#cat loud

I’m bringing my award-winning cabaret To the End of the World! to Above the Arts in London on June 30th, and I’ve got some special guests along for the ride. 

I wrote a show that imagines how the world will end. It became something political and dark, a worst-case scenario coping mechanism for what was and continues to happen in the world. Human wastefulness destroying the planet, human indifference seeing groups of people marginalised and oppressed, human ignorance allowing divisions to squash hopeful visions of a better, kinder society. The songs I chose are part-protest, part-nostalgia and part-fuck-it-if-it’s-going-to-end-why-not. 

But, the world doesn’t end. SPOILER. And to celebrate all that still is and all that can be, I thought why not just have a big party? But not just any party. Cabaret began as a form of entertainment that engaged in political discourse, perhaps even unwittingly. They - French salons, German kabarett, Harlem tea pads and jazz clubs - were safe spaces for marginalised groups and illegal activity that isn’t criminal - homosexuality, alcohol, prostitution - or simply things that pushed the boundaries of respectability, such as “Devil’s music”. Maybe that’s why it’s called “hot jazz”.  There’s a party at the gates of Hell, and everyone’s on good form. (Map of Harlem jazz clubs in 1932 is here, and it’s beautiful.) 

I want my own speakeasy. I love the idea of them, even down to the word. Speakeasy. Speak. Easy. Freedom to share ideas, saliva, a glass or two. Just don’t let The Man catch you. 

I’ve enlisted some good friends of mine to come along and make some big noises. They’re Felipe and Paul of The Rhythm and Booze Project. Combining whisky tastings with sweet sweet music is their main jam, but they’re coming along to lift our spirits (pun intended) with some raucous blues as we settle into a speakeasy for the night. 

They’re on Facebook and Instagram. 

To the End of the World! + Speakeasy Afterparty

Saturday 30th June | 8pm | £20

Above the Arts, Arts Theatre West End, 6-7 Great Newport Street

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Facebook event

BOX OFFICE 020 7836 8463

I’ve got a BUSY MONTH lined up, and I’m thrilled. I’ll be performing three different shows and experimenting with performing *outwith* the Fringe programme. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I cant afford to bring my cabaret show to the Fringe this year. It’s had a great year. It won an award at VAULT Festival and I took it on a mini-tour, and it seemed to be picking up steam. It was a tough decision to make. But, in the immortal words of Destiny’s Child, bills bills bills, gotta pay my telephone bills.

So, I do what I can. Additionally, I’ll be back with The Blueswater performing my *dream show* - a set of Billie Holiday favourites. I could pass out with joy. 

Full show listings are all below, with reviews and links to social media and online video and music at the very bottom down there. 

Blueswater Presents: Good Morning, Billie!

“There's two kinds of blues, happy blues and then sad blues. I don't know, blues is sort of a mixed-up thing. You just have to feel it.”

Cat Loud and Sarenne Wallbridge sing their personal selection of Billie Holiday favourites in a morning show to kick off the day of music programming from Fringe favourites The Blueswater. (Full programme is here.) Showcasing the very best of her light and dark sides, Good Morning, Billie! is an intimate celebration of one of the twentieth century’s most influential voices in jazz and blues.

Aug 3-25 | 10am Aug 3-19 | 11am Aug 20-25 | £9/£8

theSpace @ Surgeons Hall(Venue 53) ​

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 To the End of the World!

You have the Fringe guide! You've downloaded the Fringe app! There's so much to choose from!

But here's an idea - what if there was a fringe of the Fringe? I'm bringing my award-winning cabaret show To the End of the World! to Edinburgh's renowned Scottish Arts Club for two very special unlisted performances.

In a world of Big Budgets, Slick Campaigns and and as ABBA would say money money money, this is a Fringe experiment in thinking outside the box, and living within my means.

So.  On with the show.

On the eve of the apocalypse, dusky vocalist and eternal wayward girl Cat Loud shares her unique blend of political satire, autobiographical confessions and an eclectic mix of classic and contemporary torch songs for our impending doom with live cello accompaniment from Fraser Parry (Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel, Bread and Circus).

VAULT Festival Origins Award for Outstanding New Work 2018

Thursday, 9 Aug - Saturday, 11 Aug | 6pm | £10.50 - £12.50

Scottish Arts Club Charitable Trust, Edinburgh (Venue 310)

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Torch Songs

torch song (n.) a sad or sentimental love song, typically about unrequited love.

