Velvetina's Blue Moon Revue Revs Up At Mollie Fontaine Lounge

Velvetina's Blue Moon Revue Revs Up At Mollie Fontaine Lounge

When burlesque performer Velvetina Taylor decided to hit the road - leaving her NYC home behind for a bit - and create a burlesque show residency, Memphis was her first and only choice. After many visits to the Bluff City, diving into our Americana music scene, connecting with locals, and getting to know Mollie Fontaine Lounge owner, Karen Carrier, she's ready to bring the show to town. By motorcycle. Tonight.

Photo by @HouseIndulgence. Design by Todd Johnson.

She'll launch the Velvetina Blue Moon Revue on April 3 at Mollie Fontaine Lounge. The show runs nightly, Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. To start, the Blue Moon Revue will be a six month run, with a lineup of burlesque performers that changes weekly, and a lineup of local musicians that changes monthly. Tickets are $30 per person and you can get yours here.

Meet Velvetina

She's originally from Indianapolis, but is currently based in New York City…when she's home. Most of the time, Velvetina travels the country on her Pistons & Pasties Tour, riding her motorcycle from city to city, performing burlesque shows and staying, couch-surfer style, with local performers. "I'll pack two costumes on my bike and hit the road," she explains.

It was on one such stop in Memphis in 2016 that she started to fall in love with Memphis. At the time, a show residency was far from her mind. Later, as she started to contemplate the next steps of her career, the question to herself was, "Where do I want to be?" The answer? Memphis.

She's been back six times since, brought both her parents, sampled our cuisine ("give me all the BBQ!" she says) and connected with the locals, particularly in the "rockabilly" scene. Think classic cars, pinup and burlesque enthusiasts, and most importantly, Americana music.

Memphis Burlesque Show at Mollie Fontaine

The two front rooms of Mollie's will be reserved for the Blue Moon Revue, while the upstairs will remain open as usual for dinner and cocktail service. The whole place will be open as usual after the end of the Blue Moon Revue, around 9 p.m.

Velvetina's Blue Moon Revue is a traditional burlesque show, performed nightly Tuesdays through Saturdays at the swanky Mollie Fontaine Lounge in Victorian Village in downtown Memphis. The intimate show seats only 30, set up in the eclectic atmosphere of an historic home filled with contemporary art and furnishings.

Most people don't think of Mollie's as a place for dinner, but the menu is approachable and delicious. Read more about the venue here.

Three local groups will rotate to provide the music for the show, including John Paul Keith Trio, Marcella & Her Lovers, and Amy LaVere, Will Sexton, and Shawn Colvin

Velvetina will host the show and perform herself, along with two other performers. She has scheduled burlesque pros from around the country, including New Orleans, Chicago, NYC, and more, to fly into Memphis for the shows. Expect different faces each week. (You can check out the schedule here.)

I'm on board with a show that brings people to Memphis, and shows them a good time while they're here. I love Velvetina's choice of Memphis-soaked music, and I'm hoping to see some local performers represented in guest spots. While we don't currently have a every-night burlesque show situation, we do have established local groups with regular shows (check out the upcoming La Fleurs from Sock-It-To-Me Burlesque and Evolution from Coco Rosie). Here's hoping we'll get to see some familiar Memphis faces on stage while also getting to know the talented performers that Velvetina's bringing to town!

Go There:

Velvetina's Blue Moon Revue
Mollie Fontaine Lounge

Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Tickets $30
21 and up

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