Love Me for a song and charity

Described as a “musical safari through the jungle of love” a special concert this Sunday in Darlinghurst headlined by New York-based musical director Lance Horne and featuring stars of cabaret and song will help raise money for ACON’s Anti-Violence Project.

Promising to be unexpected, spontaneous and memorable, Horne will lead an all-star line-up including burlesque babe and one-time Machine Gun Fellatio band member, Christa Hughes, jazz/soul chanteuse Elana Stone, drag star Courtney Act, cabaret star Tom Sharah, musical theatre star Sheridan Harbridge and the sexy puppeteering troupe Cabaret Decadanse.

Touching down in Sydney from the US only mid-this week, Horne tells SX the audience can be sure to look forward to unexpected collaborations and surprising reinterpretations with performances covering rock, cabaret, pop, musical comedy and burlesque.

“I’m taking part in Love Me because the artists that gather at these events connect with an audience in a more inspired, more informed, more authentic, and more beautiful level of communication and play,” he says.

“The Australian cabaret scene is alive and well, sending artists around the globe, and bringing attention to the special sense of humour and sport that is unique to Australian audiences.”

With Love Me having premiered in 2012, Horne, who has won two Emmy Awards and performed with the likes of Meow Meow and the Dresden Dolls, says this year’s version of the one-off show will have people kicking themselves if they miss it.

“This is the only possible night where this line-up will interact, making a sandcastle of music, comedy, and collective inspiration,” he says. “We need the audience for that to happen! We’re contributing to ACON. We’re bringing Alan Cumming in on a screen to sing a duet! What’s not to Love?!”

Love Me, 7pm, Sunday, February 24 at The Standard, Surry Hills. For tickets, visit http://www.moshtix.com.au/v2/event/love-me/53694