6 - $120
(Mixed platters available to pre-order from the Kingston Arts Centre)
Bookings: 03 9556 4440
Email: kingart@kingston.vic.gov.au
Web: http://artscentre.kingston.vic.gov.au <http://artscentre.kingston.vic.gov.au/>

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Jazz Cigarette

Venue: The Famous Spiegeltent
Date: Sunday 16th November 2008
Tickets: $30 Times: 7pm
Bookings: www.ticketmaster.com.au Ph. 1300 136 166

Star of La Clique, Opera Australia and The Opera Burlesque, Ali returns to the Spiegeltent with three of Melbourne’s hottest young jazz musicians — Ben Winkelman, Sam Anning and Ben Hendry to sing classic jazz ballads and sassy blues made famous by Billie, Ella and Britney.

'…stunning, seldom does one find such grace and energy combined in one voice’ Herald Sun
'...a fusion of operatic purity and soulful improvisation...' The Adelaide Advertiser ‘...sparkles with sexy playfulness, moving simplicity and a beautiful warm tone.’ The Age

This show has also been done at the Spiegeltent and The Butterfly Club in Melbourne 2007/2008.

For all corporate or private booking information and to hear songs please go to Allegro Music.

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Ali McGregor's Lullabies for the Angkor Orphanage

Ever wondered how comedians sing themselves to sleep? In this special adaptation of Ali McGregor's ‘Midnight Lullabies’ top comedians sing their favourite lullabies and fables to raise money for the Sunrise Angkor Orphanage in Cambodia.

This year we have Adam Hills, Greg Fleet, Fiona O'Loughlin, Geraldine Quinn, Wes Snelling & Benn Bennett, Tom Basden & Emily Watson-Howes, Phil Nichol, Die Roten Punkte, Sammy J, Selina Jenkins & Casey Bennetto so it promises to be a very special afternoon. We are also hoping to record it and sell 200 copies at the festival merch desk. Help us raise lots of money for these beautiful children and enjoy one of the 'moments' of the festival.

All funds from this concert will be given to The Taylor and Khoo Foundation that gives 100% of its profits to The Sunrise Angkor Orphanage in Siem Reap, Cambodia which supports the needs of around 140 orphans. see www.taylorandkhoo.com for more information.

"With the help of an eclectic bunch of mates that includes … comedians Adam Hills and Scott Edgar from Tripod, expect to hear one very warped collection of lullabies." THE AGE 2006

Venue: Umbrella Revolution (the Yarra river side of Federation Square)
Date: 5th April
Tickets: $ 30.00
Times: 5.00pm
Bookings: Ticketmaster 1300 660 013, www.comedyfestival.com.au or at the door

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Live CD available soon!

Ali McGregor's Evergreens

Harking back to the days when standards were the making of any singer and covers weren’t just for ‘idols’, Ali McGregor sings her favourite ‘Evergreen’ hits just for you. Following on from the successful ‘Midnight Lullabies’ she is joined by Ben Hendry on drums, guitar, melodium, glockenspiel and occasionally banjo as they work their way through their CD collection from AC/DC and Nirvana to Guns ‘n Roses and Kylie Minogue with plenty more in between.

Venue: The Butterfly Club
Dates: Second last Wednesday of every month at 8.00 pm (Wed 23 Jan, Wed 20 Feb, Wed 19 March, Wed 23 April, final night Wed 21 May)
Tickets: $25 full / $20 concession and for groups of 8 or more
Bookings: The Butterfly Club www.thebutterflyclub.com or 96902000
Duration: one hour approx

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Ali McGregor's Late-Nite Variety-Nite Night

Top Hats, Corsets, Circus, Song.

The cult cabaret show returns in a sparkly new venue. Let Ali McGregor take you into a world of vaudeville skits and fancy tricks.  It's late, the bar is open and the scene is set for the festival's finest stand-up comedians, burlesque dancers, sideshow acts, musicians and acrobats to collide. Variety at it’s best.

Hosted by Ali and assisted by her butler Saxon McAlistair (sideshow comedian Asher Treleaven) the night is littered with the unique interpretations of songs that Ali has become known for on such shows as ABC’s Spicks and Specks and Australia’s Favourite Album.

A hit last year in Melbourne and Edinburgh with guests like Adam Hills, Eddie Perfect, Tim Minchin, Danny Bhoy, Stephen K Amos, Sammy J, Imogen Kelly, Die Roten Puntke, Mikelangelo, Captain Frodo, Hi Ball Burlesque, Julia Zemiro and Hamish & Andy. Expect surprises, spontaneous duets and unique moments of greatness.

