Big Band brilliance meets Hollywood glamour! BBD Entertainment presents a lavish evening of classic standards, live orchestral sweep and the kind of vocal interplay that made Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga’s collaboration so beloved. Two Melbourne dates this spring offer audiences the chance to hear the Great American Songbook delivered with warmth, wit and a 20 piece band.
Tony & Gaga: An Opulent Big Band Experience pairs powerhouse vocalist Sarah C with style icon Dom Bagnato for a show built around the songs that defined an era of sophisticated pop. Sarah C, known to Australian audiences from Dancing With The Stars and X Factor, brings vocal depth and presence to every standard, while Bagnato adds charm and stage charisma to match. Together, they recreate the chemistry that made Bennett and Gaga’s duet albums so appealing.
Behind them stands the Mojo Orchestra, a 20 piece ensemble delivering the lush arrangements these songs demand. Strings, brass and rhythm section fill the room with the kind of live orchestral sound that streaming cannot replicate. The setlist draws from the Great American Songbook, the body of classic standards that both Bennett and Gaga championed throughout their celebrated partnership.
The production plays two Melbourne venues this spring. Frankston Arts Centre hosts the first show on Saturday 5 September at 7.30pm, offering a seated theatre setting for audiences in the southern suburbs. A month later, on Friday 9 October at 7.30pm, the show moves to Birds Basement, the intimate jazz room beneath the city where the orchestra and vocalists will be close enough to touch.
Each venue offers a different way into the material. Frankston’s theatre brings scale and sweep; Birds Basement brings proximity and atmosphere. Both promise an evening of polished vocals, a full live band and songs that have never really gone out of style.
Tickets for both performances are on sale now. For an evening of classic standards, vocal chemistry and a 20 piece orchestra in full flight, book your seats at Sarah C Shows.
Tony & Gaga: An Opulent Big Band Experience Rating
★★★★★
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Most know the late Tony Bennett and the much younger pop icon, Lady Gaga, who shared a musical partnership and a friendship for decades. Both were Italian singers with a mutual respect for each other, as well as two collaborative jazz albums.
After first meeting at the 2011 Robin Hood Foundation gala in New York City, when Bennett told Gaga, “Lady, you are a jazz singer”, later that year Gaga recorded “The Lady Is a Tramp” for Bennett’s Duets II album.
So successful, they then released the chart-topping jazz record Cheek to Cheek in 2014 and the Cole Porter tribute album Love for Sale in 2021.
What many don’t know is the mutual impact and support they shared revitalized Gaga’s love for music when she was considering quitting the music industry. Their partnership was that profound.
For the amazing Tony & Gaga tribute show in Melbourne last Friday, acclaimed powerhouse vocalist, Sarah C, (Dancing with the Stars, X Factor) teamed up with debonair Melbourne fashion icon, Dom Bagnato, to sing the unforgettable hits of the American Songbook.
Arguably, some of the best songs ever produced in our history, some nearly 100 years old, these timeless tunes fit somewhere into our lives emotionally, still today.
When I last reviewed Sarah’s ‘Soul Divas’ show, I met Dom in the audience, excited about doing this new show with Sarah C.
This had developed when Sarah and Dom had sung together at the birthday of Dom’s daughter when they realised they had some great musical mojo together. Now, the rest is history.
No coincidence, the 20-piece band backing Sarah and Dom on Friday night were named the Mojo Orchestra and, the chemistry between Sarah and Dom with this great band, was an absolute treat to behold.
Dressed in dinner suits and bow ties, the Mojo Orchestra stage setting was reminiscent of the halcyon days of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Mojo had the same musical precision Miller’s band was famous for – when to come in loud and when to pull back – without anyone knowing how they timed that.
The first song of the night, sung by backing singers Cathy Moloney and Julie Kemelfield, was ‘Summertime’, from the musical Porgy and Bess. They were there to warm us up so, we had no idea how opulent our experience was about to be.
I had just flown in Friday morning from a friend’s “007” wedding in Greece and a week in Thailand’s relaxed humidity, straight into Melbourne’s frosty Friday night to do this review, so ‘Summertime’ seemed serendipitous.
I was ready for the warmth of “crooner” tunes, when Musical Director, Peter Foley, introduced us to Sarah C and Dom Bagnato as Gaga and Bennett and their first duet, the classic, ‘The Lady is a Tramp’. It is a playful song about a woman who hates strict social rules, made famous by singers like Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, celebrating being free and real. What more could one want?
