Burlesque and The World Famous BOB

Anyone who believes the new burlesque revolution is actually just stripping for those too embarrassed to go to a lapdancing club will find plenty of ammunition for their argument in The World Famous *BOB*'s act. In the past the New York cabaret artist has mixed Martinis with her cleavage, and her website proudly boasts of her 42F bust alongside puns about her Big Top that would shame a lads' mag subeditor.

But the whole burlesque scene, which is supposed to be all about teasing glimpses, is now so over-exposed it has all the erotic mystique of someone mooning. Cannily, The World Famous *BOB* has used it as a springboard into other art forms, having been photographed by the likes of Mario Testino and David LaChapelle, as well as appearing in The New York Times, dabbling in performance art and MCing, modelling for Thierry Mugler and playing a cameo role in John Cameron Mitchell's film, Shortbus.

Support act Imelda May will be blasting out her foot-stomping retro-rockabilly tunes, and there will also be music from Candybox's in-house band, Palookaville Orchestra. They recently won a Ministry Of Burlesque award for their 'spit and drool' music - the organ-powered garage-rock they'll be pumping out as the resident dance troupe, Candied Heels, strut their stuff.
By Paul Clarke