Steampunk music event is not for the fainthearted

A revolution is brewing on the Exeter music scene which is set to erupt later this month with the city’s first ever Steampunk Extravaganza. Steampunk encompasses music, art, fiction and fashion. It is the Victorian conservatism of tweed and lace corrupted by gothic and punk influences.

The music is an equally eclectic blend, according to Miss Pinksi, singer with the Mysterious Freakshow, one of the many acts appearing at the event at the Phoenix Centre on 17 May. But, she said, it is a growing phenomenon: “Steampunk has been around since the 70s or 80s but it’s a fairly new thing for Exeter. There’s quite a big Cornish fraternity called Steampunk Kernow but it’s very early days for the Steampunk scene in and around Devon, so it’s very exciting to part of that.”

Miss Pinksi said the band’s musical influences range from Siouxsie and the Banshees to Motorhead, Kate Bush and The Prodigy. “We draw on lots of ideas for our music but the style is very important as well. It’s a very alternative look. I suppose it’s a sub-stream of gothic culture.

“This evening will be a chance for people to get to know what we’re all about and be part of an emerging new scene.”

Steampunk was originally a genre of fiction and science fiction and is represented in the works of Jules Verne and HG Wells. It is a sort of re-imagining of the Victorian era; how society and technology would have evolved without electricity.

“We all come from very different genres but we’re attracted to that geeky sci-fi element,” said Miss Pinksi, who formed the band just under a year ago with, Phineas Gauge, SteamPUNK Animal and Tom Rosenbloom.

The band will be joined by Professor Elemental with his diverse performance of music, poetry and odes to tea,The Wattingers who describe themselves as a “dark and twisted blues band” and experimental cabaret act Miss Von Trapp, who performs dark songs and poetry as well as playing the cello. She is also due to play on the cabaret stage at Plymouth’s Volksfest later this month (May).

They will be joined by a number of Electroswing DJs who will be performing in the bar all night. The Steampunk Extravaganza will be on Friday 17 May at the Phoenix Centre in Exeter.

Tickets are £10 and available from the box office on 01392 667080 or at www.phoenix.org.uk