‘For anyone eager to check out a broad and rangy selection of the Comedy Festival's top cabaret, vaudeville and stand-up acts, this late-night variety special is the best-value show in town’ The Age, Melbourne

..’partial nudity, offensive tricks and gorgeous song' - The Age 2008

"McGregor, who nearly always looks like an inmate from a Home for Wayward China Dolls, is a generous performer. Her talents as an MC are shared with the amiably offensive Asher Tevelean" The Age 2008

For full line-up details click here
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Venue: Le Cascadeur,
Dates: 20th March – 13th April

Edinburgh
Produced by AliCat (Ali & Linda Catalano) for the 2007 International Comedy Festival this night became the place to be late on a Saturday Night at Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Each night wascompletely different and filled the Wine Bar of the Gilded Balloon with laughter, shock, moving music and titillation. Guests included : Asher Treleavan, Imogen Kelly, Stephen K Amos, Adam Hills, Casey Bennetto, Thomas Truax, The Magnets, the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre, Andrew McClelland, Hannah Gadsby, Paul Zenon, Geraldine Quinn, Mikelangelo, Undine Francesca, Tripod, Sammy J, Magic Brian, Marawa, Craig Hill, The Opera Burlesque and many more...

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Jazz Cigarette

This show has been done at the Spiegeltent and The Butterfly Club in Melbourne 2007/2008.

With Jazz Cigarette she joins forces with three of Melbourne’s hottest young jazz musicians — Ben Winkelman on Piano, Sam Anning on Bass and Ben Hendry on Drums. With songs that range from the most classic jazz ballads to downright sassy blues, this quartet is the perfect feature act or after-dinner entertainment. With songs made famous by singers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Nina Simone and Billie Holliday, Jazz Cigarette both soothes and tantalises in the best possible way.

…stunning, seldom does one find such grace and energy combined in one voice’ Herald Sun
‘...sparkles with sexy playfulness, moving simplicity and a beautiful warm tone.’ The Age

For all booking information and to hear songs please go to Allegro Music.

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Ali McGregor's Garden Cabaret

After sell out shows in Edinburgh, AliCat bring their Garden Cabaret to Adelaide.

Designed to show of the array of Delights in the beautiful Unearthly Gardens, these two shows will give you a taste of all the music, comedy, dance and unique acts playing there during the Fringe.

Hosted by Ali McGregor, the confirmed line up includes Melbourne burlesque ballet/go-go dancers The Town Bikes, the hit show of Edinburgh Fringe festival The Tom-Tom Club, musical comedy trio Hooray for Everything, UK Burlesque aerial queen Empress Stah, Brisbane burlesque/dance/aerial collective After Dinner Mince, purveyors of Junkyard Theatre Suitcase Royale and Kiwi/French dub group The Mamaku Project. Ali will also be previewing some of her songs from her show ‘Midnight Lullabies’ that plays at the Bosco Theater 6th - 9th March.

Each act will perform in one of the two shows. Please click here for up to date line-up details.

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Edinburgh 2007
Ali presented this unique showcase featuring a selection of the Spiegel Garden’s best cabaret and musical comedy. Joining Ali are performers Amanda Palmer (The Dresden Dolls), Sammy J, Bob Downe, Meow Meow,Tripod, Mikelangelo, Flamenco Hip-Hop, Flame & Fury, Suitcase Royale, Orkestra del Sol and The Shuffle Club.

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The Opera Burlesque

Formed in 2005, The Opera Burlesque have had sell-out seasons in The Famous Spiegeltent in Melbourne '05 & '06, The Theatre Bosco theatre at Adelaide Fringe '06 and a successful debut in upstairs at The Athenaeum Theatre as part of The Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2007. In 2006 The Opera Bulresque went to Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Ali was joined by Catherine Friel, Jacqueline Tate and Phil McLeod on Accordion. They sold out their season in The Spiegeltent and are went back this year to performing in the Debating Hall of The Gilded Balloon.

..'Crossing neatly between (the) old and new school is the Opera Burlesque - a trio of classically trained singers with serious reputations, who like to do an odd runner from traditional fare and delve into the subterranean world of cabaret, vaudeville and heavy metal..'
Lili Bragge, The Age 26/11/05

See the website for more details www.operaburlesque.com

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La Clique

In 2005 Ali Joined the cast of La Clique and has performed in this 'sideshow burlesque' in Melbourne '05 & '06, Adelaide '06, Edinburgh '05, '06 & Sydney '07.

See www.spiegeltent.net for more information.

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