The Circus perform at Hogsozzle Festival 2012: Inviting members of the audience to play percussion has become tradition for the group

It’s festival time again and this weekend sees the travelling Circus roll in to Derby for Off The Tracks this Friday and then on to Hogsozzle Festival’s new site in Hertfordshire on Saturday.

For more news and ticket info visit:

http://hogsozzle.com/

http://www.offthetracks.co.uk/

Okay, so that was a slight fib. We were never really ‘away’. It’s hard to a hide when you’re a seven limbed, fully functional, lean, mean, folk… where am I going with this? Well, in short, the Circus have been paying their dues, hitting the road and telling their story to whoever will listen throughout 2013 so far. Okay, so we stayed home for New Years, shunned Valentines and we missed St Patrick’s Day (in every sense). Heck, we may have even forgotten your birthday but we didn’t give up  writing and performing for lent. Working late at the office (what do you mean ‘again?!’?) has paid off with new songs being written and road tested at recent gigs.

… which brings us up to today and the summer. If you’ve attended any of our shows recently (thank you!) you may have heard a new rockabilly ditty featuring lines such as ‘chariots of fire’, ‘custom limousine’ and indeed references to roller coasters. No, we haven’t penned a tribute to unusual methods of transportation but with two gigs on the same night recently in London and a summer tour soon beginning they’re coincidently fitting references to how hectic things have been recently.

So, ‘thanks’ and ‘hello’ to all our new friends who have joined the Circus on the road and online so far this year. We love seeing those toes being tapped and chins being stroked (even if they’re not your own).

           Back stage after opening the night’s fun and frolics at Embraced Burlesque, Wolverhampton.                    

The gang share some ‘quality time’ together in London before showtime

Live at The Waiting Room for Folke Newington in London

We enter the second year of Carousel Circus’ annual Christmas extravaganza and the band are travelling home for Christmas. Last year was such a success we invite you all back again for a night of fun, folk and frolics at The Boot, Tamworth. Best of all its absolutely free. See you all on 21st December!

It’s always fun playing at Birmingham’s finest jazz club The Yardbird and Wednesday’s gig was no different. The weather outside was frightful but the crowd was so delightful. Thanks to all who attended.

Special mention and thanks to Mark Francis for photographs and vibraslap*

* http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibraslap

Carousel Circus are in their second year of supporting Oxjam and this time returned with two new additions to the gang. With only a couple of rehearsals under her studded belt, new saxophone player Becky beamed: “I was nervous but I knew that we where going to sound magical and we did. Oxjam was full of life, autumn and atmosphere and was a perfect place to do our first gig as a 7 piece”.

Who could disagree? As Circus followers and newbies alike danced along to “I Ain’t Gonna Go Back” we were reminded how lucky we are to have the resources and the freedom to create and share our music within our community. Hopefully playing Oxjam on 20th October raised funds and awareness for people in communities where the same chances are scarce.

Congratulations and thank you to the students and staff of South Staffordshire and Lichfield college who organised a successful Oxjam across several venues in Lichfield.