Part of the cultural landscape in Canberra, political satirists John Shortis and Moya Simpson have not been able to perform since February, waylaid, like so many live shows, by the coronavirus pandemic.
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But, they're back. And all that down time has been directed into writing new songs about a year that was made for satire.
Their one and only show this year was a fundraiser for the bushfire-devastated community of Cobargo.
"And then - lockdown! Since then, like all musicians, not a gig in sight," they said.
Shortis has been busy documenting this bizarre year in a batch of new songs, and "now it's time to let them out and foist them on an innocent public".
The result is Going Viral, to be presented in November at the Artists Shed in Fyshwick, a relatively new venue which has a mission to support local acts.
Going Viral is a "wry satirical look at the era we're currently enduring- the days of 'socialist' ScoMo and 'Chairman' Dan, panic buying and sanitising, the COVID app, social distancing, the lockdown, Zoom" and more.
And Shortis has "read all The Sydney Morning Heralds of 1918-19 to come up with a special song about the Spanish Flu. There are some eerie similarities to our current situation".
Donald Trump "of course makes an appearance or two, the show opening just days after the presidential election, so there will be ink drying on the page when it comes to that topic".
This weekend's ACT election won't be missed, either.
And all the important non-COVID stuff of political life such as koalas, Gladys, gas, stubby holders. That kind of thing.
Five shows are already sold out. New shows have been added for Sunday, November 15 at 7pm and Sunday, November 29 at 7pm. There is also the option to drop in earlier for a pre-show barbecue.
The Artists Shed is at 88 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick. Bookings at artistsshed.com.au/events/
