Steampunk Amusements & Entertainers (in the South Western U.S.)
Cirque des Bêtes
Steampunk circus extraordinaire, Cirque des Betes is anything from buskers to professional acrobats to performance artists. They entertain on a variety of venues both indoor and outside and entertain all ages, from family friendly events to classic burlesque shows. They will bamboozle you wth their feats of art & athleticism! Recently featured at the 2015 Steampunk Symposium on the beautiful Queen Mary, Fawn and Bear and their troupe of amazng performers have wowed audiences all over the southwest with their comedy prowess, as well as their charmingly bawdy take on the circus.
For more information or booking, contact them at http://cirquedesbetes.weebly.com/
You can also find them on FaceBook at: https://www.facebook.com/cirquedesbetes
Poplock Holmes
Catchy, danceable tunes and multi-talented musicians are taking over the Americas with Steam Powered Rap and Chap Hop driven by a Steampunk Chap. The perfect mood music for hunting yeti, taming wild beats, and drinking tea, Poplock Holmes is fun for the whole steampunk family with his quirky, Victorian-flavored hip-hop.
When one of our beloved San Diego Steampunk groups, "The Carousel Cavalry," got asked to leave a local mall simply for "being dressed up in costume," the Steampunk world was outraged and the local steampunks were disheartened. It was Poplock Holmes who mended our hearts and lifted our spirits by writing a song about it just for us. Click here to listen to Carousel by Poplock Holmes.
Unwoman
Ethereal cello music and haunting vocals are only part of what makes Unwoman such a favorite with the steampunks - she creates a mood that puts you in mind of Victorian seances and other-worldly dreams, then switches it up to rock out with herself on a looping machine with her electronic cello. She's a fabulous musician and if you ever get the chance to hear her in the boiler room on the Queen Mary, you'll be a fan for life! Unwoman is technically based in the San Francisco Bay Area but frequents southern California and Arizona events, too. She received the 2015 Steampunk Chronicle Reader's Choice Award for Best Solo Musician and Best Album (Circling). She has produced and published nine full albums as Unwoman.
Dyno Staats
Dyno Staats is every southern California steampunk's favorite mad-scientist-magician. Performing shows at conventions, and other events both large and small, Dyno is a first class entertainer! His performance is always popular. But is it a magic show? Is it a science experiment? Or is it a very cunning combination of both, set against a steampunk background with a little bit of humor in the mix. Like Dyno always says, "Come watch, something might go HORRIBLY wrong!"
Follow him on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/dynostaats.1
Find booking information at http://www.dynostaats.com/
Atlantean Foundation
Conceived as a steampunk-themed group of explorers, scientists, and assorted adventurers, the Atlanteans attend various events educating people on history, mythology, and the proper consumption of good claret. Members assemble their own period clothing, props and accessories, and create their own personas which logically fit within the parameters of the group’s current theme and intent, whether historical or fictional. You can catch these merry folk at steampunk conventions, renaissance fairs, wild-west events, and more, and when you do you should definitely give them your attention.
The Mad Hat HUcksters
Located in San Diego, California, the Mad Hat Hucksters are a favorite at Steampunk conventions as well as the local swing club scene. They play some covers and a variety of traditional jazz and swing from the 1930s and 1940s, and their influences include Sidney Bechet, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Clarence Williams, Slim Gaillard, Benny Goodman, The Harlem Hamfats, Artie Shaw and more. Find them on their Facebook page or by emailing them at info@madhathucksters.com
The Velveteen Band
Recently nominated "Weirdest Band of the Year," The Velveteen Band is an eclectic musical side show which delivers a wonderland dreamscape, set to capture the imagination and rock you to the core. The theatrical rock ensemble features puppets on vocals, a deranged mad scientist, and is led by a six-foot trumpet-playing rabbit named the Baron Von Velveteen. Fans of Gogol Bordello, Aquabats, Danny Elfman, Weird Al Yankovic, They Might be Giants, and the Muppets will definitely enjoy The Velveteen Band. www.thevelveteenband.com
Cirque Noir
From their FaceBook description: "We, the components of CIRQUE NOIR, are practitioners of the utterly strange "non-genre" that is the illegitimate love child of goth / new-wave / punk / cabaret / classic rock / and diabolical circus music -- in other words, STEAMPUNK! Or, as we prefer to phrase it, "BURLESQUE BLITZ BIZARRE"! Hmmm, "What's that???", you ask. Well, I shall tell you. A severe aerial bombardment of ludicrous vaudevillian song and music acts! (Performed by walking, talking, life-sized undead dollies with too much makeup)."