Sarah C, always so glamourous – was wearing a leopard print blazer, diamante brooch and a Fedora hat, the first of her many changes – showed us her vocal versatility with some matching Beebop, (first developed in the 40s by legends like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.).
The band sounded romantic and fabulous and the audience couldn’t wait to hear what more was in store for their evening.
Next, Sarah and Dom performed ‘Heaven’ with Sarah’s tone reminiscent of Amy Winehouse, she always sings so brilliantly; followed by ‘Night and Day’, composed by Cole Porter in 1932 for the Broadway musical, Gay Divorcee; and ‘Under my Skin’, also by Cole Porter in 1936 and adopted by Sinatra as one of his signature hits.
Dom bantered happily with our audience like he knew us all personally.
“When I travel, I like to sing, especially this one’, ‘I left my heart in San Francisco’. He sang a very apt tribute to Tony Bennett, who originally recorded and popularized the song in 1962, when it quickly became Bennett’s signature song.
Dom then chose the Sinatra hit, ‘The way you look tonight’, originally sung by Fred Astaire and, Mojo’s trombones were exquisite.
Then, another Sinatra hit with an arrangement by Quincy Jones from 1964, ‘Fly me to the Moon’ – later becoming tied to NASA’s Apollo space missions.
The Mojo band excelled during this number with their eight saxophones especially synchronised, powerful and melodic.
Sarah C returned to the stage in a long pink satin dress to sing us ‘La Vie ‘en Rose’ (Life in pink), in French. A wonderful tribute to Edith Piaf’s 1945 version, which later became a hit in the USA in the 50’s.
Next was ‘At Last’, originally recorded by the Glenn Miller Orchestra with vocals by Ray Eberle and Pat Friday in 1941. Most know Etta James’ 1960 soul version. Sarah C’s smoky depth gave us a little mix of both, Sarah taking full advantage of her exquisite 20-piece orchestra at that moment.
The audience was invited to take a break and on return, Dom treated us to a Sinatra and Dean Martin medley: ‘Come fly with me’, ‘All of me’, ‘You’re nobody ‘til somebody loves you’ and finally, ‘My Way’, which Dom sang with all his heart and soul, totally winning over the audience and causing us all to stand and cheer.
Sarah C in her a beautiful, long pink gown, tied in a huge bow – designed by Ella Atkins – paired with a stunning Halo diamante Tiara, sang one of my all-time favourite songs – once recorded by Sammy Davis Junior, John Coltrane, Michael Buble, and, most famously, the irrepressible Nina Simone – the very cool and extremely groovy, ‘I’m feeling good’.
To hear this classic sung by Sarah in an intimate band room, performed live by the magnificent Mojo orchestra, was spine-tingling.
As were the following hits, ‘Orange coloured Sky’ originally by Nat King Cole; ‘My Baby just cares for me’; ‘I get a kick out of you’; Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald’s, ‘Don’t mean a thing if you ‘aint got that swing’ and finally, ‘New York. New York.’
By this time, the audience was singing along loudly and with joy.
Brunswick Ballroom is one of Melbourne’s live music gems. Not only does it host live original and cover bands of every genre on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays – and some weekdays – on this marvellous night, it opened at 6.30pm for dinner before the show starting at 8.30pm.
Who doesn’t love a dinner and show?
This was something different – An opulent big band experience, everyone dressed up to the nines in an intimate ballroom, hosting a 20-piece orchestra behind two powerhouse voices, two good friends, who, like the real Tony and Gaga re-igniting these classics, had a camaraderie and talent too good to miss.
A time of chivalry, respect, romance and joy. Melbourne needs more of this.
Don’t miss your chance to see this great show. Upcoming dates are:
Frankston Arts Centre – Saturday, 5th September, 2026.
FRIDAY, 3RD OCTOBER – ‘SOUL DIVAS’ AT MEMO MUSIC HALL, ST KILDA
There’s Soul…and then there are Soul Divas.
On a balmy Friday night in Spring, it was time to head to the live music institution that is MEMO Music Hall, for “a celebration of one the greatest female voices of all time, sung by Sarah C” and backed by her very tight and talented band.
