Why musicians are jumping into variety shows

Maybe it’s time for variety shows to make a comeback, and SUPERGROUP is just one example heading in this direction.

What do you remember about the sparkling TV variety shows of the 50s and 60s? Funky questions with the hottest guest appearances? Musical intervals from the energetic house band? Or being surrounded by rounds of laughter from the fellow audience?

From Australian soprano Ali McGregor’s Late-Nite Variety-Nite Night, a Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) mainstay, to The Chronic Cabaret by singer/songwriter Rosie Roulette that debuted at Fringe Rebound this year, variety shows are having a revival led by passionate musicians using the platform for peer collaboration.

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Celina Lei is an arts writer and editor at ArtsHub. She acquired her M.A in Art, Law and Business in New York with a B.A. in Art History and Philosophy from the University of Melbourne. She has previously worked across global art hubs in Beijing, Hong Kong and New York in both the commercial art sector and art criticism. Most recently she took part in drafting NAVA’s revised Code of Practice - Art Fairs. Celina is based in Naarm/Melbourne.