Curtis Eller’s American Circus is coming to town. Their last album, How to Make it on Hollywood, made a big impression on our reviewer Paul Woodgate who introduced it by saying “What you have here is quality artistry with loose-limbed, plug-in and play theatrical improvisation that name checks a Sgt. Pepper’s menagerie of 19th and 20th century American celebrities and politicians on its way to completely bowling you over.”
Curtis and his fellow performers are preparing to embark on a 16 date tour of the UK. Eller is a gifted and prolific songwriter and performer who’s banjo driven songs describe a dreamlike vision of American history where all points in time have collapsed into one. A twenty-year show business veteran, the iconoclastic banjo player and his brutish, inelegant backing band, The American Circus, have developed a devoted international following based on dynamic, unhinged live performances and a disquieting catalog of strange recordings populated by a ghastly parade of historical luminaries. Faded Hollywood icons and unrepentant murderers share the spotlight with a host of Civil War generals and corrupt 19th century politicians. Abraham Lincoln and Buster Keaton rub shoulders with Amelia Earhart and Joe Louis against a backdrop of sweatshop disasters and circus fires.
Paul concluded that album review with “In just under 40 minutes Eller and the Circus take your business class ticket to Glastonbury, rip it up, and replace it with steerage seats to voodoo-nights in New Orleans’ French Quarter. It’s a trip you should take.”
He’s still right. See them live from London’s Green Note to the fabulous Purbeck Valley Folk Festival…lace up your dancing shoes!
If you’re already a fan then make sure you check out their Kickstarter page for their new album here.
Curtis Eller’s American Circus Tour Dates
22 August: The Tin (Coventry)
23 August: Night & Day Cafe (Manchester)
24 August: Green Note (London)
25 August: Shambala Festival
26 August: Purbeck Valley Folk Festival
27 August: Straud Fringe
28 August Kingskerswell Parish Church (Devon)
30 August: The Greystones (Sheffield)
31 August: New Adelphi (Hull)
01 September: The Crescent (York)
02 September: The Wardrobe (Leeds)
04 September: Cambridge Junction (Cambridge)
05 September: Talking Heads (Southampton)
06 September: The Cube (Bristol)
07 September: The Brindley (Runcorn)
08 September: Brewery Arts Centre (Kendal)
Photo Credit: Alex Maness