Gifts from the King

“As a jazz educated singer, the thought of singing backing vocals for an Elvis tribute artist was almost sacrilege. But I was offered the gig and I said yes. I had no idea of the musical trip I was about to take. The next five years would see a fascinating web of musical history unravelling before my very ears, and I had Elvis to thank for it. Roberta Flack, Dusty Springfield, Nancy Sinatra, Aretha Franklin – it turns out they’ve each sung from the King’s songbook.”

- Melissa McCaig

Part cabaret, part jazz, part soul revue, Gifts from the King is five of Adelaide’s finest musicians performing beautifully crafted arrangements of songs that Elvis sang, inspired by all those who sang them.

It’ll be intimate, sometimes very personal, and maybe even a little bit funny. A story of blowing off the jazz police and being true to your musical self. It’ll be tender ballads. It’ll be big, fat, soul harmonies. It’ll be a tiny bit rock n roll.

And it will sound amazing.

Cast

Melissa McCaig, Kathie Renner, Carol Young, Steve Todd, Shaun Duncan

About Melissa

Melissa McCaig has performed nationally and internationally for more than 20 years.

As co-creator of cabaret shows Flat on your Bacharach, Women with Standards and The Fiddle and the Drum, and with The Fabulous Singlettes, Mel has performed to sold out houses across major festivals including the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Sydney Comedy Festival, The Perth International Arts Festival, Melbourne's Midsumma, Feast, Hong Kong Fringe, Sydney Gay Games and Adelaide Fringe as well as Berlin’s “Tipi”, return seasons at the Tokyo Hyatt and a performance by special invitation in Vancouver, Canada.

Mel's Edinburgh Fringe season with Women with Standards was hailed as one of the top 8 shows of the festival, enjoying rave reviews and sell out houses with her London debut at the famous 606 Club in the same year.

Mel has appeared in original Australian musicals including the Cabaret Festival productions of Matthew Robinson's Metro Street, Eddie Perfect's Shane Warne the Musical and David Young's The Beauty Spot.

Mel has been lead vocalist with the internationally acclaimed Band of the South Australia Police for 10 years, regularly performing throughout Australia, the UK and Europe. In 2016 Mel was a soloist as part of the band’s performance for Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations at Windsor Castle.

Praise for 'Gifts from the King'

"An Unexpected Foray into Elvis Mania Inspires a New Solo Show" - Broadway Baby