Sounds Queer makes its debut on Wednesday, 2nd March 2022 as an innovative live music showcase spanning genre, expression and identity. The event will champion diverse voices and sounds from the LGBTQIA+ community, whilst providing a safe space for audiences within it.
The first event will take place in Hackney’s Paper Dress Vintage and is an opportunity for underrepresented groups to enjoy live music within a safe environment.
“Despite London being a cultural hub for both music and the queer community, there are few live music nights whose priority it is to provide a platform for LGBTQIA+ artists. In addition to this, there is a lack of truly inclusive events, gigs or venues for emerging music that caters to the specific needs of the community”, co-founder Toby Corton explains.
Run by music lovers and queer creators, Sounds Queer aims to provide a platform for those artists as well as a safe space for the community to discover and support them. You lucky devils.
The evening will be hosted by London’s undeniably talented and multi-faceted drag queen Barbs and will include vibrant performances by London’s DYVR and Dublin-based ‘patron saint of gays’ St. Bishop. DYVR is a non-binary artist and activist who creates ethereal ambient-electronica and St. Bishop blends genres of electro-pop, soul and indie as freely as he delves into issues of sexuality, gender identity and radical self-acceptance. Both artists are a part of the VETA collective, who are also core members of the Sounds Queer team. They have received praise from multiple publications including The Line of Best Fit, Attitude, Earmilk, Nialler9 and Hot Press to name a few.
Sounds Queer was founded by VETA and queer creatives DYVR and Toby Corton. Toby has been making music since 2017 and his love of the creative process has led him to taking photos of drag queens such as the already legendary Bimini Bon Boulash and London Trans Pride Founder Lucia Blayke. Toby has also directed videos for other musical artists such as Jessica Wilde and Emilia Anastazja and he has produced music with and for other visual artists including Adam Frost. VETA was founded by Matt Harris (HAVVK, Maria Kelly) and strives to create a demand for their artist’s own unique projects rather than compromising to supply an existing demand.
Wednesday 2 march, 7.30pm. Paper Dress Vintage, 352 Mare St, London E8 1HR