On entry to the venue, I met some energetic characters working the door and behind the bar, each of them obviously proud in playing their parts in vibing with members of the audience at one of Melbourne’s finest live music jewels, Memo, a space that offers an intimate room with rich and clear sound supporting a plethora of performers.
Waiting excitedly at my cabaret table, I knew I would be listening to some timeless soulful hits once sung by famous divas, but I had no idea how close Sarah C’s voice, and her talented band would come to the authenticity of those favourites.
Sarah C is known for her powerhouse voice and dynamic and glamourous stage presence. She’s done lead vocals on TV’s Dancing with the Stars and backing vocals on ‘X Factor’ as well as backing for big names like Kylie Minogue, Jessica Mauboy, Paulini, Tania Doko and Ross Wilson – but this lady belongs front and centre.
Sarah’s ‘Forever Whitney’ show tours nationally and has sold-out venues across Melbourne, including The Palms at Crown. Now an international recording artist, her recent credits include singing for Oscar winners, Goldie Hawn and Susan Sarandon.
That’s not surprising. Her voice is both powerful and emotive, technically excellent and, by taking us on a journey through every song, inspiring of human connection.
Sarah has also created original music – a debut EP, ‘Fearless’; working with Mobin Master (as her alias, ‘Carerra’) on the track ‘Werk’, gaining two million streams on Spotify; and has collaborations with dance/house gurus including Ian Carey, Jolyon Petch and Ron Carroll, with releases on Ministry of Sound, Hed Kandi, Vicious, One Love, Safari and Shock records. So, Sarah C is clearly versatile as well as vivacious, but it was her tribute to the soul divas of the world we were there to hear that Friday night and her incredible ‘Soul Divas’ show not only took on some of the most iconic voices of all time, she’s totally conquered some of the most iconic songs of all time.
While many singers take a whole show to lead up to a couple of these hard-hitting soul classics, Sarah gifted the audience with her unique talent and power straight up over two hours and with hit after hit.
Singing ‘Love is a Losing Game’ and ‘Back to Black’ from Amy Winehouse’s second and final studio album of the same name, Sarah and the band exquisitely captured the mournful mood in ‘Back to Black’, contrasted against its’ retro/60’s Pop girl sound.
I was delighted to hear Renee Geyer’s inclusion in the mix of Soul Divas, Renee’s powerhouse voice irreplaceable since 1975. I was so “Ready to Deal” with Sarah’s rendition of ‘Heading in the right direction’ and she nailed it. After that, Sarah slipped an original into the mix, ‘My World Was you’, her own soulful invention, that fit comfortably, smoothly and stylishly amongst this nights’ repertoire, just as slick as any of the classics we were here to love:
– Tina Arena’s power ballad, ‘I’m in Chains’; – Adele’s ‘Set fire to the rain’; – Aretha Franklin’s ‘Natural Woman’; – Tina Turner’s ‘Rollin’ on the river’ …and so many more great songs were mastered.
Closing my eyes during some of these songs, I could’ve sworn I was sitting right there in the room with Amy or Adele. The show was already amazing and then we got to the finale with Whitney Houston’s songs from The Bodyguard film. It’s unusual to hear anyone sing ‘I have nothing’ or ‘I will always love you’ with the emotion and skill the originals deserve but once more, we were in for a rare treat.
It’s always a pleasure to watch a slick band and while Sarah conducted hers, the band showed us as much heart as they had talent. Multi- instrumentalist, Hayden Baird killed it on the Saxophone and also played keys in the show. His sax solo during ‘I will always love you’ was perfection.
Damien Thomas mastered his guitar riffs.
Drummer, Jay Bruno, a steady strength with every song, syncopated with Billy Cooper on bass.
Billy’s popping slap bass kept us in the pocket all night, Billy also adding some funk to Sarah’s soul – his swag was shades of Larry Grahame from Sly and the Family Stone.
Jade Talbot played the keyboard and contrasted backing vocals, also singing a duet or two with Sarah C, Jade’s dulcet notes of angelic clarity matched against Sarah’s sonorous and smoky vocals.
The band played as one, their camaraderie warm and tangible. The audience could see the respect they had for Sarah and the gentle authority she had with her “family” of musicians.
People of all ages and styles were up to dance before the interval and were also fully focused in fandom towards Sarah and the band on stage.
Like a true diva, Sarah had the audience eating out of the palm of her hand and kept them wanting more.
There’s soul and then there are soul divas. And Sarah Capodicasa is truly one of them.
