PlayTime – issue 1040

Boys

PLANET POSITIVE
A social night for HIV-positive people and their friends, Planet Positive is being held from 6-10pm on Friday, September 24 upstairs at Midnight Shift, 85 Oxford St. For more info, contact Hedimo on 9361 6011 or email [email protected]
COUPLES
Organised by ACON, It Takes Two is a workshop for men currently in a relationship. During the workshop, which will run for six consecutive Wednesdays from September 29, participants will learn about communication, negotiation, spicing up their relationship, resolving conflict and keeping safe. Call 9206 2000, email [email protected] or visit www.acon.org.au/workshops to find out more.
MODEL PLEASE
Melbourne menswear label Orri Henrisson has teamed up with recent SSO coverboy Matt Jordan, aka the Style Tyrant, and queer Operator Please bassist Ashley McConnell for the new SS/11 collection. Henrisson designs the clothes, McConnell models them, and Jordan shoots them. Visit www.orrihenrisson.com to see the results.

Clubs

JACK’S BACK
Jack is back at the Polo Lounge, Oxford Hotel on Friday, September 24, for its first spring dance — so wear some flowers in your hair and some baby’s breath beneath your ears. There will be lots of house music, from Chicago classics to Detroit weapons to disco nuggets. Spinsters are Mark Murphy (Spank Records) and Magda (Syd, Speakeasy). Free entry. 9pm-3am.
FOR MANDY
The next Extra Dirty party on Sunday, October 3 at Q Bar has taken on a deeper meaning with the recent sad news of Dirty organiser and respected DJ Mandy Rollins’ passing. The event will go ahead as a loving tribute to Mandy, with DJs Nacho Chapado (Spain), Feisty, Rob Gilbert and more. It should be an emotional celebration of the DJ’s life. info: www.mandystribe.com
GLAMAZONIA
ARQ takes on a jungle theme on Sundays with Amazonia, with Decoda Secret as a fierce Amazonian goddess. She’s joined on stage by her four delectable dancing boys, Wil, Daniel, Phillipe and Heath. Doors open 9pm, shows at 11.30pm and 12.30am.

Community

GAY PRIEST
Openly gay priest James Alison visits Sydney this month, and will deliver a speech at the Paddington Uniting Church at 7.30pm on Thursday, September 23. Titled ‘The challenge of an opening horizon: The gospel shape of gay and lesbian freedom’, Alison will explore his sense of the vacuum that can be seen in the life of the church as the hate-filled ecclesiastical and biblical discourse with which we used to be characterised ebbs.
ART PRIZE
The inaugural Oxford Art Prize for portraiture and landscape is now open. Collect you canvas from TAP Gallery now for an entry fee of $25, and return your finished work of art to the Gallery by Monday, October 18. The winners will be announced at the Oxford Art Festival Art Fair, Taylor Square North, on Saturday, October 23.
RAINBOW SOCIAL
On Wednesday, September 22 from 7pm, Rainbow Families are hosting a Prospective Co-Parents Social Night. It’s a night for men and women who hope to become (or are already) parents via co-parenting. This informal night will allow you to meet, share info and network with others hoping to do the same. You may even meet the future co-parent of your child. info: email Dom on [email protected]

Diary

SPEED OF LIGHT
Lightspeed Champion is returning to Australia to appear at the 2010 Peats Ridge and Pyramid Rock Festivals, plus a Sydney side show at the Oxford Art Factory on December 29 alongside Brooklyn-based band Spacecamp. With two critically-acclaimed albums under his belt, Lightspeed mixes Queen-size ’70s-rock pomp, neoclassical interludes, and ukulele-based chamber pop. info: www.myspace.com/lightspeedchampion
UNLIKELY ABBA
On Saturday, November 6 at Jenolan Caves, Australia’s biggest open cave, the Grand Arch, will be the spectacular venue for a two-hour performance by ABBA’s Back — one of Australia’s best ABBA tribute bands. Fans will have the opportunity to enjoy all their favourite songs in an extraordinary performance space. Visit wwww.jenolancaves.org.au for ticket, accommodation and dinner bookings.
VIBE ON
The 2011 Good Vibrations line-up has been announced, and it’s a corker: UK dance act Faithless are the big-ticket items, plus French band Phoenix, soul crooner Cee Lo Green, Kelis, Miike Snow, Janelle Monae, Erykah Badu, Ludacris, Fake Blood and many more. It’s at Centennial Park on February 12. info: www.gvf.com.au

