The epic Mardi Gras Party this Saturday night is shaping up to be the most diverse and unique Parties ever with the event to feature 10 killer shows, 20 DJs and five dance spaces.
“As the LGBTQI community continues to evolve into many wonderfully diverse groups of people, the time is right to create a much more diverse queer entertainment program across the entire Mardi Gras Party that represents and appeals to everyone,” said Mardi Gras CEO, Terese Casu.
“With the continuing explosion of international and national queer performers and DJs it is time to feature these amazing artists throughout the Mardi Gras party. With over 12,000 party-goers and any one space only holding up to 5,000 people it also makes perfect sense to have live performances in all three spaces,” she adds.
Creative Director Greg Clarke added: “For this year’s party we are going all-out on the party design, creating three totally different immersive worlds in which everyone can come together to dance, play and be fearless in, and all three spaces feature incredible artists.”
The Royal Hall of Industries RHI will be transformed into the Neon Playground – a fluro-pop inspired wonderland featuring performances by International pop star Kim Petras (USA), and local legends PNAU, Courtney Act and Briefs. The DJ lineup features international DJs Toy Armada & DJ GRIND (Singapore/USA) and Kitty Glitter and local favourites Amanda Louise and Dom De Sousa.
The Hordern Pavilion has been renamed The Black Palace for this night-of-nights, becoming a seductive and decadent underground world in a heady mix of the Palace of Versailles meets Versace socked in the decadence of the underground Berlin club scene. Headlining will be Jake Shears from the Scissor Sisters (USA), ahead of his special guest spot on Kylie Minogue’s upcoming Golden Tour of Australia.
Jake will be joined by local favourites Paul Capsis, House of Slé featuring special guest Leiomy Maldonado (USA) and The Huxleys. Headlining the DJ line-up is International legend DJ Boris direct form Berlin’s infamous Berghain, where he’s been resident DJ since day one. DJs Magda Bytnerowicz, Feisty and Brooke Powers round out the DJ line-up.
Max Watt’s gets a camp make-over becoming the Powder Puff – a disco inspired beauty salon featuring giant fluffy pink powder puffs filling the dance floor with bursts of pretty white powder as glamorous hosts and personal stylists, the Powder Puff Pamper Poodles give revelers a make-over.
Featuring internationally acclaimed DJ legend Late Nite Tuff Guy, and live onstage with HANDSOME (Aus), The Huxleys, The Magda Szubanskis and Andy Dexterity. The DJ lineup also includes The Dollar Bin Darlings, Charlie Villas, HipHopHoe and Hamo Tevita.
The Forecourt will feature local legends Sveta and Ben Drayton, and for those up for a more intimate dance experience P.J. Gallagher’s will feature DJs Victoria Anthony, Matt Jay, Butch le Butch and Rachel Maria Cox
The 2019 Mardi Gras Party takes place at Playbill Venues and Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park on Saturday 2 March from 10.00pm. For more information, including Party Guide and Set Times, visit: www.mardigras.org.au for details.
Image: Mardi Gras Party – photo by Jeffrey Feng Photography