Asian Marching Boys to unveil new look

The Asian Marching Boys and Friends (AMBF) are using this year’s Mardi Gras Parade to launch their new logo, designed by 2eros swimwear.

“The whole group is excited,” AMBF chairman Shawn Dern said.

“We have new members as well as existing members. We have some of the original members of the old AMBF group from 12 years ago throwing their support behind us and helping us, so things are looking awesome for this year.”

The new logo will be carried up the Parade route, followed by the marching group which will use red ribbon on batons in its choreography. Behind the marching boys will be a group of drag queens, “looking splendid in white and red”.

Leading the float will be the current Mr Lotus Shane Hong and Mr Rice Queen Luke Tonkin from Melbourne’s Lotus Awards. The pair received the honour of leading AMBF in the Parade as part of their prizes for winning their respective contests, judged by Dern.

The logo will be used for the first time at AMBF’s annual Exposed event, on Thursday, March 1 at the Midnight Shift. There will be a choreographed performance by the group as well as performances by Kiki Fetch and former Miss Sportsman Hotel and Brisbane showgirl Iona Toyboy. Doors open at 10pm.

Long-term AMBF collaborators Mark Chisholm from My Community TV and Jai Jamali from the Sydney Dance Company are supporting the group in the lead-up to the Parade. Jamali has devised the choreography for the Parade along with vice chairman and dancer Marco Selda. Chisholm has been gathering footage of the group over the years to assist with the choreography and is also helping to edit music for the Parade.