Hobart to have the best of in-tent-ions

Global stars as well as Aussie talents are set to shine on Hobart’s waterfront, writes Penny McLeod

SPIEGELTENT Hobart 2020’s program, launched in full this week, includes international acts making their Tasmanian debut, as well as returning favourites.

The three-week season, from March 5-29, is headlined by the world-acclaimed circus-cabaret sensation Blanc de Blanc, direct from Las Vegas. Other highlights include a three-man tribute show, Shades of Buble, from America, Ireland’s Susan O’Neill (in a St Patrick’s Day special), and Canadian trio The East Pointers.

“We’ve been to Hobart before and absolutely love Tasmania and Hobart, but we’ve never played the Spiegeltent,” says The East Pointers’ fiddle player, Tim Chaisson, who is visiting Hobart with his trio as part of a national tour to promote the band’s new album, Yours to Break.

“People can expect a contemporary folk band. We play instrumental music and vocal [music] and people can come to dance or to sit and listen. We tell stories about our songs.”

The East Pointers (comprising Chaisson, his cousin Koady and Jake Charron) play Celtic-inspired tunes.

“We naturally gravitate to music that has a dance feel to it,” Chaisson says. “Traditional [Celtic] music is a style of music that was basically always used for dancing and enjoyment and lifting people up in hard times.”

Other program highlights include: multiple award-winning cabaret star Reuben Kaye (who sold out Edinburgh Fringe with his highcamp style and crude humour); Logie Awardwinning Australian, Effie (Mary Coustas); The Black Sorrows; Aussie folk-rock band Things of Stone and Wood; the Aboriginal Comedy Allstars (back home after sellout seasons abroad); and crowd favourites Tom Gleeson, Tommy Little, Joel Creasy, Frank Woodley and Heath Franklin’s Chopper.

Strut & Fret director Scott Maidment says the Spiegeltent team is excited to return to Hobart.

“This is our home season, where it all began, and the crew and artists truly love coming back each year,” he says.

“The energy and support we receive in Hobart is unrivalled. The calibre of acts in this program is truly outstanding.”

Maidment says Blanc de Blanc is a “mustsee”. “It’s the very best show we have brought to Hobart after sellout seasons in London, Melbourne and Auckland, and a recordbreaking summer season at the Sydney Opera House,” he says.

Tickets to all shows, which will play at the pop-up venue’s usual home at Princes Wharf No.1, are on sale at spiegeltenthobart.com