Tim Trainor spends every waking moment finding out what's all the gay rage in Perth right now. Events, culture and random bits and pieces from Perth, Australia.
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Viewing posts tagged ‘events’
July 13
For the fantasy inclined
Winter is the best time to dress up because you can strip or layer as your heart desires without the sweat and sticky heat. SPANK! Productions have some awesome costume nights in the coming weeks. First, the next installment in the SHAMELESS! Series at Connections, ‘Mental Oriental’ (fb1 | fb2). This Saturday night - $10 before 1am, $20 thereafter.
I don’t know which tag line I like best: A night of sweet and sour eastern naughtiness! or Join the steamy throngs of Asia’s red light districts!. Either way, you’re going to get it on like a gangland geisha. Other dress ideas include lap dancers, ladyboys, ninjas, pole dancers, ping-pong artistes and Seoul sistas. I would LOVE to see some one dress up as a slutty ninja. I don’t exactly know how that would work but I’m sure it’s awesome. Your incentive to take on the slutty ninja challenge is the $250 prize which goes to the best dressed attendee.
If you like your dress up a little heavier, SPANK! are also putting on their next fetish and fantasy party: ‘Doctors and Nurses’ (web) on Saturday 22 August. The night will include a performance by top international fetish model Emily Marilyn, plus a Flesh Rubber ‘Medical Mayhem’ demo, Male Slave Strip, Dungeon, and Hysterical Healthchecks by Nurses Depravity & Deviance. I told you this dress up was a little heavier.
Unlike SHAMELESS!, the regular SPANK! parties have a very strict dress code so if you’re not in costume, no entry. Of course it’s an 18+ event and you’ll need to buy a ticket beforehand. All the details are on the SPANK! website.
July 5
Recap: Horse Meat Disco
On Friday night a slice of iconic London nightlife penetrated the walls of Connections and gave Perth a small taste of Horse Meat Disco. Jim Stanton and James Hillard from the original HMD club night are currently touring Australia, and to support their local appearance were a handful of Perth’s finest electronic acts along with a homage catwalk show involving our prominent drag performers.
The headlining set was just amazing, not just for the sheer funk of it all, but for bringing some much needed new music into Connections. It was also for this reason the night didn’t attract a typical Connections crowd. I spied ‘resident’ attendees of Shape and Republic, plus a crop of random others who I’m assuming discovered HMD from the posters plastered all over Northbridge.
Admittedly the crowd was somewhat sparse, but those who stuck around until the early hours were really getting into their nu-disco. I guess nobody appreciates your favourite type of music as much as you do, and I really love nu-disco, so it was shame the venue wasn’t packed out as it should have been. I point my spiteful index finger at you all and curse that you really missed out on some awesome tunes.
The catwalk show was a big gloating segment to show off some fun costumes, but seemed like a throwaway item. Actually, it agitated me that this 10 minute performance piece became the focal point for the entire evening. So much so that most of the models and ticketholders left when it finished, and before the Horse Meat Disco DJs had even played. A red flag also needs to be raised for that 1 metre x 1 metre ‘media only’ area at the end of the catwalk. How pretentious. Although, it did give my friendly arch nemesis Feminem Hygiene a good vantage point for demanding the photographers test their cameras on her… for 20 minutes. As a side note, Fem and I are back on speaking terms.
So, the conclusory comment for this event is ‘you really missed out’. The sound Horse Meat Disco brought won’t be replicated in Perth for a while yet. Connections have a number of disco nights coming soon, but I’m sceptical. From previous experience ‘disco’ to Perth gay venues means bastardised house music. It’s not the same thing. Lo and behold when I got in my car at the end of the night Triple J’s ‘The Club’ program were talking about how nu-disco is the latest fad in dance music. If it’s the latest overseas right now, it will be the latest in Perth in 12 months time.
I didn’t lug my SLR to Connections, and I didn’t try my luck with the media only area, but I did grab some nice photos of the catwalk show. See them all behind the cut:
June 23
Homecoming: Behind the Scenes
A little over a week ago Pride WA held a pseudo-secret photo shoot for the faces of this year’s festival. To fit in with the Homecoming theme, a troupe of local and recognisable talent was hand picked, dressed up, and shot through a lens. The images from the photo shoot will be used in all festival marketing materials. Here’s a sneak peak (Art direction by Ben Duncalf, photography by Stef King).
