Moonlight Sonata

I can't believe it's already a month since I performed at the 4th International Stockholm Burlesque Festival! Wonderful events like this sort of linger on in your body and mind for some time afterwards... Every act was filmed, and as I just received my video, here it comes! I did my Moonlight Sonata act, to the beautiful piece by the same name, by Beethoven - but here remixed by E. S. Posthumus. I managed to slip on something on the floor once, but when I saw it on the video, it looked like a much smaller slip than it felt. Haha!

Photo: John Paul Bichard

The 4th International Stockholm Burlesque Festival - Friday Extavaganza

The 4th International Stockholm Burlesque Festival - produced by Fräulein Frauke and John Paul Bichard - just went off with a big bang! The first, completely sold out, evening - the Friday Extravaganza - took place at the beautiful Södra Teatern. This theater was inaugurated in 1859, and is Stockholm's oldest playhouse. As I LOVE old theaters I was happy to be one of the performers on this evening! When we arrived to our dressing rooms, we all made sure to spread all our stuff out as much as possible, to create that feeling of burlesque mayhem that usually goes on before a show. Then we got ready, while drinking wine and snorting lines of glitter. Then it was showtime!!!

Conférencière of the evening was Reuben Kaye. This gorgeous man was probably born on a stage. He sings beautifully and I fully believe he could talk constantly until the the world ends, without ever be at a loss for words. I have no idea where he gets it all from, but when it was my time on stage, he gave me the best introduction I've ever gotten! I do think it's a bit mean to hire a conférencière who outshines the rest of the performers though... Haha! Oh well, here are a few of the evenings other 24 acts!

Blackbird Burlesque Cabaret!

Me! I did my Moonlight Sonata act, and I like the fact that in this pic the moon on my head looks like two horns! Haha!

Anja Pavlova - who made me want to learn how to dance the charleston!

Roxy Diamond!

 

Colette Collerette!

Sydni Deveraux!

Natsumi Scarlett!

And Tigger - who did his Father McTigger act! I'm now a believer... The next evening I asked him if he wanted to be the priest when I got married to Reuben. But then Reuben said he's allergic to cats, so then I put a stop to it right there and then! The fact that he's gay I see as a smaller marital problem than the cat thing. Oh well... Still have a huge crush on him though!

And here we all are on stage after the fantastic show. The audience was amazing too, screaming and shouting throughout the whole evening! Thank you audience!!!

Then we spent the rest of the night dancing our asses off, until it was time to go home and fall into bed - only to get up and get ready for the second day of the festival. But more about that on Wednesday...

To see photos of all the performers click here!


Photo: John Paul Bichard

The Third International Stockholm Burlesque Festival

October 4th-6th the International Stockholm Burlesque Festival took place for the third time - and I can tell you, it was AMAZING!!! Organizers of the whole thing was Fräulein Frauke and John Paul Bichard, with support from Duchess Dubois and The Amazing Knicker Kittens, and I'm so impressed with the way they make it all happen!

It all began on the Friday, when the show took place at the beautiful Södra Teatern at Mosebacke. The tickets had sold out completely!

Photo: Jan Persson

I wore a vintage dress from the 50s, that I got from vintagebluemoon on Etsy. It's black with red details.

Armitage Shanks was our witty conférencière for the evening. And the performers were:

The Itty-Bitty Tease Cabaret!

Lily De Luxe!

Lou Safire!

Pepper Sparkles!

Aurora Galore!

Valentina del Pearls!

Trixi Tassels!

Ruby Luscious!

Champagne Sparkles!

Blackbird Burlesque Cabaret!

Lady Francescca!

Heikki Matero and Miss Acrolicious!

Apathy Angel!

Yvette Les Fesses!

Willy Waterlily!

Fräulein Frauke!

Mr Pustra!

Banbury Cross!

Minnie Tonka!

This was probably the best burlesque show I have ever seen, and after it ended, the party continued! I fell into bed sometime around 3 am, after being harassed by two French guys on my way home, who tried to give me Snickers and Tequila (but thankfully I got rescued by Velma Voluptuous), and then by some other man on the subway who of course had to get off at the same station as me *le big sigh*... 

