Songblazers – A Journey into Country Music is one of Cirque du Soleil’s latest entertainment ventures that steer away, just slightly, from their origins of the wild and flamboyant abstract circus themes featuring continuous live music and performers changing the set (rather than stagehands). The goal of Songblazers is to create a new avenue of touring shows for Cirque du Soleil in theaters. The performers in Songblazers are a select group of Cirque artists from ten different countries who wre carefully selected and trained at Cirque’s Montreal headquarters for this show which opened in Nashville this July and tours across the nation. 7 new cities were added to the itinerary and Austin was one of them.
I’m no lover of country music and only know the big names and some big hits from artists like Waylon Jennings, Patsy Cline, Dolly, and Willie so much to my surprise this upbeat and somewhat stereotypical view of “southern country folk and their antics” took me off guard. Clapping, hooting, hollering, and having some down home fun, Cirque converted me. How good were the singers, musicians and performers? As always with top quality Cirque du Soleil, a solid 9! They embodied the raucous, the sweet, the corny and sentimental, so common in country music lyrics. The clown of the show was a hit amongst the youngsters in the audience. I sat next to a little one 21 months old who oohed and aahed the entire show.
Adding a unique touch to the production, Cirque du Soleil partnered with Sam Williams, a modern country artist and descendant of country legends Hank Williams and Hank Jr. Williams has composed an original song, “Carnival Heart,” for Songblazers. Co-written with PJ Harding and Ned Houston, this evocative piece reflects personal themes of self-discovery and hope, resonating deeply with the essence of the show. Williams remarked, “The concept of ‘Carnival Heart’ came naturally. In my hometown, the carnival represents a blend of joy and excitement—a fitting metaphor for the emotions evoked by this extraordinary production.”
The show’s creation team includes:
- Daniel Ross – Director of Creation
- Amy Tinkham – Show Director & Writer
- Wayne Wilson – Associate Show Director & Comedic Content Designer
- Bruce Rodgers – Set Designer
- Nicholas Mahon – Props and Puppets Designer
- Zerina Rosette Akers – Costumes Designer
- Vanessa Ashley – Make-up Designer
- Abigail Rosen Holmes – Lighting Designer
- Gareth Owen – Sound Designer
- Germain Guillemot – Acrobatic Performance Designer
- Danny Zen – Acrobatic Equipment Designer
- Melissa Colello – Acrobatic Choreographer
- Seth Roberts – Music Arranger & Producer
The story pays homage to the legendary trailblazers of the past while embracing the vibrant talents of contemporary artists. Audiences witness breathtaking acrobatics, awe-inspiring aerial acts, and displays of extraordinary strength. As the crowd grooves to beloved country tunes, they will be entranced by the stunning skills of Cirque du Soleil artists, honoring the rich tradition of country music while embracing its evolving spirit.
This would be the fourth Cirque du Soleil performance I have seen in my life. The first was in Berlin in a huge circus tent called the Grand Cahpiteau; back in 1994 Saltimbanco. The troupe was formed in 1984 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada by street performers Guy Laliberte and Gilles Ste-Croix. Cirque’s subsidiaries include the show Blue Man Group, VStar Entertainment, The Works Entertainment, 4U2C, and Outbox Enterprises. The company employes over 4,000 people from 50 countries and has permanent Las Vegas shows playing to over 9,000 people per night.
The company has received numerous awards such as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Primetime Emmy Awards, Gemini Awards and a Juno Award.
Ticket Information
Tickets for Austin performances at Bass Concert Hall at the U. of Texas at Austin are available now online exclusively to Club Cirque members. For free subscription, visit cirqueclub.com. General on-sale at www.cirquedusoleil.com/songblazers. The show runs until August 18. Special offers available for group of 10+.