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| | Arts Calendar / December 12 / Concerts |
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 The Tiger Lillies were formed in 1989 and as the decades go by their sound remains one of the most unique and original things one could come across. Martyn Jacques, the band's frontman, songwriter and founder, spent most of his twenties in a flat above a brothel in London's Soho, peeping through his window at the buzz of Soho's lowlife. It took him a good ten years to turn that strange world into art, while training as a singer and songwriter. In 1989 he got his first accordion and The Tiger Lillies were formed shortly after. Back in the early 90's the avant garde trio stood out immediately for its distinct sound and style and the band quickly worked its way up from London pubs to the Piccadilly Theatre and buskers' benches to the Sydney Opera House. Soon the The Tiger Lillies were touring the world giving concerts and participating in various art and theatre projects. A couple of the many highlights in their career were the 2 Olivier Awards they won for the cult hit musical Shockheaded Peter and the Grammy nomination for their album The Gorey End. Within the last two decades The Tiger Lillies have been doing an average of over 200 gigs a year and despite spending so much time on the road they have managed to also release more than one album a year (total number is somewhere around 35, but who is counting?). They have participated in numerous shows all over the world, collaborating with artists of all disciplines: from circus performers to Shakespearean actors, experimental dancers to avant garde photographers and burlesque puppeteers to classical music ensembles. The world of The Tiger Lillies is dark, peculiar and varied, with moments of deep sadness, cruel black humour and immense beauty. This unique "anarchic Brechtian street opera trio" tours the world playing songs about "anything that doesn't involve beautiful blonde girls and boys running at the meadow" to quote their founder Martyn Jacques. Hence, their songs cover all the dark aspects of life, from prostitution and drug addiction to violence and despair. Always with a touch of twisted humor and sharp irony The Tiger Lillies "point an implicit accusing finger back at us: what on Earth are we doing, laughing at this stuff?". Their music is a mixture of pre-war Berlin cabaret, anarchic opera and gypsy music, echoing the voices of Bertolt Brecht and Jacques Brel. The Tiger Lillies shock, amuse and entertain in a postmodern vaudeville way, with their inimitable in-yer-face shows, where no limit should be taken for granted. The Tiger Lillies have recorded numerous albums, including 1998's cabaret-inspired Shockheaded Peter: A Junk Opera and 2003's collaboration with the Kronos Quartet, The Gorey End. Their 2007 album, Urine Palace, was recorded live with Symphony Orchestra of Norrlandsoperan, a 35-piece Swedish orchestra. Martyn Jacques, the founder of The Tiger Lillies, spent much of his early years living above a brothel in London's Soho. He is a self trained musician and singer, playing mostly the accordion, piano and ukulele. His hauntingly beautiful falsetto has become The Tiger Lillies' trademark and combined with his dark and edgy songwriting style has led to him being widely known as the "Criminal Castrato". Martyn has composed music for and performed in numerous shows all over the world and enjoys working with artists of all disciplines: from highbrow theatre to circus, and from experimental dance to burlesque and puppetry. He is very proud that The Tiger Lillies have performed in opera houses and rock festivals as well as circus tents and smelly pubs. His music has been used in films (Plunkett & Macleane, Luftbusiness, Drunken Sailor, Return to Nuke 'Em High) and recently he composed music for The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, which he performed as a live accompaniment to the iconic silent film in his first ever solo show. Martyn has been commissioned by acclaimed American photographer Nan Goldin to compose an original score for her Ballad of Sexual Dependency slideshow project and has actually performed the piece with The Tiger Lillies as a live soundtrack to Nan's startling images. Martyn's work has been nominated for a Grammy Award (The Gorey End in 1998) and his memorable performance in cult hit musical Shockheaded Peter won him an Oliver Award. Adrian Stout has played Bass with Errol Linton, Pigmeat Pete Smith and Todd Sharpville, as well as many other bands in every style of music. He toured and recorded two albums for Blues diva Dana Gillespie before being co-opted by The Tiger Lillies for 1995's Edinburgh Festival. This was only supposed to be for a week. 18 years later this once serious musician has since then found himself dancing in leider hosen, making love to inflatable sheep and dressing as a cheap prostitute. Adrian has been adding an arsenal of unusual musical instruments to the Tiger Lillies sound, playing musical saw, Theremin, jaw harps and nose flutes on recordings and performances. In 2007 Adrian co-wrote and produced a cd with cult icon Sexton Ming called "A Taste of Wood" that was released on their "Crapping Clown" label. He has played bass on 3 albums for Stuart A Staples of Tindersticks "Lucky Dog Recordings 03-04", "Leaving Songs" and "Souvenir 06" and toured with him throughout Europe for 2 years. In 2009 he was invited by Danielle de Picciotto to compose music for the Feedback Exhibition that was shown in Berlin and Frankfurt and in 2010 he added saw and Theremin to the Urban Voodoo Machine CD In Black 'N' Red as well as performing onstage with them on numerous occasions. He has also been spotted as guest saw (or Theremin) player with Amanda Palmer, Joe Black, Sxip Shirey, Elyas Khan, Alex Hacke and Marcus Reeves. Recently Adrian has performed in a musical saw duo called "The Weeping Saws" with David Coulter. He is playing bass for The Penny Black Remedy for a single in 2014, produced by Boz Boorer. More info
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