20 January – 14 February

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This show belongs to the FRINGE WORLD Festival 2026 season. This season is now over.

In a sparkling red one-shoulder dress a performer stands confidently with one hand on their chest and a sly smile. A vintage silver microphone sits in front of them and an old radio appears to the side. The dark textured background features faint words like “politics,” “sex,” and “racial discrimination.” Bold red text reads “BANNED! Songs They Tried to Silence.”
FRINGE WORLD Festival 2026

BANNED! Songs They Tried to Silence

Politics. Prejudice. Sex. Drugs. Murder. These are the songs that were banned from radio and Nicola Milan with Perth’s hottest jazz musicians are unleashing them on stage this FRINGE WORLD. From the jazz age to today, music that was too bold, too risqué, too political or simply too rebellious was silenced. Some were censored for exposing prejudice, others for daring to use “naughty words,” and some for rattling society out of its comfort zone. 

You’ll be surprised how many are household favourites you already know - hits you’d never guess were once forbidden. Acclaimed vocalist Nicola Milan, backed by a sizzling jazz ensemble, revives these censored songs with cheeky anecdotes and tales of rebellion. Intimate, defiant, unforgettable; this is the music they didn’t want you to hear.

Presented by: Nicola Milan

With a chocolatey voice and cheeky onstage antics, Nicola Milan knows how to charm a crowd. Her songs have travelled from Australian festivals to London clubs, earned spins on radio worldwide and led to a publishing deal with Origin Music. Nicola has built a 100K-strong YouTube following through her singing tutorials and taken home honours in both the John Lennon and British International Song writing Competitions. Backed by Perth’s hottest jazz musicians, she transforms once-forbidden songs into a night of sass, laughter and unforgettable music.
Music & Musicals • Jazz
Western Australia • World Premiere
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Suitability & warnings

Content rating: 18+
Family friendly: No
Sexual References

Please note

References to death, references to drugs.

Presenter

Presented by: Nicola Milan

With a chocolatey voice and cheeky onstage antics, Nicola Milan knows how to charm a crowd. Her songs have travelled from Australian festivals to London clubs, earned spins on radio worldwide and led to a publishing deal with Origin Music. Nicola has built a 100K-strong YouTube following through her singing tutorials and taken home honours in both the John Lennon and British International Song writing Competitions. Backed by Perth’s hottest jazz musicians, she transforms once-forbidden songs into a night of sass, laughter and unforgettable music.