Some interesting facts from the photo shoot: 19 ‘characters’ are featured in the campaign. 2 Roast chickens, 12 boiled eggs and 2kgs of sliced meats were used over the course of the day, as well as 5 sets of ‘OTT’ lashes and several packs of hair extensions.
Look out for the Homecoming Festival campaign shots coming soon to a Vogue magazine near you. More images behind the post cut!
June 18
Slab of ground disco
The flyer is so pretty. Two weeks until Horse Meat Disco (fb1 | fb2). For more info, check out my previous post.
June 12
Great news
No post from me today. Instead, watch this video of one of my all time favourite songs evaaar. The B52s are coming to Perth in December! My life is complete!
If you only know ‘Love Shack’ and ‘Roam’ you’re missing out.
June 10
Interview: Voix de la Ville
Voix de la Ville is a new cabaret evening for new and established performance artists to showcase their work. Premiering on 28 June at The Castle, the show encapsulates a range of live acts, music and performance pieces. To explore the concept I shot some questions towards the mastermind and mistress behind Voix de la Ville, Ash Baroque.
What can show-goers expect from Voix de la Ville?
The night will be a variety type show with burlesque, drag, cabaret and some spoken word. There will also be installation.
A lot of discussion on the event’s promo page has been about the myths of drag performance. What is ‘real drag’ all about?
DRAG is short for “dressed as girl”. This is from the shakespearean times when women were not allowd to act on stage. Everybody always has an opinion. Voix de la Ville is a proposal of ideas, by individual artists, taking you on a journey through their exploration of performance.
It’s seems like 3 minute pop performances are being pumped out like a commercial product in Perth’s gay venues - how do you break away from this mould?
To escape this mould, a performer must simply use their intellect. A friend recently said to me that the youth should focus on entrenching themselves in history by refrencing the past. Leave the pop songs for the likes of our elders, as they will be touched by richness and experience. I say you can pull off anything as long as you have conviction.
June 10
New bar nights for June / July
You can tell winter is coming; a whole crop of new bar nights and events in Perth are making their debut (or return) over the next two months. Here’s some suggestions for your diary:
Gay friendly: Love Sundays (fb) starts this weekend at Luxe Bar as a weekly Sunday sesh. Putting aside my little huff at their resident faux DJ, the evening will be worth checking out. When it was first promoted on Facebook we all assumed it was a gay event, but after reading their very self indulgent press release I’m going to have to downgrade it to ‘gay friendly’. Public Relations 101: List the performers before you name the venue owner and PR director in a media release! No offence, but the public don’t give a rats who owns Luxe and who does their PR.
Gals only: Cocktails and Girls (fb) is a new quarterly event for lesbians and their friends starting 18 June at… Luxe Bar! (is the gay community getting a bulk discount there?). Described as ‘a place where you can relax to some funky tunes and talk with your friends over a beautifully made cocktail’. $1 from each ticket goes to the Breast Cancer Foundation WA.
Everyone: Cabaret night Voix de la Ville (fb) premieres on 28 June at The Castle. The evening is a platform for new and established performance artists of all varieties to showcase their work. You can expect musical, drag, magicians, clowns, burlesque and more. More details in my interview with Ash Baroque.
Guys and gals: After taking a few years sabbatical, Fruits in Suits (fb) returns to Perth on 2 July. It’s a relaxed sundowner affair for gay professionals, and yes women are welcome too. To be regularly hosted at Bar 138 on Barrack Street, and is a fundraiser for Pride WA.
June 8
Horse Meat Disco in Perth
Horse Meat Disco was very briefly mentioned in this month’s Out In Perth, but because I’m not constrained to monthly deadlines I can give you the full details now. Woo! So what’s all this business about? HMD is all for disco music - Italo, dub disco, electrofunk etc, and started as a regular club night in London six years ago. Originally aimed to adapt the trendsetting alternative parties of New York for the London crowd, it has expanded to become involved in the fashion scene, creating it’s own little fashionista melting pot. Now it’s coming to Perth.