Torch songs are, on the surface, songs of heartbreak.

Scrape the surface, and there's anger and frustration beyond the romance of it all.

Torch Songs, from award-winning vocalist and cabaret performer Cat Loud, explores the fight for economic and sexual independence against the patriarchal norm by voicing pain, frustration and despair, with songs from the likes of Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and Melody Gardot, while also celebrating love in all its forms. (Blog post about jazz and women’s rights is here!)

Guitar accompaniment from Sam Bance.

After all, the course of true love never did run smooth, and all that jazz.

Aug 3 | 8:30pm (doors 8pm) | £8

Brig Below, Leith

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 Reviews

“Perfect night cap… Stunning!” Graham Norton

“(a) sensation of humanity’s past stretching out behind us is part of the magic of Cat Loud’s performance.” culturised

“Cat’s singing is spectacular, effortless and moving… delivered with charisma and great energy.“ The Play’s The Thing

“sharp-tongued and comedic spoken interludes with a brand of dusky torch singing which stuns the room into silence.“ The List

“she knows when to let her voice soar and when to take it down to a whisper. She can silence the room with one word, one flick of her arm, one little wink.” Lorna Irvine, The Tempohouse

★★★★★

Broadway Baby | West End Wilma  | TV Bomb   | Breaking the Fourth Wall | Culture By Night | North East Theatre Guide

★★★★

Miro Magazine | edfringereview.com | FreshAirRadio | Female Arts | London Pub Theatres

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1.       I don’t say “erection” in my show, she does.

2.       I love dressing up, but she makes wearing flower crowns and ball gowns to Lidl absolutely normal and acceptable…

3.       … and my shoe collection is for two.

4.       This quote from Rita Hayworth – “Every man I knew went to bed with Gilda… and woke up with me.”

5.       I’m scared she’s actually just me, but with a microphone.

6.       Superman came first. Clark Kent is his alter ego, created to blend in.  Cat believes she also came first, and I’m the disguise. Our relationship is becoming increasingly fraught.

7.       She can be dormant for quite a while, but as soon as she gets a whiff of Pinot Grigio, the game is on.

8.       She hates small talk and will start a conversation on Bumble by saying “COME FOR A DRINK WITH ME.” The technique is yet to work.

9.       I shudder to be compared to Jekyll and Hyde, but she does favour dark alleys and confrontational behaviour, and it worries me.

10.   In the words of Jane Austen, she is “the most determined flirt that ever made herself and her family ridiculous.” I despair. Pass the smelling salts.

11.   I’m a Gemini so the whole thing makes sense, but I think she’s actually a Leo. See thought #6.

You can see Cat in action at theSpace (venue 38) Aug 4-25th! 

fired up, ready to go

Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2017

I can only describe this woman as liquid talent. Go see @ThatCatLoud at @VAULTFestival. You've got three days people https://t.co/eU0CFvdPHw

— Tim Foley (@verbatimfoley) 26 January 2017

Magnificent night with the incomparable @ThatCatLoud and some pretty fancy fan action @VAULTFestival pic.twitter.com/ThGtXpPK67

— Joseph Potts (@JosephPotts3) 26 January 2017

@ThatCatLoud @VAULTFestival enjoyed the show Cat! Hilariously funny, your rendition of Billie Holidays Ain't Nobody's Business was awesome👏🏼

— AAM (@AtwellArtistLtd) 27 January 2017

Walked in not knowing what to expect and came out laughing my arse off so thank you @ThatCatLoud until we meet again #ComeWarward

— Stephen Haskins (@MyBookishLife) 28 January 2017

An utterly delightful show from @ThatCatLoud tonight at @VAULTFestival You simply must see Wayward! SO GOOD. Last perf is 2moro! #Vault2017

— Rebecca Kenny (@rebeccakenny2) 28 January 2017

Had a wonderful first visit to @VAULTFestival last night to see @ThatCatLoud 's Wayward. Last show tonight at 6pm & definitely worth seeing!

— Emily Collins (@emily_coolins) 29 January 2017

.@ThatCatLoud is 10/10 in #ComeWayward. Last chance to see it tonight at @VAULTFestival! https://t.co/51MPJfjaeT pic.twitter.com/3VWCeKTU6X

— Kate Andrews (@KateAndrs) 29 January 2017

@ThatCatLoud was just INCREDIBLE. Funny as fuck, the most beautiful voice and now we're real life friends 👍🏻