Visit their bandcamp page at https://cirquenoir.bandcamp.com/
Madam Askew and Her Temporal Entourage
Tea Dueling, the noble sport of steampunks the world over, is explained, demonstrated and/or hosted by the beloved tiffin mistress, Madam Askew and her team of skilled, witty, tea dueling enthusiasts. You will not find a more entertaining bunch to run your next tournament of tea duels, or to simply host an afternoon tea for your event. Visiting steampunk events and other conventions all over the western United States, this group is solely responsible for the beginnings of tea societies and tea duel clubs all over the southland. With glowing personal and professional references from the organizers of every event she has worked, Madam Aske is the right coice for your next event. Madam will have your audience on their feet, cheering wildly for their champions, whom are chosen from among your attendees, making the game even more interactive and friendly.
Email: jocelynnesimone@gmail.com Website: http://www.MadameAskew.com
Steam Powered Giraffe
Steampunk and Futurism mesh with mime and music to create a truly unique and imaginative act. SPG combines robot pantomime with sketches, pop culture references, comedic dialogue, and of course, original music. From their nostalgic melodies to their funky cabaret rock, Steam Powered Giraffe’s songs are as memorable as the robots themselves.
The artists behind the robots started street busking as these quirky characters in January 2008 at Balboa Park. Trained in pantomime by mime Jerry Hager, with collective backgrounds in clowning, theatre, music, and visual design, Sam Luke, and the Bennett twins Isabella and David have sculpted a striking homegrown performance that will leave you tapping your feet and humming for days.
Dr. Solar's Good Time Sunshine Traveling Medicine Show
From the moment the "old time" music starts, Dr. Solar engages the crowd with humorous historical events, whimsical ventriloquism, and amazing feats of magic. With his amusing tales of sustainability, Dr. Solar weaves modem environmental issues into solutions involving solar living and energy conservation. With the atmosphere of a medicine man of old, Dr. Solar touts the benefits of sustainability from the stage of the world's first solar-powered mobile theater. Between shows Dr. Solar can be found cruising on his handcrafted solar charged tricycle, retrofltted with a 1906 Buick headlight and other historical adornments, interacting with the crowd and stopping to perform bits of one-on-one, close-up magic. Visit his website at www.drsolar.com or contact him for booking infor via email at terry@drsolar.com or via telephone at (916) 524-1176
Gramophone Gregory
With his Imaginary Dance Orchestra, Gramophone Gregory is a singing, spinning shellac DJ and One Man Band for all occasions! He creates a unique flavor with his custom built two-grampophone DJ stand, with a massive selection of 78 RPM tunes from throughout the ages. He's also an accomplished musician and just a brilliant chap to talk to. Have Gramophone Gregory give your next event that authentic vintage flavor that will set your toes a-tappin'!
Veronique Chevalier
An award-winning mistress of ceremonies, singer-songwriter, music producer and popular comedienne. She produces live cabaret in Southern California and is an emcee of steampunk events nationwide.
www.weirdval.com
The Frytown Toughs
The Frytown Toughs were born out of Doc Holliday’s musical saloon show in Tombstone, Arizona. They have performed all over the southwest. Their specialties: Piano! Singing! Music! Mayhem! And plenty of shenanigans.
Their style: Retro/alternate timeline ragtime piano and singing, covering such great hits as “Red River Valley“, “Maple Leaf Rag“, “Minnie The Moocher” and “Stairway To Heaven“. Really. Everything from Stephen Stinking Foster and Jimmy Rodgers to The Beatles, Greenday, 4 Non Blondes, ELO, and LMFAO. Imagine a medley of “Party Rock Anthem” and “Call Me Maybe” as it might have been performed 130 years ago, and you’ll start to get an idea of some of what THE FRYTOWN TOUGHS are all about. Check them out at http://frytowntoughs.com/
Dreadfully Punk
Dreadfully Punk is more than just a hilarious adult-oriented drunken pod-cast, it’s a dreadfully good crew of science fiction artists, writers, and innovators. You can find them telling new tales every Friday, podcasting their DreadWaves every Saturday, and servicing your tedium every day via social media. www.dreadfullypunk.com
Adventures of Drake and McTrowell
Suffering from lackluster Penny Dreadfuls? Hoping to acquire more exhilaration in your serialized fiction? Look no further. Read the delightful adventures of Sparky & David Drake online or in their self-published book. Their infamous "Hot Potato School of Writing" lecture is repeatedly featured at steampunk events. Imagine a cross between a game-show and and an improv story. www.drakeandmctrowell.com