Pride is about to explode apart your entire October, and in an attempt to out do last year, Connections Nightclub are now promising four main areas for their huge dance party, Neon Ballroom.
This year they’ll clock in as the Official Pride After Party with the main room upstairs, The Terrace, a downstairs garden of delights and The Neon Ballroom, which will appear next door in the Plaka building.
‘It’s been freshly renovated and opened up into one huge space,’ confirmed Connections general manager Gavin Kingsbury.
‘We’ll be transforming this current warehouse looking space into an amazing disco world of neon lights and electric colour. The set-up will be similar to last year’s marquee in size and spaciousness but with a completely new theme and design.’
And of course, this year is made all the more amazing by the appearance of three special guests: Sam LaMore, Kitty Glitter and international singing sensation Therese (see our exlusive interviews with all three artists below).
‘We have three awesome special guests this year for the Pride After-Party, starting with the amazing Kitty glitter from Sydney. She’ll be ripping it up downstairs in the Ballroom from 11pm to 1am,’ said Kingsbury.
‘The Glitter storm is followed immediately by possibly the best electro/dance, producer and DJ this side of the globe. Ministry Of Sound remixer extraordinaire, Sam LaMore! He’ll be spinning from 1am – 3:30am.
‘Smack bang in the middle of his set we have our headlining Live guest performer – Therese, direct from Europe. She’ll be putting on an amazing performance with dancers and the whole shebang! Everyone can catch her in the Ballroom at 2am.’
On the local front Glammy Award winning DJ Cinnamon will join the headliners downstairs along with Reuben while upstairs DJ’s Feminem, Michy T, Johnni P and JJ will be sending the crowd into a disco frenzy.
Adding to the madness Voix De La Ville will be laying out some special visual feasts throughout the night.
‘And we all know how crazy and way-out those folk can get so that’s gonna be pretty amazing,’ Kingsbury laughed.
‘We (also) have three unforgettable shows planned for the night.
‘Perth’s cream of drag will be on show including Miss Dita, Feminem and Barbi-Q. We’ll of course have some gorgeous boys and girls performing alongside our queens in all the shows.
‘We also have the extremely clever and kooky VJ-ZOO projection artists showing us what they’re famous for and projecting all sorts of stuff on the outside walls of the garden and inside as well.’
All up, the night promises to deliver the madcapped tomfoolery Connections is known for… and then some.
Doors open as soon as the parade finishes. Tickets are available now from Connections Nightclub and Planet Video.
Scott-Patrick Mitchell
DJ Kitty Glitter
If the Pink Panther and Catwoman spawned, their offspring would be DJ Kitty Glitter. One part fashion icon, one part sex symbol and a good smash of sonic furballs, Kitty Glitter is the quintessential drag queen DJ. She’s more than an act – she’s a look with sound that transcends the realm of cabaret and kicks it out like a Saturday morning video smash hit. The only unfortunate thing is that you can’t see how amazing her legs are behind the DJ booth… but you certainly can hear how fabulous she is.
What did you think of Perth last time you were here? How did you find the crowds? I really didn’t get enough time to sight see last time I played in Perth, but meeting people I had been chatting with on Facebook (and Gaydar) was a treat! I had heard so much about Connections from friends, so it was great to do a set there earlier in this year. I met some fabulous Drag Queens, and some sexy as hell men, so I am looking forward to playing again for Pride!
What will you be wearing? Umm… probably not much!
What does Pride mean to you? Pride, for me, is a time we are all reminded of how proud we should be. It’s a celebration of what we have achieved over the years. It is a time where the rainbow flag expresses our love and shares our joy with the rest of the community. And most importantly, it’s a time we do what we do best…PARTY!
What are you top five party tracks this party season? Tracks on high rotation in my sets lately are:
Acapella – Kelis
Release Me – Zoe Badwi
Release Me- Agnes
I like It – Enrique Iglasias
And I hate to admit, but We No Speak No Americano is just requested too often to NOT play it (that and Bad Romance-LOL!)
Therese
At the age of 16, Swedish born and raised Therese rang up Sony Music. She got the answering machine. Unperturbed, she sang down the line. The executives were so impressed with her gall that they got her in for some recording sessions. While it didn’t bear a record, it did give Therese the motivation to jump headlong into pursuing her dream. And pursue it she has. On the cusp of international stardom, Therese is the quintessential Swedish chanteuse: beautiful, polished but still incredibly quirky. Of course, Perth will find this all out for themselves when she hits the Official Pride After Party – The Neon Ballroom – at Connections Nightclub this October.
Can you describe your music for the readers who might not be familiar with you? My music is very pop but with dance roots. Some of it more pop and some more club – but I aim for catchy vocals but not cheesy.
What will you be doing this Pride? I’m looking forward to having a heap of fun with everyone!
What will you be wearing? I’m not sure what I’ll be wearing yet – something sexy and glamorous that the gay boys and girls will love.
What does Pride mean to you? Pride to me means Party!! And feeling free within yourself and celebrating yourself, no matter who and what you are. Music. Love. Unity.
What are you looking forward to most about coming down to Australia? Everything , meeting new people and catching up with friends, the sun, the sea, the food, I love Australia so much – it’s my 3rd time coming but my first time in Perth so I’m very excited about that.
What are your top five party tracks this party season?
Your Name , Swedish House Maffia
Telephone, Lady Gaga feat. Beyonce
Upside down, Diana Ross (every year every day)
I Feel Love, Donna Summer
Dennis Ferrer, Hey Hey
Sam LaMore
Sam LaMore is the dark disco horse of The Neon Ballroom line-up. His music has maintained a dark industrial core influenced by the likes of Canadian industrial band Skinny Puppy, an unshifting tone and reference that is unmistakable. That’s not to say his music is an onslaught or brooding or melancholic – he’s actually known for some of the most original and uplifting remixes around, including his seminal take on Empire Of The Sun’s Walking On A Dream. But at the heart of all of his music is a dark star ready to engulf with its enigmatic pulse.
For the readers not familiar with your music, can your describe your style? It’s completely electronic music that’s fairly dancey and quite melodic. I wouldn’t say pop necessarily but it’s stuff I like listening to and it makes other people feel good.
What makes for good dance music? The idea of dance music has changed quite a lot over the last five to 10 years. It’s really moved from a drug induced euphoria to a more accessible euphoria. Now the things that make good dance music for me are beats that cut through everything and give you something to grab hold of. It can’t be too repetitive. Ten years ago it was. It was very much about staying in a trance like zone, but I don’t think that’s the case anymore. Now it’s about great songs and quality production sounds.
What can you tell us about being a remixer – what’s it like taking somebody’s work and making it into something completely different or unique? It’s the best job in the world. You get to reinterpret somebody else’s artwork and they pay you to do that and do whatever you want to do. They just want what I believe is the right reinterpretation of their work.
What will you be wearing to Pride? Black.
What can people expect from you at The Neon Ballroom? Well my music does have its roots in industrial music, but saying that it could go all girly. I guess they’ll just have to wait and see.