Free

PARRAMATTA PICNIC
The biggest annual event for Western Sydney’s GLBT community — the Parramatta Pride Picnic — is this Sunday, September 26, 11am-4pm. Organisers are expecting more than 500 people to attend the picnic at Parramatta Park (Site 23). Bring some food and a rug and spend the day getting to know the local queer community. For more information, contact Matt Vaughan on 9206 2064 or [email protected]
SUIT UP
Melbourne trio The Suitcase Royale are a rag’n’bone band banging out bent and broken tunes and dance hall songs straight from the swamp. STC this month present a two-week season of their latest theatrical triumph, The Ballad of Backbone Joe. Not content with taking over the Wharf 2 Theatre, the lads have offered to perform this month’s Wharf Session, the regular free post-show gig at the Wharf, from 9.30pm on Friday, 24 September.
ART ATTACK
Sydney will be transformed into a living gallery on Thursday, 23 September when Lord Mayor Clover Moore officially launches Art and About Sydney 2010. The free public launch in Hyde Park will be headlined by Sydney band Dappled Cities, DJ Kate Monroe, and will include the announcement of the winner of the much-loved outdoor photography competition Sydney Life. All Art and About events are free to the public. The launch happens 6-9pm at Hyde Park North.
IN THE GARDEN
Eva Breuer Art Dealer will next month host Rosemary’s Garden, an exhibition of new paintings by Rosemary Valadon. Following a sell-out show in 2009 of beautiful and delicate teacups, Valadon’s new paintings invite the viewer into her garden, which she describes as an “embracing environment for sharing with friends and family”. The exhibition opens on Saturday, October 9 at 83 Moncur St, Woollahra. info: www.evabreuerartdealer.com.au

Girls

WOmen’S WORKSHOP
The Penrith Womens Health Centre will host a Relationships and Coming Out Issues Workshop on Tuesday, October 19, 6.30-8.30pm. It’s an opportunity for lesbian and bisexual women to discuss their relationships and sexuality in a supportive environment. Places are limited, so bookings are essential. Call 4721 8749.
BURLESQUE BEAUTY
The Piano Room in Kings Cross is showcasing Sydney’s best and sexiest burlesque dancers in a month-long competition on Thursdays from 7pm. The competition starts at 8pm. info: www.pianoroom.com.au
GIRLY SHOW
Girlicious — a Sydney Fringe umbrella event — runs in two performance spaces at Newtown Theatre until September 25. From hauntingly poetic to hilariously bizarre, saucy burlesque to powerful relationship drama, breezy cabaret to joyful theatrical adventures for kids, there’s a feast of girly goodness on offer. info: www.newtowntheatre.com.au
BACK TO BLACK
The next edition of Moist, Sydney’s spunkiest ladies’ night, is a special Black Party. On Friday, September 24, head to ARQ clad in your darkest threads to enjoy shows and music from DJs Sandi Hotrod, Bella and Shalyn Gray. 9pm-late, $10 entry.

On Screen

VINTAGE FLICKS
Australia’s Silent Film Festival continues in Sydney on September 23 and 25 with highlights including a collection of Buster Keaton shorts and a 1927 Cecil B DeMille screen adaptation of the musical Chicago. All sessions are accompanied by live music, to authentically recreate that silent-era feel. info: www.ozsilentfilmfestival.com.au
SHORTS FESTIVAL
The Manhattan Short Film Festival gives film buffs the chance to see 10 films from 10 countries at the Chauvel Cinema on Thursday, September 30. Aussie film Push Bike is among the contenders, all of which are eligible for an Oscar nomination thanks to the Academy-accredited festival. Manhattan Short is the world’s first global film festival, taking place in more than 200 cities in the same week. info: www.manhattanshort.com
SCREEN WORKSHOP
On Saturday, September 25, filmmakers, directors and producers seeking a greater understanding of film PR and marketing will be able to explore the inner workings of the media, in a PR workshop hosted by Metro Screen, lead by Edweana Wenkart, director of entertainment and lifestyle PR agency Tsuki. The hands-on workshop will draw upon Tsuki’s expertise managing theatrical releases and unit publicity for films including Baz Luhrmann’s Australia. info: www.metroscreen.org.au

