The Gay Bank Holiday is nearly here. Get your glad rags together as QX lists the hottest parties, funniest comedy, most entertaining cabaret shows, the sexiest clubs, the tastiest drag brunches, the steamiest saunas, the best queer theatre and THE most exhausting Sports Day this coming Bank Holiday Weekend. Prepare to enjoy yourself!
Starting not too early and taking it easy, we think Thursday 26th August is a good night to begin the festivities and we’re going to lead with events for women who love women, in our LGBTQIA community. Start the clock with Lesbian speed dating (24-28) at The Cock Tavern. It’s a fun, funky venue for the slightly older crowd. Also on the Thursday, we have Butch.Please! which is a women who love women party at the iconic RVT.
Jumping to Saturday night for a moment, we introduce you to LXDIES NIGHT at Escape Bar Stratford. It’s a night for queer women and allies, trans, non-binary and intersex people. All ticket sales go to Stonewall.
Bank Holiday Theatre
For those of us who crave culture after months of lockdown, Camden Fringe has two plays on this weekend. Gay Generations at The White Bear Theatre presents a double bill of one act plays on various themes. Three Way at The Lion & Unicorn Theatre has Bisexuality as it’s central theme. The writer, Alexander Middleton, has written a wonderfully positive piece on coming out Bisexual for QX this week. It’s called, You always Remember Your First.
As usual, our favourite theatre (because it’s totally dedicated itself to our LGBTQIA community!) Above The Stag, has some wonderful offerings. Tommy On Top is in the main theatre this week and is centred on Tommy, an Oscars nominee who is closeted, and the tensions that provokes.
The gorgeously new Cabaret Lounge at Above The Stag also presents Rose And Cam´s Late Night Jam, which is hilariously funny and will set you up in the right mood for the weekend. The Cabaret Lounge has a multitude of relatively short shows on so check it out in our weekly listings.
Bank Holiday Cabaret and Parties
Thursday also offers some great cabaret. Our beloveds Son Of A Tutu is on at Halfway2Heaven, and Sandra is at The Admiral Duncan. The Two Brewers has Marsha Mallow on stage. You don´t have to book for any of these shows, just rock up. Check venue website for current timings.
There’s plenty of nudity on offer on a Thursday. You can get your kit off and go totally NKD at Vault 139, a venue just a little north of Soho. If you want to see someone else get their kit off then G-A-Y Porn Idol at Heaven is where you should be heading. It’s an amateur strip contest and a good laugh. Expect anything to happen on stage! If you’re hard up, and can’t afford the entry price, and you’re under 25, then Sweatbox Sauna is offering FREE entry every Thursday between 8am and Midnight. It’s Called Hard Up Thursday, dont ya know. They have the same offer on a Monday!
Now for some big Friday night parties. HAVOC is the latest big queer dance party from The Glory and it looks set to wreak HAVOC for some time. The Glory has had to be so restrained so it’s really nice to see them get back in to the swing of their madness on all floors.
Still in East London, over at Dalston Superstore, they’re celebrating being Fast and Bi-Furious. QX loves to see the LGBTQIA scene be inclusive and we celebrate our diversity. Everybody is welcome!
Feel It Party at Omeara in SE1 is a co-op between Jodie Harsh and Little Gay Brother and has taken the scene by storm. Golden Boy, Tom Daley, was spotted there the other week so make sure you’ve got your best rags on, as you may get papped!
You can CRUISE all day at Vault 139 on Friday, and they have so many themed options throughout the week so visit Vault 139. Over at Bunker Bar, Fitladz are strutting their stuff. Meanwhile at Teds Place get prepared for Punishment Block.
Ru Paul’s Drag Race fans get triple dosed on Season 3 at Heaven over the Bank Holiday weekend. Porn Idol injects a dose on Thursday with Kitty Scott Claus, Choriza May, and Scarlett Harlett. G-A-Y Camp Attack injects a dose with Anubis, Victoria Scone, Veronica Green and Charity Case. G-A-Y Heaven then injects a third dose with Ella Vaday, Vanity Milan, River Medway and Elektra Fence. The G-A-Y kids just can’t get enough! Guess what’s on on Monday?
If you get up late on Saturday why not treat yourself to a BRUNCH this bank holiday weekend. At Dalston Superstore, the drag mother of all brunches, they dish up a smorgasbord of games, quizzes, shows and prizes every Saturday (and Sunday) from 12-5pm. (If you find yourself in Soho on Sunday, Circa Soho is also offering a brunch).
There are so many Cabaret Artists taking to the stage this weekend. We love them all! London is blessed with a plethora of Cabaret talent who will be performing this gay bank holiday. Saturday we have Tanya Hyde at The George and Dragon, Wilma Ballsdrop at The Admiral Duncan, Poppycock and Brenda La Beau at The Two Brewers, Aidan Orange & Friends at West 5, Drag attack at Colours Hoxton, and a MASSIVE LINEUP at UNDER THE SEA GALA at The Quebec: Minnie Bar, Wilma Ballsdrop, Linda Matthews, Scarlett Harlett, Amber Rose Turner and Gracie Lou.
Cabaret not your thing? Gay Men’s Speed Dating at The College Arms, WC1 should happily keep the single amongst us entertained. If not, you can always catch a man at Vault 139, where you can go ¨All or Nothing¨.
