This week I chat to Mel Hudson, manager of Pop Boutique in Manchester's Northern Quarter. Mel showed me around the Oldham Street store, an immense variety of vintage clothing from the 60', 70's and 80's. Mel has worked there for many years and knows every inch of the shop and the vast array of clothing and furniture throughout the store.

The Pop Boutique shop first opened in 1994 in the heart of the Northern Quarter. The ground floor is packed with vintage, pop recycled and pop boutique own brand goodies. The basement is huge and full of quirky vintage clothing, furniture and everything a vintage junkie needs to get their fix. Within the building they also have Barbarella for a hair do and the blue daisy café for eats (all made in the basement kitchen) and awesome coffee.

So it's retro and vintage all under one roof! Go check it out!

Website: www.pop-boutique.com

Facebook: Pop Boutique

Instagram: Pop Boutique Manchester

Instragram for Mel: womanimel

Ernesto Tomasini is an Italian actor/singer/writer living in Britain. Best known for his more recent forays into contemporary music, he has also had a 30-year career on the stage.

Ernesto begun his career at 16 on the Italian comedy circuit and, later, in the legitimate theatre. Throughout his teens Ernesto devised comedy sketches and sang songs in smoky clubs and small cabaret spaces in his home town of Palermo. On one instance he caused a riot by performing his "outrageous" show at a conservative political party's celebrations. He kept his cabaret activities secret from his parents; his mother found out the truth about her son's suspicious nights out long after his debut, by reading an article about his shows on the national press.

He has sung his repertoire in London venues like the Royal Albert Hall (main house and Elgar Room), Purcell Room, National Theatre, Roundhouse, Cadogan Hall, Tate Britain, National Portrait Gallery, and in historical theatres, museums and churches around the world. As a recording artist he sings on thirteen albums, four singles, five music videos and on the soundtrack of a film by Bruce LaBruce.

For more information click below.

Thanks

You can find Ernesto Tomasini here:

Website: www.ernestotomasini.com

Twitter: @ernestotomasini

Facebook: Ernesto Tomasini

Instragram: ernesto_tomasini

Wikipedia: Ernesto Tomasini

This week I catch up with Jane Miller who has been a fetish club organiser for Club Lash in Manchester. We chat about how the scene has changed over the years and the different styles of costume, outfits and clothing used with in the fetish scene.

Fetish has long since been associated with a darker side of club culture but more recently has increased it's visibility within the mainstream media. Anyway enough of me, have a listen and Jane (plus Alfie her dog) will tell you all about it.

You can find Club Lash here;

Instagram: Club Lash

Facebook: Club Lash

Youtube: Club Lash

Twitter: @clublash

This week I chat to Daniel Dorian Johnson better known as Mr Freak, a sword swallower, fire eater and a blockhead! Not a member of Ian Dury's backing band but a common term for a lot of circus acts who like to nail things into their heads and other parts of the anatomy!

Mr Freak the sideshow geek, has been performing his incredible act for some years now, his stage name deriving from, in part an ode to the old freak show acts of the day like Zippo and Joseph Merrick aka The Elephant man.

Mr Freak also talks about the different styles of sideshow acts between the UK and USA plus taking us on a journey through the history of sword swallowing! And remember don't try any of this at home!! It's bloody dangerous!

You can find Mr. Freak here:

Facebook: Daniel Dorian Johnson (Mr Freak)

Instragram: mrfreak_swordswallower

This week I chat to Blaq Ivory an Asian drag queen from Manchester's gay village. Blaq has been going for 15 years and shares some great stories of her experiences as a drag act on the circuit. 

Growing up in Rochdale she tells of her journey from the early stages of creating her alter ego, appearing as just a t-girl but then blossoming into a professional drag artist with a comedy character element and with star quality.

Thanks again to Blaq Ivory for coming on the Funny Peculiar Podcast!

You can find Blaq Ivory on Facebook: @BlaqIvory

This week I'm chatting to Nim Burgin, a Manchester based costume designer who has designed many wonderful garments and outfits for performers and general public. 

Nim has been making unique, one-off clothing for herself and clients for 25 years now, and corsets for the last 10 years. She always gets a thrill from seeing a client fall in love with their finished custom-made piece.

Her styles range from vintage & burlesque, to delicately detailed cosplay & historical costume, with many layers of fabulousness in between.

For more information you can visit Nim here:

Email: [email protected]

www.nimburgin.com

Facebook: @NimBurginClothing

Instagram: nim_burgin

This week I'm chatting to the wonderful Trixie Blue, burlesque performer who is based in Newcastle, in the UK. 

Trixie is a multi-award winning burlesque enchantress (currently the Bohemian Princess at the Bohemian Burlesque Festival Prague & 1st Runner up title at the British Crown at the World Burlesque Games), Trixie blue, is highly acclaimed for her seductive prowess and jaw dropping performances. She has captivated audiences around the UK for over 26 years, 8 of which are solely dedicated to burlesque.

Her repertoire showcases the beauty and debauchery of burlesques transgressive form; from fierce seduction, in Trixie’s interpretation of Fran from the film Strictly Ballroom to her playful, sensual striptease acts, which always leaves audiences asking for more.

To follow Trixie you can visit her website: www.houseoftrixieblue.co.uk

Instagram: @houseoftrixieblue

Twiiter: @houseofTB

Facebook: TrixieBlue

My guest this week is Kitty Kinns, lover of Lolita dresses, latex model and dominatrix. Kitty has been in the fetish scene for some years now enjoying all different looks and fashions, but her passion is for the Japanese sub-culture of the Lolita style.

In a wonderful episode Kitty shows me a few of her many outfits which is part of a bigger collection, how she started the look and what drives her on for more fabulous outfits!!

She also chats about her other alter ego Princess Aurora, the dominatrix character!! 

So come with me again into the world of Funny Peculiar.

You can find Kitty Kinns on Instragram: KittyKinns

In my second episode I chat to North-East based magician Chris Cross. Chris has performed his tricks worldwide from New York t New Zealand, Bahrain to Dubai, London to Paris and most places between!

Some previous gigs have seen Chris entertain many celebrities and he's even performed for the British and International royalty.

So please rise for the brilliant Chris Cross.

You can find Chris Cross at

www.chris-cross.co.uk

Twitter: @thechriscross

Instagram: chriscrossofficial

Thank you to my first guest the wonderful Cheddar Gorgeous. As described by her own Instagram account as a unicorn, alien, and Idealist. Performing drag since 2011 Cheddar has enthralled audiences with her unique look and style. Walk around Manchester and you can witness a variety of different drag styles but none so defining as Cheddar's look. She is based in Manchester, UK.

For bookings and collaborations email [email protected]

Instagram: @cheddar_gorgeous

Twitter: @cheddargawjus

Facebook: cheddargorgeous