Marmalade Circus are back in the Adelaide Fringe for three shows. This will also be their debut at Adelaide’s funkiest venue, The Promethean. After the all-consuming Gospel Messiah (which was received very well by the way) a little extra gospel influence will undoubtedly have crept into the music, but there is also going to be a greater Brazilian vibe too. Mark is working hard on quite a few new tunes and if all goes according to plan the whole experience should be recorded for a new live album.

Tickets $22/$14 (+Booking Fee)
Through Fringetix on 1300 FRINGE
Also available online at www.adelaidefringe.com.au

The biggest project that Marmalade leader Mark Simeon Ferguson has ever undertaken is on at the Adelaide Festival Theatre on Dec 14 and 15 at 8pm (book at Bass).

Mark was commissioned by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra to rewrite Handel's Messiah in a gospel style to feature the orchestra, soloists James Morrison, Doug Parkinson, Paulini and Trace Canini, jazz choir The Adelaide Connection and rhythm section (which is Marmalade Trio).

As the arranger Mark has worked for the past year or so rewriting, reworking, rearranging, revising and reinventing this incredible Baroque Oratorio.

As Musical Director (Australia's hippest young conductor Ben Northey is at the podium) he has been rehearsing with the singers in Sydney a few times, but mostly sending them recordings of himself singing the songs along to the computer generated versions of the music (his singing has improved a lot as a result).

So what will it sound like? A very big Marmalade Circus actually, with higher profile soloists and lots more instruments.

Basically Mark took his brief and looked hard at what gospel is today and discovered that it includes most of the influences that he uses in his marmalade writing. So, Handel's songs have been marmaladed: 'Rejoice Greatly' has been salsa-fied, 'All We Like Sheep have Gone Astray' has a South African groove, 'The People That Walk in Darkness' has an Arabic groove and 'O Thou That Tellest' is now a 5/4 swing tune for improvising on.

However, the over-riding influence in this rewrite of Handel is Gospel music, which Mark has always loved, so it has given him an excuse to listen to Gospel music day in and day out (except of course for the previous 4 months when he listened to Handel's original version day in and day out).

Tickets aren't super cheap, but there are a lot of people on stage whose fees aren't small (obviously not Mark's!).

Anyway, get along if you can as this is going to be an AMAZING event.

Marmalade Circus are playing a one-off gig at the Wheatsheaf Hotel on Monday April 16th at 8pm for COMA. Unlike the regular COMA series performances, Marmalade Circus are the only band on and they are playing two sets. The band will debut some new, more serious tunes and will play maybe a few less silly tunes than in the fringe shows (though we can't promise anything-but we don't expect to be able to fit a sousaphone on stage at the Wheaty).

Last time Marmalade Circus played at the Wheatsheaf they had to turn a stack of people away, so get there early for a good seat (if you don't get in it is a sweet pub to hang out in anyway!).

"Roll up, roll up to experience the explosive horns and fiery percussionists of this amazing ten-piece jazz troupe! Thrill to magical, quirky tunes. Marvel as they bend rhythms from Africa, the Caribbean and the Middle-East to their collective will in an energetic, inspiring and at times downright silly show."

$20/$14 at FringeTix

Adelaide Fringe 2007

Marmalade Circus: Live and Sticky 3

Marmalade Circus had a great time in the Adelaide Fringe with two full houses and lots of merriment made. Massive and tiny instruments were played by all.

Next gig is for COMA at the Wheatsheaf Hotel in Theabarton on April 16 at 8pm. The group will be playing a few new tunes and will be focussing on their 'jazz' repertoire. Pat Thiele will be flying back to Adelaide especially for the show.

Read below to see what people are saying about Marmalade Circus: Live and Sticky 3 –

The Independent Weekly: Adelaide Edition

Thursday March 22, 2007

"If you like jazz and you have never experienced Marmalade Circus you have been missing out big time because their sound is superbly, massively awesome. A local ten-piece world-jazz troupe comfortably presenting some of the freshest most invigorating foot tapping hip swinging original material in the tightest yet jovial way possible. Unquestionably world class, practically unbelievable they're so good. Even a jaded jazz aficionado would likely be gob-smacked by the whole Live & Sticky experience. These musicians have clearly dedicated a considerable amount of their lives to perfecting the wide variety of instruments they play. Horns, percussion, keys: categorically hot!"

-- David Jobling

The Advertiser

March 26, 2007



Marmalade Circus is a swinging show band of ten strong jazz musicians led by pianist Mark Ferguson who is also composer, arranger and ringmaster. Some pieces are novelty numbers, such as Tiny Instruments, Massive Instruments using pocket trumpets and piccolo moving to baritone sax and sousaphone. But any tendency to overdo the horseplay is dispelled by the sheer talent of soloists like Chris Soole’s high energy tenor sax, Nick Mulder’s inventive trombone, or the shining brass trumpet work of Warren Heading and Patrick Thiele. Ferguson’s compositions - often in Latin tempos - sustain with outstanding, sometimes complex arrangements, precisely played, and powerfully driven by electric bass, keyboards, drums and percussion. 4.5 stars

-- John McBeath

Ripitup magazine

Issue 924 March 22, 2007

"Despite giving their four-night residency at the Queens Arms a title and going out of the way to stress their silliness, almost to the point where you expect cabaret rather than music, Marmalade Circus are nothing more than a jazz band. But what a band… and what a gig! The 10-strong Marmalade crew turned in a superlative performance, spicing their music with African, Latin and Middle Eastern influences. So many excellent musicians are on display that it seems wrong to single anyone out, but the horn section, overall, is sublime. Bandleader Mark Ferguson is a genial host and nearly lives up to those proclamations of silliness during the relatively weak middle section of the show. The first and last thirds are genuinely exciting, however. Ferguson’s best compositions are of as high a standard as you could hope for, the arrangements are tight and sharply focused, and there’s plenty of room for individual expression. Dodgy marketing, fantastic band."

-- Gary Cockburn