Tiger Lillies' Dark Oompah at Adelaide Festival

0:00Hey, it's Cory with Adelaide News Today, your city, your news, every day. The Tiger lilies put on a standout show at her Majesty's Theatre during the Adelaide Festival. The band, led by founder Martin Jacques on piano accordion, played a 90-minute set packed with tracks from their 2025 album Serenade, from The Sewer. Joined by bassist Adrian Stout and drummer Booty Bootno, they delivered their signature dark sound with striking visuals of clown-like makeup and vintage suits. Formed in 1989 in Soho by Jacques, the group blends influences from Bratot Brecht, Kurt Wilde, Jacques Brale, and others into what? Jacques calls death oompa music. Their lyrics dive into tough topics like drug use, prostitution, and life struggles for those on the edges of society. Those songs drew from Jacques's experiences watching Soho's underbelly in the 1980s. Audiences love the mix of bleak themes and musical flair, with Jacques's piercing falsetto

1:01and poetic piano adding deep emotion. Singalongs on tracks like Stupid Life got everyone involved, while poignant pieces such as Rue d'Aussier and the finale, Birds sing in Ukraine, left a strong impression. The band's tight playing shown through after years together. Stout and Bootno brought comic relief with standout solos on musical saw, Theraman, Jawharp, and drums during songs like Stad in the Back. Classics such as Heroin rounded out the set, keeping the energy high from start to finish. After 35 years touring the world, earning Olivier Awards, a Grammy nomination, and releasing over 60 albums, this performance stood out as a festival highlight proving their lasting artistic power. This DNN story is thanks to our sponsor details in the description. Soley Pillow is a pillow with built-in headphones, lay back, press play, and disappear into what you're listening to, S-O-L-I, soleypillow.com