All the events, fundraisers and parties you need to know about this weekend
Friday, Oct. 12
Atlanta Pride VIP Party
(invitation only)
6-8 p.m. at the Georgia Aquarium
Enter at the Ocean Ballrooms
225 Baker St., Atlanta, GA 30313
www.atlantapride.org
Official Atlanta Pride Kickoff Party with DJ Corey Craig & DJ Vicki Powell
7 p.m. at the Georgia Aquarium
Enter at the Main Entrance
225 Baker St. , Atlanta, GA 30313
www.atlantapride.org
Indigo Girls, Melissa Etheridge, Rufus Wainwright, Morrissey — Atlanta’s fall music line-up features some of the best known openly LGBT musicians, then sets gay fans swooning with a visit from the Material Girl herself, Madonna.
It’s technically the end of the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s summer concert series, but Indigo Girls’ Sept. 14 show could also be considered the start of a banner fall music season. Tickets also go on sale Sept. 21 for the beloved lesbian duo’s Dec. 7 show with the Georgia Symphony at Cobb Energy Centre.
Indigo Girls are just one of the acts to grow out of Atlanta’s famed acoustic music scene, which remains immensely popular with LGBT fans. The scene was rocked earlier this year by the unhappy split between famed Decatur acoustic venue Eddie’s Attic and founder Eddie Owen, but this season’s music line-up shows fans may actually benefit.
Lines formed to get into Mary's in East Atlanta on Friday, Aug. 17, for its annual Madonna-Rama bash, a celebration of the birth of the Queen of Pop that had people squeezing, swaying and sweating to decades of Madonna hits and favorites. DJ Diablo Rojo, wearing a special "Hey Mister DJ" t-shirt (that later came off) was manning the tables as he laid down the beats of the queen who has earned her place forever a gay icon.
She's still speaking out on behalf of LGBT equality and making trouble, currently being sued by Russian activists angered and offended she dared to advocate for gay equality during her tour in St. Petersburg.
People packed the bar and sang loudly to Madonna favorites as videos of the pop legend played on screens throughout the bar. Upstairs in the Boozy Cougar, Lourdes "herself" was serving up cocktails for fans of her mother. The party is considered one of Mary's most popular annual parties.
Queer singer/songwriter Nona Hendryx has had the kind of career longevity and variety that many musicians only dream about.
She is best known as one-third of the groundbreaking soul/rock trio Labelle, scoring the massive 1975 hit “Lady Marmalade” with bandmates Patti Labelle and Sarah Dash.
But the uncompromising Hendryx — who came out as bisexual in a 2001 interview in the Advocate — has also had an unconventional solo career, daring to go in musical directions (i.e. performing with Bill Laswell’s Material and being a backing vocalist for Talking Heads) few others would ever consider.
Her latest album, “Mutatis Mutandis,” was recently released on Ani DiFranco’s Righteous Babe label.
The Atlanta Pride Committee today announced that Andy Bell, one half of the duo from Erasure, will perform at this year's Atlanta Pride festival on Oct. 13.
Bell's appearance will be sponsored by local gay nightlife/entertainment magazine David and Project Q Atlanta.
“We were thrilled when the guys from David and Project Q approached us about sponsoring Andy Bell to perform at the festival this year! It is because of relationships like this and commitments to the event that help us keep the festival free to anyone who would like to attend,” said Atlanta Pride Committee Board Chair Glen Paul Freedman.
Singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile is certainly busy. Freshly engaged, she released her new album, “Bear Creek,” last month, filmed a marriage equality public service video for her home state of Washington and has been wrapping up tour dates with Dave Matthews.
Factoring in her immense summer tour schedule which will bring her to Atlanta’s Chastain Park on July 27, one might wonder how she does it all. We caught up with Brandi to discuss marriage equality, babies and giving back.
Shannon: I wanted to start by congratulating you on your recent engagement to your partner, Catherine Shepherd.
Carlile: Thank you!
Orgasm faces can be, well, funny, but typically are very hot to watch. Well, if that's what you are watching in the first place. Seems a French band named The Aikiu has released a video for its song "Pieces of Gold" and magnificently spliced together some hot gay porn action with the band members. And it is quite a catchy tune with a provocative video that perhap's Atlanta's own Mary's can incorporate into its upcoming Bastille Day Blow Out.
Alterna-grass band plays two shows tonight