Easter long weekend scene highlights

New South Wales

THURSDAY, MARCH 28

JOHN
Yurong Lane, Darlinghurst
The first coming of Melbourne’s JOHN Homosocial Party finally graces the dancefloors of Sydney on Easter Thursday. After five impressively long years raising the bar and the brows and giving Melbourne gays a good dose of butch beats and mellifluous manthems, JOHN spreads its love seeds to Sydney shores for some sweaty man-o-man action. To welcome in the celebration of this glorious opening are JOHN’s regular Sydney saints John Seymour Butz and Paul Mac as Stereogamous, plus Melbourne guest DJs, It runs 9pm-dawn.

Good Friday Eve
ARQ
Party the night away with both levels open music and shows throughout the night. DJs Tom Pritchard, Luke Leal, Alex Taylor and Kitty Glitter will be on hand. The Drag For Dollars show will start from 11pm hosted by Summer Salt, followed by TGIT (Katy Perry show) at 12.30am/1.30am. It’s $10 at the door (no pre-sale).

Glamour Pour Le Hammer
The Colombian
Thursday sees the return of Glamour Pour Le Hammer in the Lounge Bar. There’ll be spunky performers like the Amazing Ari and Dallas Dellaforce will be sizzling onstage, with music by Jack Shit and LaDonna Rama. If Apocalypstik can find something to wear, she will be floating around too. Its $10 happy hour premium cocktails all night. Downstairs will also feature Kitty Glitter and Sandi Hotrod doing their disco infected dirty grooves until the morning.

Asylum Dance Party
The Imperial
The Imperial will open up two floors for its massive Thursday party. Expect goth, punk, deathrock, wave, industrial and dark-electro from 10pm-late. It’s $15 entry.

Late Night Trading
Stonewall
Join host Polly Petrie for Late Night Trading from 6.30-8.30pm with a chance to win some delicious Easter Eggs. The hottest Bunny Boys (so hot the chocolate will melt) will bounce onto stage at 10pm with DJs Dom DeSousa, Tom Pritchard and David Smith.

FRIDAY, MARCH 29

I Remember House
The Ivy Bar
From noon-10pm be entertained by DJ Dan Murphy and guests. Early release tickets have already sold out, it’s now general release only at $40.

SATURDAY, MARCH 30

Easter Saturday
The Newtown Hotel
Newtown Hotel will be playing host to an indie party on Easter Saturday featuring DJ sets from some of your favourite triple J endorsed bands. It’ll feature Sydney indie pop kings Bluejuice tearing up a grooving DJ set with support from thrash-punk Aria award winners, Dz Deathrays who will be joining Groovin The Moo in May. The Newtown is also jumping right on the Easter bandwagon with an egg hunt throughout the venue and drink giveaways.

Armed Forces Military Party
The Imperial
The Imperial is inviting members of the Defence Force as well as friends and guests to dance the night away on Easter Saturday. Defence Force members who show their ID get free entry, with others only $5 at the door. Military or sexy uniforms is the theme, but civies are OK of course. It’s $5 entry and doors open at 10pm.

Easter Show Gurlz
Stonewall
Verushka Darling, Tora Hymen and Minnie Cooper will perform their shows Wash Yo Nutz and DreamGurlz. DJs Murray Hood, Tom Kelly and David Smith will beat out the tracks to keep you moving.

SUNDAY, MARCH 31

Hot Cross Buns
ARQ
Party the night away with both levels open once again and DJs Greg Boladian, Dan Murphy, Jimmy Dee, Rob Davis and Sandi Hotrod. It’s $20 at the door (no pre-sale).

White Party
Marquee
Featuring Katherine Ellis, with DJs Jonny M (UK), Dan Murphy, Kitty Glitter and Alex Taylor, get your bright whites ready for this party from 10pm-late. Tickets on sale now, $35 +BF

Harbourfest
Cargo Bar/The Loft/Bungalow 8
The Sydney Easter music festival on the harbour will include a superstar line-up including Van She DJs, Yolanda Be Cool, DCUP, Nina Las Vegas, Helena (UK) and many more. It kicks off from 2pm.

Loose Ends
Phoenix Bar

Head to Phoenix Bar this Easter Sunday to party like you don’t have to work in the morning (which hopefully, you don’t). Resident DJ Matt Vaughan will be joined by guest DJ The Sweats, familiar to those who frequent the Melbourne Trough/JOHN parties, and a performance by The Amazing Ari. 10pm-late, $10 on the door.

