Concrete Playground

There's an image that clearly comes to mind when listening to Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen. It's something akin to a scene from one of Tim Burton's animations: skeletons dance gaily in graveyards, crows cry tunefully looking over barren fields and pirates hold mugs of ale, fighting in between each chorus. Is that just me? Or is that exactly what these creative souls are after?

More than just musical performers, this act is the true definition of all-out entertainment. At one of their shows you can expect cabaret-style interactions with the audience, dark tales of woe told between musical numbers and a variety of gypsy, balkan and (dare I say) pirate-inspired tunes which may not necessarily be toe-tapping but will certainly sweep you away to the rain-soaked galley of a travelling ship or the love-lost misery of a drunk in a bar.

You may recognise lead singer Mikelangelo and his perfectly waxed quiff from La Clique; it was with this travelling troupe that he managed to score the Green Room Award and London Time Out Critic's Choice at last year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival. For those of you with a penchant for devilishly handsome, darkly humoured and desperately desirable musical entertainment, pull out the oars and row down to the Opera House Studio.