The next day I went to a masterclass in vaudeville, held by Mr Pustra, who turned out to be as lovely in person as he is on stage. It was very inspiring to hear him talk about the history of vaudeville, and give us some tips on how to become better artists. That evening the burlesque festival continued with a big party at Nalen. Since I had to get up really early Sunday morning, to work and perform during the last day of the festival, I decided to skip that one though. My pain demon was a bit upset too, so I wanted to calm him down as much as I could until it was my turn to take the stage. But more about that on Wednesday!

If you want to see the rest of the photos from both the Friday and the Saturday shows, you can see them here!

All photos by John Paul Bichard (except for the one of me, which was taken by Jan Persson). 

PS. This week I'm back as "Pinup of the week, two years later" on Rockabilly-Online. Check it out here!

The International Stockholm Burlesque Festival

If you're feeling a bit down, and need a big dose of burlesque to make everything ok again, I suggest you come to Stockholm October 4th-6th. Because during these three days the International Stockholm Burlesque Festival will come back to town for the third time!

Photo: John Paul Bichard

Performers will come from all over the world to amuse the Stockholmian audience, and there will be a tassel twirling competition, an art exhibition, a burlesque flea market, workshops, partying, and of course lots of sparkling nakedness! Here is a schedule for what will happen during the different days:

Friday: The Friday Extravaganza takes place at Södra Teatern, and includes a full length show, a surprise performance, great DJs, and a photo exhibition by the Finnish duo Atelieri O. Haapala and the English photographer and artist John Paul Bichard. O. Haapala will also set up a vintage photo booth, where you can have your portrait taken in the most glamorous way possible! Performers of the evening are:

Armitage Shanks (US), Banbury Cross (UK), Minnie Tonka (US), Mr Pustra (UK), Apathy Angel (US), Aurora Galore (UK), Blackbird Burlesque Cabaret (SWE), Burkläsk (SWE) Champagne Sparkles (CAN), Fräulein Frauke (SWE), Honey Lulu (IT), Itty Bitty Tease (FIN), Lady Fransescca (SWE), Lily Deluxe (SWE), Lou Safire (UK), Pepper Sparkles (FIN), Ruby Luscious (SWE), Sir Willy Waterlilly (FIN), Trixi Tassels (UK), Valentina del Pearls (FR), Yvette Les Fesses (SWE).

Saturday: The Saturday Spectacular will go down at Nalen, as a mix of burlesque festival and the popular burlesque event Fräulein Frauke Presents. This will be a huge party with amazing shows, a live band, and the tassel twirling competition Octbooberfest that is a fundraising event for the Pink Ribbon. Ateliei O. Haapala will set up their vintage photo booth this evening too! Saturday's performers are:

Armitage Shanks (US), Banbury Cross (UK), Minnie Tonka (US), Mr Pustra (UK), Akynos (US), Daisy Black (UK), Eliza Delite (UK), Elsie Diamond (UK), Ivoncita and the Matadores de Amor (SWE), Jacques Patriaque (AUT), Lou on the Rocks (SWISS), Mr Gunner (SWE), Strawberry Siren (AUS), Sweety J (IT), Velma von Bon Bon (UK).
Live band - *to be announced*.

Sunday: For the sixth time Burleskloppis 6.0 (the Burlesque Flea Market) opens it's doors to burlesque- and vintage lovers, this time as part of the Burlesque Festival! So come and do some bargains, mingle with likeminded people, and watch some more burlesque performances! On stage you will be able to see The Royal Roses Burlesque Troupe, Kitty Sincane, Mystique Luna, and your's truly. I will premiere a new act called Moonlight Sonata, that will be all about the moon! As usual I will also work all day at the flea market. 

Source

During the festival you will also be able to take workshops with some of the performers. One of them is Mr Pustra, and at least I won't miss that one!

For more info visit the festivals web site here! Or go to the three different Facebook events for the three different days: Friday, Saturday, Sunday.