Charlee Watt: Beating up The Beatles
Thu
25
Thu 25 Jun 6:30 PM
Ginger's at The Oxford
General Admission
60 Mins
Beating Up The Beatles is a striking jazz-infused cabaret from South Australian award-winning artist Charlee Watt, reimagining the songs of Lennon and McCartney through bold new arrangements, storytelling, and unapologetic musical curiosity.
For this special Qtopia Sydney Pride Fest season, Charlee is joined by the “FAB4” of Ahearn, Kohlhoff, Laskowski and Reid — four of Sydney’s finest jazz musicians — bringing a new level of depth, spontaneity, and sophistication to the work.Featuring:
• Karl Laskowski – Tenor Saxophone
• Gavin Ahearn – Keys/Piano
• Peter Kohlhoff – Bass (Electric & Acoustic)
• Cameron Reid – Drums
The title says it all — this is about “beating up” the music in the best possible way: reshaping rhythms, pulling apart harmonies, and rebuilding songs to reveal textures and meanings you may never have noticed before.
Together, they create a sound that is lush, dynamic, and alive — moving seamlessly from intimate ballads to bold, rhythm-driven reinterpretations.
Drawing inspiration from artists like Sarah Vaughan, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Carmen McRae and Dionne Warwick, Charlee steps into a lineage of artists who reinterpret rather than imitate.
This isn’t nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake.
It’s about asking: what do these songs mean now? At its heart, this is a show about finding new meaning in something you thought you knew. Through jazz, soul, and contemporary cabaret, the show uncovers the emotional depth, wit, and vulnerability within the songwriting — delivered with powerhouse vocals and magnetic stage presence.Premiering at Adelaide Fringe in 2024 when Charlee was just 19 (now 21), this artist has since toured nationally and returned for three consecutive Fringe seasons (2024–2026).
🏆 Fringe Weekly Award – Best Cabaret & Variety (Perth Fringe World)
🏆 Adelaide Critics Circle Award – Emerging Artist
🏆 Adelaide Fringe “One to Watch” Award (2025)
🏆 Adelaide Fringe Tour Ready Award (NZ Fringe 2027)
The production has been presented at Perth Fringe World, the Melbourne Seniors Festival, and on regional tour with Country Arts SA.
“Charlee Watt entranced me from the get-go… the arrangements brought a texture to these songs that one suspects would delight the original authors.”
— The Barefoot Review