BY AYA VALENTINE
What do you get when you mash together Aussie rock anthems, circus performers, and a crowd fully locked in to every chorus? Highway to Hell: The Rock’n’Roll Circus at Wynnum Fringe.
This wasn’t just a show. It was a full-blown spectacle – sexy, witty and unapologetically loud, all set inside The Augathella Spiegeltent’s very own pub. XXXX, anyone?
At the heart of it were powerhouse vocalists Wes Carr and Mahalia Barnes, leading the charge through some of the most iconic Aussie anthems, from Power and the Passion to Highway to Hell (naturally). They were backed by an all-star band featuring Matt Smith, Ben Rodgers, Mick Skelton, and Andrea Krakovská, whose guitar work literally took things to another level. She had the crowd hooked from the first head-banging guitar riffs, playing upside down in mid-air like it was the most natural thing in the world.
And the circus elements? Jaw dropping.
There was Melon the Human delivering object manipulation with a strong dose of clown – how does doing the splits on two milk crates sound? His ability to look so painfully awkward on stage was almost as impressive as the act itself. Then there was Katrina Louise, whose aerial and fire performances were scorchingly good. Between hair-hanging, aerial chains and fire swallowing, she had the entire Spiegletent collectively holding its breath.
What really elevated the experience was the energy inside the Spiegeltent. It felt like a pub singalong that’s on the verge of getting out of hand. Looking around at multiple points, you’d see people fully immersed, singing every word, clapping along, and completely locked into everything that was unfolding on stage.
If you want a night that’s unexpected and seriously entertaining, this is it.
Highway to Hell is on at Wynnum Fringe until Sunday, 28 June.
Missed out? Don’t worry, there’s plenty still on at Wynnum Fringe. The festival runs through to 12 July, and there’s no shortage of standout acts. You can check what’s on here.
