Amanda Palmer has had her hand in all mediums of art. From street performing, to writing a book, to her DIY approach to music, Palmer is an enormous influence on art and culture and it appears she is at it again! Recently, Palmer performed her version of “What a Wonderful World” with a beautiful string arrangement by Jherek Bischoff that evokes motives and styles of the 19th century and 20th century. What is smart and wondrous about Bischoff’s arrangement is that although it is definitely written to showcase Palmer’s voice, there is a sad but harmonic character to the strings that is easily heard as its own. Check out the video of Amanda Palmer and Jherek Bischoff’s performance of “What a Wonderful World” at the Union Chapel in London below.

In a recent press release Palmer has also announced a new winter holiday event that she is producing for the holidays. There will be a string of tour dates for a very unique show that is not just a normal, badass Amanda Palmer show, but a extraordinary and unique musical theatre project alongside her, as she states it, her soul-sister Jason Webley from their musical project The Dresden Dolls. The show has been deemed Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley’s New Year’s Eve Phantasmagoria will begin on December 31st at the Brooklyn Bazaar and will continue on across the United States until the final show on April 8th. Each show will feature a beautiful full grand piano as well as Palmer’s signature ukulele playing. Check out the dates below. Apart from the Phantasmagoria tour (a word penned by Nathaniel Hawthorne), Palmer will also host a free show on December 9th at the liberal arts Wesleyan University in Connecticut. The show will also feature a video screening, q&a with underground filmmaker Michael Pope as well as a small performance by Palmer. It is first come first serve seating with a cap at 400 so get there early for a seat!

photo credits to Raymond Flotat.