In the post-pride run-down, it might feel like the queer colour is slowly draining from our city as business slowly take down their rainbow flags. While straight London might be packing up their allyship until next year, the queer scene is still serving up a sickening roster of tantalising exhibitions, events and performances. Here are our top five picks of queer events hitting London this week:
Raze on the River | Queer Music Takeover
5:30pm – 1am | Friday, 19/07
Brought to you by The Raze Collective, this showcase of queer musical talent gives a stage to LGBTQI+ singers, dancer and DJs that’s long overdue. Get your dance on for this free evening of the best in queer music. Featuring acoustic performances from Keaton Dekker, Chloe Hawes, Sherika Sherard and Rhiannon Scutt, with Vaughan Music, Le Fil and Aaron Porter also taking to the stage.
Southbank Centre, Southbank SE1 8XX. Free
Inferno
11pm – 6am | Friday, 19/07
No one does queer Hackney like Inferno. This collaborative club night brings together performance artist and DJ Lewis G. Burton and the tech stylings of Sebastian Bartz. Functioning as a community space giving a platform to emerging artists, expect new works by resident performance artists and exciting work from special guests.
The Yard, Hackney Wick E9 5EN. Tickets available on ResidentAdvisor.net
Bloolips and Radical Drag
3pm – 9pm | Until Friday, 26/07
A free exhibition shining a light on the radical-camp campaigners of the early ’70s. A collection of frocks, posters, films and artwork, take a headlong dive into the world of legendary queer theatre troupe Bloolips. From the Gay Liberation Front, under the direction of Bette Bourne they toured across Europe and over to the US spreading their message of laughter and liberation.
Platform Southwark, Southwark SE1 8BS. Free.
This Queer House
5pm – 6:30pm | Saturday, 20/07
A ‘work-in-progress’ queer love story. Trailing the story of a couple as they plan on embarking into parenthood. After years of navigating the world as a lesbian couple, as Oli discovers their transness the two strive to be understood in a world that reads them as heterosexuals. Exploring issues around home-making, the problem of community and responsibilities that come along with ‘family’.
Theatre Peckham, Peckham SE5 7SD. Tickets available on TheLittleBoxOffice.com
Queerstory the Musical
7:30pm – 10:30pm | Monday, 22/07
Back for one night, and one night only. Let Maxim and Mercury take you by the bowtie down through the lives and culture of the queer community throughout history. This musical lecture-cabaret is sure to educate and undulate.
Mirth, Marvel & Maud, Walthamstow E17 4QH. Tickets available on Dice.fm
