Transformed into a sashaying sequinned spectacle of burlesque, the Miami Precinct was alive and rocking. From the opening set of acts with locals Felicity Lawless and Scott French at Precinct Brewery, through to the sultry tones of indie pop star Sophie Koh, with darling Kate Foster, closing the show at Granddad Jack’s, the night was full of suprises.
Curated and directed by Moira Finucane, salons were set up around Christine Ave, Lemana Lane and Hibiscus Haven. The beautifully renovated antique double bus in the Paddock Bakery carpark at Vissla Surfwear was rolled out, lit up, plugged in, and wow! Las Vegas’ Queen of Burlesque Imogen Kelly emerged to perform her fabulous flamingo fling!
Meanwhile, over at Miami Smash Repair, fire breathing Jazida and Iranian virtuoso Shirin Majd, with Dr Robert Manley on grand piano, were smashing it up with flashing tow trucks firing up the night sky after sunset as we wandered around.
Taco Night does get crazy at Pretty Handsome, but gee, this was no ordinary Thursday evening. Romeo himself, a creation of Moira, entertained the locked-in crowd of locals, and yeah, we really wanted to love him, but there’s so much more to see. Passing by the Surfboard Warehouse, we stopped to sing along with the Coolangatta Ukelele Players. Then, keep going! Suspended in Trader Trove an aerial diva, Christine Ibrahim on hoop and on cue, so beautiful and dramatic, singing Lana Del Ray.
Not wanting to miss a moment, we ducked around to the Craft Parlour where Yorta Yorta artists Glennys Briggs and Ian Muir were taking requests for songs of heartbreak, over cups of tea and yummy biscuits. Then onto Hidden Cherub for more Opera with Piera Dennerstein, an angel who appeared suddenly to delight everyone, everywhere, all night.
Mi Amor Miami was a perambulatory circus of diverse talent that highlighted our local scene in an ecstatic haze. It was so much fun, we can’t wait to do it again. Go BLEACH*!
