One More For The Road

Lucile Burn has been a fixture on Glasgow's cabaret scene in the past few years, hosting the marvellous burlesque evening Rockaburley and wowing the Art Club cabarets with her raw voice and vocal control. After this apprenticeship, she is finally unveiling her one woman show, which lends a narrative to her songs of heartbreak and glittering romance.

"Cabaret very much compliments the style in which I sing and the sort of thing I like to sing," she explains. "The slow, smouldering jazz/blues stuff that I like and very much influenced me growing up is sort of synonymous with the cabaret club."

Performing as part of Rockaburley and at The Fringe's Bongo Club has made Lucille identify firmly with the specific glamour of the scene. Not only it is more theatrical: "Cabaret allows a different platform for an artist like me; it's a more appreciative audience than that of your random open mic night in the back room of a pub," she adds. "There's more opportunity to develop and advance. Plus there's an attractive air of mystery and old-world stardom attached to the idea of playing the role of the cabaret chanteuse."

One More for the Road is a collaboration with Chris Gorman, the talented pianist who is making a name for himself with comparisons to Radiohead and Tom Macrae. Lucille's inspiration, however, comes from a more obscure pop star.

"Judy Garland!" she exclaims. "I remember so vividly the first time I heard her sing, it was at my Gran's house when I was about 8 or 9. I remember being so moved by the tone and emotion in her voice that I became fascinated with her and taught myself to sing by trying to copy her. She was so unbelievably talented but painfully tragic at the same time and that has been something has very much influenced the type of thing I do."

Appropriately for a performer who has performed alongside the stars of Scottish burlesque, Lucille aims for "bittersweet, melancholic music." Nevertheless, there are modern musicians who fuel her passions. "Two of my biggest contemporary influences are Sarah McLachlan and the incredible Camille O' Sullivan. Camille is a real heroine of mine, she has such a raw passion, it's really overwhelming."

Camille's career has seen her rise from cabaret niche to world tours, and in her ability to match bawdy personality and expressive vocals there is a clear lineage to Lucille's own work. For anyone who thinks that music could do witha bit more performance, and wants to escape the three chord whines of boys with guitars, pick up your glass and down One More For the Road.