Dolly Diamond, Nina Ferro, Dave O’Neil and Peter Rowsthorn are coming to the Ringwood Spiegeltent
Ringwood is set for an entertainment bonanza with the Spiegeltent opening on Friday for a second year. Here’s your ultimate guide to the festival.
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Ringwood is set for an entertainment bonanza with the return of the Spiegeltent for a second year.
Stars of music, cabaret, comedy and children’s entertainment will strut their stuff under the big top at Ringwood Town Square from April 5-13.
This year’s season has moved from January to April to escape the sweaty summer weather.
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The tent will also have a bigger capacity and is in a new home across the road in Melbourne St.
Friday night’s opening gala, Anthony Callea’s concert on Saturday and a handful of other performances have already sold out, but there are still tickets available to a wide range of shows.
Vika and Linda Bull have also added a second concert on April 11 after tickets to their first show on April 9 flew out the door.
Maroondah Leader caught up with four of the stars of this year’s season.
PETE’S FEELIN’ SHARP
Peter Rowsthorn is gearing up to return to the land of skinheads and sharpies next week.
The popular Australian comedian grew up in Mount Waverley and has fond memories of visiting Ringwood’s old ice rink and its atmosphere.
“Gangs would form outside the entrance and you’d poo yourself when you walk in there,” he said.
“I was a bit of a wall clinger and I’d often get pushed over by a skinhead or a sharpie.”
Things will be a little bit less pushy inside the Spiegeltent when Rowsthorn and Fiona O’Loughlin perform their show Ron And Brenda Go Country.
The duo met on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here last year where they created the characters to keep themselves amused in the African jungle.
They’ve now teamed up for a stand-up show which they road-tested in regional venues last year.
“She does a bit, I do a bit, we talk about the jungle for 45 minutes and then I close it out,” Rowsthorn said.
Rowsthorn said he might make the most of his time in Ringwood and kick on at the Manhattan Hotel after the gig.
“I’ll see if I can do some appearance work, maybe there’s some old sharpies on the door,” he said.
Ron and Brenda Go Country is on April 10 at 9pm.
FERRO’S GOT FRANKLIN ON HER MIND
After showing a bit of Respect to Aretha Franklin, Nina Ferro might head up the road and crash at her parents’ house in Croydon North.
Ferro said her family was excited to watch her tribute to the late US soul diva.
“They’re bringing all their friends along so it’ll probably turn into a bit of a slumber party at the end,” she said.
Ferro’s mother sparked her obsession with Franklin which inspired her to become a singer.
She’ll perform the tribute with a seven-piece band and revisit her favourites as well as Franklin’s biggest hits.
“She was the first singer I can remember hearing and she was my first singing teacher in a way,” Ferro said.
“I was only four or five, my mum dropped the needle on Spanish Harlem and my life was never the same.”
Aretha: In Loving Memory is on April 10 at 7.30pm.
DAVE’S BACK IN THE HOOD
Ringwood Town Square is well and truly Dave O’Neil’s stomping ground.
The comedian grew up in Mitcham and has vivid memories of his time gallivanting around Eastland in his youth.
“There was a really good doughnut shop here, we’d just get doughnuts and sit there, then go to Brashs and get a Duran Duran record,” he said.
“It was much cooler than going to the Mitcham shops.”
O’Neil is teaming up with newly-appointed AFL Footy Show host Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann for the Two’s Company double bill.
He’ll be talking all about his childhood — and possibly his old driving lessons.
“Where we’re standing now, there used to be carpark, and I learnt how to drive in the carpark here as a teenager,” O’Neil said.
“All the shops were closed on Sundays so it was just learner drivers driving around here … I nearly drove into Murphy’s Hardware once.
“To think I’m doing a gig in a tent in a carpark where I used to learn to drive is pretty exciting.”
Two’s Company is on April 8 at 7.30pm.
DIAMOND TO SHINE BRIGHT IN NEW SHOW
There’s no one more pumped up about the Ringwood Spiegeltent’s return than the homegrown cabaret queen.
Dolly Diamond, whose alter ego Michael Dalton grew up in Ringwood, is a genuine fan of the festival and thrives under the Spiegeltent.
“I did this last year and I absolutely loved it, it brings Ringwood alive,” she said.
Diamond has created a new show especially for the tent and will be backed by a “kick-ass” five-piece band.
When she’s not on stage, she’ll be having vodkas and red wines in the Sage Hotel bar and checking out other acts at the festival.
“I’m making the most of this,” she said.
“You don’t have to go into the city to watch this, and where in the city would you get this line-up?”
Diamond is hosting the opening night gala on April 5 at 7.30pm and is performing her own show on April 13 at 9pm.
Tickets and the full Spiegeltent line-up is at karralyka.com.au
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