In the lead up to Mardi Gras 2009 – Nations United, the man in the thick of it all – Sydney Star Observer Editor, Scott Abrahams, shared some of the pre-parade buzz with OUTinPerth.

Department stores within cooee of the handful of gay and lesbian villages around the country are in overdrive.

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Trollies are being filled with make up, spotlight is running short of any shiny material and there’s more hairspray polluting the air than at any other time of year.

Mardi Gras in Sydney has arrived yet again.

After the high of the 30th anniversary last year ¬— thousands of queers around the world moaned when they were left stranded without a party ticket weeks before the event — the pressure on organisers this year is enormous. And not only do they have the 30th anniversary lag to deal with this year, there’s also the bleak economic outlook to contend with and the fact that the increasingly popular ChillOut Festival at Daylesford is on the same weekend.

And chances are there will be a significant downturn in the number of Melbourne visitors this year as the Victorian community unites to help those devastated by the recent bushfires rebuild their lives.

But New Mardi Gras chair David Imrie is upbeat about the festival’s prospects this year ¬— the first under his presidency.
“I love the eclectic mix of people of all ages and from all over our city. It goes to show what a big happy family our community can be when we put our mind to it,” he said.

“We’re working more closely all the time with major arts venues and companies and you can see the fruits of this effort in a really top-notch line-up, from high culture to sporting endeavour…

‘If you thought 2008 was a high point then think again. It’s 10 years till our next big anniversary and we’re not going to wait till then for a big one. One way or another you’ll want to be part of it, whether marching or watching.”

It seems Mardi Gras is bringing some big names to town in an effort to maintain crowd numbers and cover its costs.
Joan Rivers, the acidic queen of comedy, is heading to Australia for shows in Sydney and Melbourne – all being produced by new Mardi Gras. Rivers said she was eager to return to Australia.

“I’m really thrilled. I did it five years ago and I had such a good time. I said I would come back and now I’m coming back,” she said.

“I love the country. I think it’s beautiful and I love the people. I think the gay community is an amazing community. If I could choose, I would be a gay man — no question. I could decorate and be very chic and my daughters would really have good times with me. Gay men are the best because they have both the woman’s sensibility and man’s sensibility.”

New Mardi Gras has even released details of its three key performers at the $135-ticket party after the parade, which is being televised this year on Foxtel.

Tina Arena, Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Alison Jiear will all lend their significant voice and star power to the all-nighter, while Sam Sparro will add his artist-of-the-moment celebrity to Harbour Party and golden boy Matthew Mitcham to the parade.
It seems there’s no stopping the Mardi Gras juggernaut — everyone’s excited about performing, everyone’s excited about the performers and everyone’s expecting to have the night of their lives.

Just how it finishes up at the end of the day will be determined by the bean counters, but one thing is for sure .. Sydney’s not going to let anyone or anything rain on its parade. Not this year. Not next year. Not ever.
Sydney Mardi Gras parade and party is on March 7. Tickets. www.ticketek.com.au

For Scott Abrahams’ full length article including interviews with Sam Sparro, Tina Arena and Natalie Bassingthwaite, see www.www.outinperth.com or www.ssonet.com