Americana Burlesque + Sideshow Festival << May 27-29th

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Americana Burlesque + Sideshow Festival << May 27-29th

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Karolina Lux. Courtesy: ABSFest
Now in its tenth year, the Americana Burlesque and Sideshow Festival (ABSFest) consistently features the best burlesque, vaudeville, and sideshow performers from around the world. For this special anniversary, the Festival organizers are stopping at nothing to celebrate in a way only the funkiest and most daring artists could. It's a weekend of revelry, performances, and workshops happening from May 27-29 at venues across town. Festival headliner Karolina Lux, from Portland, is a musician, cirque performer, singer, and bellydancer who embodies the ethos of the festival and its focus on "variety in entertainment, artistic empowerment and nurturing creativity." Ms. Lux will perform twice over the course of the weekend, at a large Saturday night event at the Orange Peel and at the cozier Speakeasy Saloon event on Friday night at the Grey Eagle. The Orange Peel event will be hosted by New Orleans' "Preacher of Perversion" Ben Wisdom. The Speakeasy will also feature music from the Resonant Rogues and acts from other performers. Headliner Swami YoMahmi, "the original sideshow geek," will also perform throughout the weekend. It's the tenth anniversary of the Festival, and there are plenty of opportunities to celebrate. A party on Friday night happens in conjunction with "Last Pasties Standing: Welcome to the Glitterdome," an evening of improv delights MC'd by Atlanta's own aerialist Sadie Hawkins. A burlesque brunch at the Grey Eagle MC'd by Phat Man Dee and a LaZoom vaudeville bus tour finish things off on Sunday. Phat Man Dee. Courtesy: ABSFest Beyond the performances, workshops and classes will be offered throughout the weekend. Topics range from trapeze to tease, and there will also be advice for performers looking to break into show business.  The full schedule and tickets are here. Spots sell out, so reserve yours soon. More details are available on the Facebook page. And check out this preview from performer Carmel Clavin (aka Spectacle & Mirth).