Welcome to a world of big hair, frizzy fantasy, curly cabaret and wild performances. A fabulously kitsch hair salon is opening for business at Meriton Festival Village. Drop in to catchThe Perm Set(live party bands), Osadia (Spanish hair sculptors) andThe Big Hair Show hosted by cabaret queens Lisa Fa’alafi and Leah Shelton together with fabulously coiffured Salon Manager Bob Downe

Start the evening with The Perm Set, an impressive line-up of Sydney’s best disco, soul, funk and Latin bands (see the full schedule below).

Afterwards, Spanish hair sculptors Osadia will ask volunteers to surrender their scalps in the name of art. Each night, a lucky few will be plucked from the crowd and elevated to hair-styled stardom live on stage.

Next up:The Big Hair Show. This wig-filled, non-stop variety show will be a heady mix of cabaret, colour-enhanced acrobatics, dance and music. Salon Receptionist DJ Sveta will spin up tunes while Salon Owner Bob Downe shows off his skills as the comb king to the stars. The Amazing Ari and Lucia Carbines will get heads turning with an array of aerial and contortionist acts. Keep an eye out for special guests visiting the Salon including Catherine Alcorn, Paul Capsis, Costa Georgiadis, Sheridan Harbridge, Brendan Maclean, Alice Terry and more.

Then relax and settle in as DJ Sveta and DJ Jay Katz keep the good vibes going late into the night.

All the action at The Hair Salonwill take place on the Village Stage presented by China Southern Airlines – it’s time to get your party hair on!

PERM SET

Wednesday 11 January, 6.30pm Pirra

Returning to the Meriton Festival Village, this indie outfit combines sophisticated yet catchy pop arrangements with surreal lyrics about modern life.

Thursday 12 January, 6.30pm - Lake Street Dive (USA)

The Brooklyn-based, classically-trained foursome have been together for over a decade. But after a sultry Jackson 5 cover went viral, a show-stealing appearance alongside Jack White and Patti Smith at a 2014Inside Llewyn Davistribute show in New York City, and a new album of originals recorded while listening to a lot of Bowie and The Zombies, they’ve well and truly picked up the tempo.

Friday 13 January, 6.15pm Mighty Duke & The Lords

Crisp linen suits and sharp-witted lyrics are blended with junk percussion and double entendre by this five-piece band, resulting in a tropical cyclone of mad calypso rhythm and rum-soaked tomfoolery.

Saturday 14 January, 6.30pm Mighty Duke & The Lords

Sunday 15 January, 6.30pm Mighty Duke & The Lords

Wednesday 18 January, 6.30pm Body Type

With songs that bounce from the depths of heartbreak to the amusing banality of everyday life, this newly formed Sydney-based quartet are producing lo-fi garage pop music that has everybody talking.

Thursday 19 January, 6.30pm Alice Terry

With a multi-faceted voice that slides from gutsy Delta blues queen through to a powerful yet ethereal falsetto, Terry’s beautiful songs have deservedly earned her the title of 'Sydney’s first lady of blues'.

Friday 20 January, 6.30pm Broadway Sounds

With touches of psych, Italo disco, kwela jazz and township jive, this critically acclaimed trio churn out vibrant pop and pay homage to some of music’s richest lineages, while creating a sound both provocative and new in its own right.

Saturday 21 January, 6.30pm Broadway Sounds

Sunday 22 January, 6.45pm Eastern Empire

This multi-cultural and multi-talented cast of both classically trained and self-taught musicians and vocalists will transport you to a world of Indian dance and music with a touch of Bollywood, filled with explosive colour and sound.

Wednesday 25 January, 6.45pm Alice Terry

Thursday 26 January, 6.45pm Eastern Empire

Friday 27 January, 6.45pm Los Tones

Combining old school psychotropic beats with hip grinding dance rhythms, this garage rock quartet hurl themselves around with abandon and offer a sound that is gloriously big and brash.

Saturday 28 January, 6.45pm Los Tones

Sunday 29 January, 6.30pm Cumbiamuffin

The contagious, joyful rhythms of Latin American cumbia music is brought to life by this group of Colombian and Australian musicians. Think reggae, ragga and roots from the Caribbean – with a big band orchestra vibe.

The Hair Salon Credits:

Produced by the Art Engineers
Concept: Art Engineers – Greg Clarke
Creative Producers: Virginia Hyam & Julianne Pierce
Set Designer: Slade Smith
Production Manager: Mike Smith

The Big Hair Show co-produced by Art Engineers and Polytoxic
The Big Hair Showco-directors and costume design: Leah Shelton & Lisa Fa’alafi
The Big Hair Showmusic director: Sveta Gilerman

Note: The Meriton Festival Village is a licensed venue. Under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Photo 1: John McRae