Beat Circus

[Official Website] [Myspace]

Beat Circus is a band formed by singer/songwriter/instrumentalist Brain Carpenter. They have a fantastic CD called Ringleaders Revolt, a mix of circus and tango, with a twist. They also have a CD to be released in January 2008 called Dreamland, loosley based on the people of New York and Coney Island at the turn of the century- it has a very creepy feel to it. I can't wait to hear the rest!

You can learn more about Coney Island's Dreamland amusement park and the story behind the Dreamland album on Brian Carpenter's Myspace blog.

Paradise Park

Paradise Park by Charles Mee [Official Site] [Script]

One of my favourite playwrights is Charles Mee, and he has a play called Paradise Park about a guy who goes to an amusement park and finds that it opens up onto all of America. It has a bunch of crazy characters including a ventriloquist and his dummies, and a guy in a mouse suit.

Paradise Park will have its world premiere with Signature Theatre Company in New York on February 12th 2008.

American Sideshow

American Sideshow by Marc Hartzman [Amazon]

This is a great book to get an overview on the most popular 'freaks' of the sideshow, and even includes a history of the freakshow. Covers performers from the 1800's up to present day, with a bio's and pictures.

Christina Aguilera

I'm a big Christina Aguilera fan and was suprised and pleased to find a few circus themed songs on her new retro CD, Back To Basics.

Christina Aguilera [Official Website] [Amazon]

Enter The Circus [Lyrics]
This one isn't really a song but spoken word pitch by a showman (not Christina, unless she's good with voices) talking a crowd into coming to see a show. An organ, strings and very creepy choir complete this number.

Welcome [Lyrics]
This is a fantastic song where Christina shows her range but otherwise doesn't go over the top, with a full orchestra backing her up. The lyrics start with "Welcome to the greatest show, the greatest show on earth you've ever seen before"- sounds like the circus to me!

Hurt [Lyrics] [YouTube] [Music Video Images]
'Hurt' isn't a circus song exactly but in the music video Christina plays the role of a circus performer, so I think of the circus whenever I hear this song.