Laneway to be a party experience

The Sydney Mardi Gras ‘party artery’ will be injected with a new lease of life this year with the Hill St laneway set to become a party hub once again.

Regular Mardi Gras-goers may – or may not – remember the Darlinghurst thoroughfare was used through the ‘80s and early ‘90s by weary drag queens and buoyant party-goers as an after after-party, with people wandering between The Flinders Hotel and The Beresford after big Mardi Gras and Sleaze Ball events.

Mardi Gras organisers said the once incidental gathering space will once again thrive and become a post-party event all of its own in 2012.

“Spilling over with Sydney’s most dedicated post-party revellers, the laneway saw us play on, kiss in the morning sun and provide a curbside seat for fabulous drag queens with stiletto fatigue,” organisers said in a statement.

“This year we’re bringing the laneway love back to Mardi Gras by mashing up old school tradition with new school cool.”

The area will comprise five individual spaces including the upstairs, downstairs and garden areas of The Beresford; upstairs at The Flinders; and the outdoors laneway area itself.

Having toured in the UK and other parts of Europe, former Bronski Beat-er Jonathan Hellyer has been announced as the headline act to entertain crowds with his one-man show, The DE Experience.
The show is said to take inspiration from Dame Edna Everage to Kate Bush.

Hellyer will be joined by hot local talent DJ Sveta and Alex Taylor on the decks, and electro-pop hotties Garcon Garcon.

INFO: The Laneway is on March 4 from noon-10pm. Cost $39 + BF. Tickets on sale now at www.foxtix.com.au