Pubs & Bars

WHAT IS LOVE
From the producers of the 4Play series at Slide comes the new Wednesday night show, 4 Faces of Love. Four plays about different aspects of love, accompanied by a dinner of three degustation courses, designed by Slide’s resident genius Marc Kuzma. $70 pp for a three-course dinner and the 4Plays. info: www.slide.com.au
NEW VENUE
Oxford St welcomes a new venue from the end of the month with the opening of the Mediterranean, a Greek-themed bar and restaurant at Level 1, 31-33 Oxford St. While the venue isn’t strictly gay, owners have plans for drag shows, gay speed dating and other gay events.
BINGAY ON THE MOVE
Tuesday night Bingay at the Sly Fox Hotel has returned to its original home, the Imperial Hotel. Everything else remains the same — hostesses Tora Hymen and Naomi Palmer, extra special prizes and more bingo fun than you can poke a stick at. Bookings essential. Call David on 9206 2110.
SUNDAY SESSIONS
Beresford Sundays offer $5 wine, pints and basic spirits between 5–7pm and performances from some of Sydney’s top local acts including Murray Hood, Kitty Glitter, Jimmy Dee and James Tobin. Catch up and chill out with friends for the last few free hours of the weekend. 354 Bourke St, Surry Hills.

Song

ALL AT SEA
Sydney’s premier gay and lesbian concert band, the Sydney Homotones, have again joined forces with their favourite furry vocalist, Justin J Bear, to bring you a ferry cruise like no other on Saturday, September 25. It’s a four-hour cruise with a 15-piece band, musical trivia, singalongs, games, prizes, finger food and free drinks (by donation). Tickets are $65 plus booking fee from Moshtix. Bookings essential.
DRAXL’S BACK
Cabaret performer Tim Draxl returns to the Sydney stage this month to perform Freeway, a loving tribute to the music of American jazz trumpeter and singer Chet Baker. Baker’s renditions of My Funny Valentine, Time After Time and There Will Never Be Another You will all feature in Draxl’s celebration of the jazz icon. Freeway plays at the El Rocco Room, Kings Cross, September 22 – October 3. info: www.moshtix.com.au
TASTE OF CUBA
Setting stages alight with their dynamic showmanship and jaw-dropping vocal skills, the multiple Grammy-nominated group Vocal Sampling is visiting Australia as part of a Cuban cultural invasion that includes the Contemporary Dance Company of Cuba and Alicia Alonso’s Cuban National Ballet. Catch Vocal Sampling, accompanied by Cuban R’n’B diva Diana Fuentes and Cuban Groove Collective, at the Basement on Wednesday, September 29. info: www.myspace.com/vocalsampling

Stage

NIKKI’S STORIES
A cab ride from London to Athens, an attack by a giant shoe, a snorkel and a love song to vodka. They’re all in the new show from award-winning cabaret performer Nikki Aitken, direct from New York and Yale together with the incomparable Matthew Carey. Alive and Kicking plays at the Seymour Sound Lounge on September 22. info: www.thesydneyfringe.com.au
SAYING GRACE
Being staged for the first time in Australia by Devil May Care theatre company, Songs of Grace and Redemption follows five city-dwellers and their unwieldy baggage as they stray into Soley’s Bar. The coincidences that draw them together unravel into a funny and tender urban fairytale with a generous dose of risqué humour. The show runs at the Greek Theatre, Marrickville until September 25. info: www.thesydneyfringe.com.au
MAIN EVENT
A man appears in a pool of light in front of a room of suddenly silent strangers and The Event begins — a comic and probing monologue that wittily deconstructs the theatrical experience, offering an insight into modern life. This Edinburgh and Adelaide Fringe hit stars actor Nick Pelomis and is directed by his real-life partner, Daniel Clarke. It plays at the School of Arts, Newtown, until September 26. info: www.thesydneyfringe.com.au
EPIC FAIL
Absurdist Melbourne comedian Sam Simmons’ latest show, Fail, was a sell-out success at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival this year where he also won the Comic’s Choice Award. Simmons has just returned from a stint in Edinburgh and is stopping off at Carriageworks for a short season until September 25. If you haven’t seen him before, you’re missing out — he’s like a one-man Mighty Boosh. Tickets through Ticketmaster.