Saturday night and Duckie has been sorely missed from The RVT. Having only recently returned, expect performance art and honky tonk as they’ve dished it up for the last 21 years. Resident DJs are the infamous Readers Wives. Tickets on the door. 9pm-4am.
Bank Holiday Weekend: Bootylicious and Trough return.
Bootylicious returns Saturday to take you on a musical journey from Soca to Bashment and everything in between, with your favourite Carnival vibes being played on their much improved Sound System by the Bootylicious new and beloved resident deejays. Live performances by Jamaican transgender dancehall artist ViceGrip and London’s gay dancehall pioneer Daniel Molyneaux with his current single “Dance For Your Man”. See “The Voice” article about Daniel on 12 May 2021. Bring your flags and horns to represent your country in true Carnival style. Air out those batty riders and get ready to Skin Out. 11pm-6am. Club Union.
Trough returns to Fire and celebrates with a big steamy party called Res-Erection. No need to guess what this stylish and sex positive event is celebrating. The men are hot sensations, and the clothing is usually little more than a harness. Well, how better to show off that hot torso!
Queer Y2K BBQ: The Afro Edition is at Overbury Road. A queer party space brought to you by Queer Happenings and a space for queer Africans across the UK to connect. Bring your own snacks and food to put on the BBQ. Saturday, from 2pm. Tickets HERE
If you’re hungry Sunday morning enjoy another Drag Brunch at Dalston Superstore or head in to town where Circa Soho are offering up a very pleasing brunch served with eye candy. If it’s eye candy you’re after check out the Hunky Brunch at The Vauxhall Food & Beer Garden. You can always slink off to Vault 139 afterwards, where under 25s get in for FREE!
Boat Parties are fun!
You may have missed The Glory Gay Bingo Boat Party last Sunday, so for those of you with sea legs, here are two more Boat Parties this gay bank holiday weekend: Boatmince takes off from Westminster Pier and Gossip takes off from Millbank Millennium Pier. The Club Kali Boat Party doesn’t sail off until the 4th September.
Queer Art is stimulating!
There’s also a Queer Art Boot Fair in Peckam on Sunday, where several streets have been given over to Queer Art. Read the QX preview here. On the same arty theme, you may want to forgo all this hedonistic partying and simply enjoy Bits & Pieces – Life Drawing & Creative Writing Workshop at Glass House in E2, Sunday.
Queer Parties are even more fun!
Riposte is on Sunday. It’s a queer techno party that bills itself as a sexy and inclusive queer space. Across two floors and three spaces, including an outside chill, with five techno DJs along with performers, games and tattooists. Expect something different. Go with the vibe, or just don´t go: FB LINK ¨What we mean by QUEER: queer is POLITICAL, queer is ALTERNATIVE, queer is trans, non-binary and FEM, queer is accepting and LOVING each others radically. 2pm-10pm. 50 tickets on the door or book HERE The Rocksteady, Kingsland Road, London, E8 4AR
Cabaret Gay Bank Holiday Sunday
The land lubbers will need to make do with some damned fine cabaret: Alternate Sundays at The Admiral Duncan, CK Sunday at Halfway2Heaven, Sunday Social at The RVT and the FABULOUS SUPERSTAR SUNDAY AT CMYK BAR.
QX wants to give a huge mention to Deaf Rave Reunion Party at Colours Hoxton. Deaf Rave is delighted for our D/deaf community to re-unite again! Party until dawn, they will be promoting up and coming emerging deaf artists showcasing their sign songs/visual performances. Food sold on the night. Advance tickets £15 more on the door. Tickets HERE
BIG Parties On Sunday Night: GEGEN & WE
One of the BIG PARTIES tonight is GEGEN a HUGE Queer Fetish Techno Party from Berlin. They join forces with SUBVERSA. and promise a hedonistic night of music, fetishism and art/performance at the famous ELECTROWERKZ club. 10pm-5am. This party is popular so get your tickets HERE now!
Another big party is WE Party at the Electic Brixton. It’s the buff Spanish export´s 10th anniversary so expect them to pull out all the stops. Expect a sea of muscled torsos on the Electric Brixton dance floor, so get your tickets HERE. Stock up on your protein powder and get some reps in! Orange is the Official WE After Party.
Gay Bank Holiday Monday is always about RVT SPORTS DAY!
So, you’ve made it through to Monday. It’s The RVT Sports Day 2021 and we’ve committed to joining a team! One of Vauxhall´s oldest and most fun events. The kind of sports day you wish you´d at school. Camp hysterics as we show off our sporting skills. Fiercely competitive we all go for gold in the Egg and Spoon, Three Legged Race, Handbag Toss, Tug Of War and 5om Mince. Jolly japes had by all.
All in a Good Cause!
RVT Sports Day is organised by LGBT Hero in partnership with the RVT. Join in the fun this bank holiday, check out the website and submit your team. The money raised on the day goes directly to support LGBT HERO’s mission to help LGBTQ+ people to lead happier and healthier lives. Meet you behind the grassy knoll! From 1pm. The grassy knoll behind The Royal Vauxhall Tavern.
Now even QX is getting tired! More cabaret … Dame Edna Experience and Lola Lasagne at The RVT, Mrs Moore and Guests at The Two Brewers and Poppycock at Ku Lounge and there’s more …
Have you had enough yet? … Go to bed!
HAVE A FABULOUS GAY BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND BECAUSE YOU ARE FABULOUS!
https://www.qxmagazine.com/listing/whats-hot/
