Cirkestra

**Cirkestra** is a whimsical, circus-inspired musical collective hailing from Toronto, Canada, known for blending cabaret jazz, rock, and theatrical spectacle. Founded in the early 2000s by composer/multi-instrumentalist Chris Barillaro (aka "Captain Festus McBoyle"), the group merges live music with vaudeville-style antics, often featuring fire-breathers, acrobats, and clowns alongside their raucous brass-heavy sound. Their releases—like the cheeky "(Fat) Life," carnivalesque "Swing," and twisted fairy-tale ode "Pinocchio"—showcase their playful, slightly unhinged energy and love for storytelling through both music and absurdist humor. While not mainstream, Cirkestra has carved a niche as a must-see live act, embodying the spirit of a punk-rock big band crashing a Tim Burton-esque circus.