A raucous post-Parade party

Mardi Gras revellers looking to get down, dirty and debauched post-Parade can look no further than Velvet Hammer, taking over the Oxford Art Factory from 10pm on Parade night.

The party brings together a diverse line-up of talent — bands, DJs, performance artists and MC Vanessa Wagner — all united in the quest to provide a good time.

“Everyone who’s been booked has that element of not caring about being ridiculous. They’re all here to entertain, in all sorts of flavours,” Gay Paris frontman WH Monks told the Star Observer.

Joining Gay Paris on the line-up are fellow hardcore Bear band Totally Unicorn, ‘sister band’ Kira Puru & the Bruise, and Cherry 2000, plus underground DJs Ben Drayton, Annabelle Gaspar, Steve Sonius, Avra Cybele, Lovertits, Chris Lego, Simon Hunt and HipHopHoe.

Monks said his band’s history with the parties was brief, having only previously performed at last July’s event, but that their experience turned them into lifelong Velvet Hammer devotees.

“I’ve never encountered a group of people as willing to debase themselves in public as a Velvet Hammer crowd. It’s how I think every show should be, and it’s why I started playing music.

“The vibe is incredible, and I don’t see why people won’t be even more debauched this time.”

Particularly seeing as the party arrives right in the middle of the biggest weekend of the Mardi Gras season.

Monks acknowledged that the scheduling of the event was no accident.

“There are going to be all kinds of rainbows on display that night, and I think this will be the pot of gold you can actually fucking find. I’m not going to disparage the main commercial events, but they will suck compared to this,” he laughed.

“I don’t think we’ve got the right spokesperson for diplomacy in Gay Paris.”

info: Gay Paris, Oxford Art Factory, 10pm Saturday, March 3. Tickets through Moshtix.