Polly’s Easter Pageant
Stonewall
Polly Petrie and her cast of thousands will delight patrons with some Easter fun from 8pm with all three levels open and DJs Dom DeSousa, Tom Pritchard and Tom Kelly spinning tracks till the morning.

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Queensland

FRIDAY, MARCH 29

Rigid 3
Number 29
When the others are closed, Brisbane’s men’s underground party is open. From 9.30pm check out DJs Matt Effect DJ, Gavan Bright, Chris Banks and Skooba. There will be a cloak room at the door, so if you are a bit of a kinkster and would like to get down and party (both on the dancefloor and upstairs) you can do so in some of your favourite gear. This BYO 18+ event is men only and $30 on the door,

SATURDAY, MARCH 30

Mu Mu Land 5.5 Party
The Wickham Hotel
Mu Mu Land is back and this time there won’t be any tropical cyclones to stop this party from going off. After being forced to cancel due to severe weather last month, organisers of one of Brisbane’s best parties have returned with a rebooted Mu Mu 5.5. Join DJ Les Smith and London’s Neroli Cannon at the Wickham Hotel this Easter Sunday from 7pm-5am.

SUNDAY, MARCH 31

Mr Sportsman Hotel 2013
The Sportsman Hotel
Are you “the one?” Hosted by Wanda D’Parke with special guests performances, The Sportsman Hotel is looking Mr Sportsman 2013. Entry forms are available from bar staff. Competition kicks off from 10.30pm.

MONDAY, APRIL 1

Manhunt Easter Egg Hunt
The Wickham Hotel
From 4pm-late the Wickham will host an easter egg hunt with a difference. Manhunt is going to take attendees on a journey around the Wickham looking for clues and treasures to maybe parts you’ve never seen before. As you get warmer and warmer you may find some naughty prizes that you dare not give your mother for Christmas.

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Victoria

FRIDAY, MARCH 29

Le Male
Love Machine
Featuring Todd Patrick and the PSA dancers and hosted by drag legend Paris, this new once a month party blends burlesque cabaret with dance music. DJs KDJ, Mike Evans and James Fraser are on the decks. Doors open 9pm

Boylesque and Friday Night Project
The GH Hotel
The regular weekly event offerings from the GH will be accompanied by a special Very Good Friday party with six DJs and shows in both the Main Room and Front Bar. It’s free entry before 9.30pm, open until 3am.

SATURDAY, MARCH 30

Manthem
The Laird Hotel
An Easter Saturday party celebrating anthems over the last 30 years, this event will feature DJs Mike Evans, David Virgona and Nick Shepherd. It’s free entry and will run 9pm-3am.

DJ Kitty Glitter
The GH Hotel
This Easter Saturday party, includes a show by The Classics on stage and will be hosted by Millie Minogue. Don’t miss superstar DJ Kitty Glitter on the decks. Doors open 9pm.

SUNDAY, MARCH 31

Sundaylicious Easter Party
The Wharf Hotel
From 3pm-late with free entry all day, join DJs Jason Conti, Du Jour and Mike Evans for the fabulous Sundaylicious party – a staple of the Melbourne queer scene.

JOHN
Liberty Social
Sydney isn’t the only city to get a dose of JOHN this Easter long weekend. Liberty Social will play host to the Melbourne edition of the party from 9pm-late with a special international guest performance.

Woof Club
The GH Hotel
Celebrating its eighth birthday, WoofClub is hitting up the GH with eight DJs for this day party from 3pm-midnight. Mr Sydney Leather and Mr Laird Leatherman will also be on hand to spice things up. Dress duuuurty!

MONDAY, APRIL 1

Underwear Party
The Laird Hotel
The Laird’s Underwear Party is well known for being as social as it is sexy, with guys taking the chance to strip down to the bear minimum and enjoy the cruisey atmosphere. Throw on your favourite, boxers, briefs, jockstrap or Y-fronts as we throw they best underwear party in town. And if you’re a little bit shy, there’s a free shot of schnapps on arrival. Male underwear only. Appropriate footwear must be worn at all times. The bar is open 5pm-late. $10 entry includes cloak facilities.