Two of the founding members of Horse Meat Disco, James Hillard and Jim Stanton (all four founders are pictured above) will be playing at Connections on Friday 3 July from 10pm. Support acts are local electro artists Brash and Sassy, along with Petrosex (most known for gigs at Shape Bar and SEXY) plus other guests.
Horse Meat Disco describes itself as “the queer party for everyone: homos and heteros, club kids, bears, fashionistas, naturists, guerilla drag queens and ladies who munch”. Perth is their first stop in the Australian arm of the tour, and they’re being supported by Modular, so this event should get a fair amount of attention. Likewise tickets cost more than a regular Connections night: $25 + BF. For the price you’re also promised a “catwalk extravaganza”. Here’s a taste of the music:
Presale Tickets Available from Connections, heatseeker.com.au, Planet Video, 78 Records and Mills Records.
Props to Will and Jack on this post.
June 4
Event conflict - your opinions needed
Today boomtick officially announced the date and lineup for Parklife 2009. Unfortunately it falls on the same day of Fairday. Long story short I got into a lengthy debate with Andrew from Pride WA about which event people will go to. We need your input on this, people!
Please answer the following poll. If it affects your decision, you can see the Parklife 2009 lineup here.
Loading ...June 4
Perth media bits
If you picked up Xpress or Drum Media today you would have seen RTRfm’s new station lineup for 2009/10. Very disappointing that ‘Open Closet’, the community radio’s gay and lesbian music and current affairs program has been shafted. It’s completely gone with no replacement. The changes coincide with the station getting a new General Manager - email Graeme Watson to tell him it should stay.
Today The West Australian properly launched their new competitor against Xpress and Drum Media: “The Wire Magazine“. Oh boy does it stink! You get to read everything that was in our free street press weeks ago, and pay the cost of a newspaper to do it.
The copy reeks of middle aged journos desperately trying to reach out for Gen Y, and is littered with embarrassing statements like “hey wire heads” and the Art Gallery’s Art Bar being described as “painfully cool”. To top it off, the opinion page is about how John Farnham is now ‘uncool’. Who cares!
The West really didn’t think this through: Gen Y don’t buy newspapers, and The Wire Magazine has no street cred. Avoid it.
June Out in Perth is on the streets this weekend.
May 28
New gig guide + what to do this weekend
Thanks to the suggestion from my bestie David, and some hard work, I am very proud to present the only source you’ll ever need to schedule your social life: the gayrage gig guide … for gays (G4). It’s a very convenient collection of gay community, commercial and gay friendly events, plus other happenings around Perth which may be of interest to you.
Why is it better than all the other gig guides? Because I made it, fool. Actually it’s so you don’t have to go trawling through street press papers and get yucky ink all over your hands. It’s also electronic so it’s always up to date and geeks can download event details to their computers or yuppie phones. LOOK NOW.
My picks on what to do in Perth this long weekend:
Events:
- Friday: Get dressed up for the SPANK! Beauty and the Beast party (tickets and outfit required, see website) at Bar Open
- Saturday: For something different check out SEXY, opens just after midnight, Shafto Lane
- Sunday: Rozalla Live at Connections - this is a fundraiser for Pride WA!
Music:
- Saturday: If you scored tickets, check out how awesome Lady Gaga’s set, stage and costume designs are, and laugh at how bad her singing is. Apparently a group of whorish strippers are also performing at the same event.
- Sunday: Head along to We Love Ministry of Sound and pop some E, maaaan.
Shopping
- Check out the last days of the Millington Street Popup Shop: lots of trendy discounted streetwear brands: 454 William Street in Northbridge.
Arts
- Check out the Year 12 Perspectives show at the Art Gallery of Western Australia. I went last week and there are some great pieces from around WA, and some on exchange from Japan.
- While you’re there head across the road and check out the Nick Cave exhibition at the WA Museum.
- And if your brain is overloaded and needs something light, check out Lesbian Vampire Killers at the movies.
My gay picks for June (so far):
Can’t go wrong with Soho Nights on the 9th and 23rd. The launch of Love Sundays on the 14th will be worth checking out. And definitely the next SHAMELESS Party at Connections on the 20th. It’s a Viking ‘Roped and Pillaged’ theme… those spiky Viking helmets make me so horny… shit I’m original with my jokes.
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