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1978

Day of International Gay Solidarity - 24 June 1978
There was no party after the first two Mardi Gras parades in 1978 and 1979. The first of these on 24 June 1978 was the march which ended in the arrest of 53 people. The poster advertises a "Dance" the night before at Petersham Town Hall with music by Shiela.


1979
Gay Mardi Gras - 30 June 1979
The parade attracted 3000 people and was largely incident free. The week styled Gay Solidarity Week leading up to it included a Dance.


1980
Outrageous Gay Mardi Gras - Festive Ball - 28 June 1980
700 tickets $4

Paddington Town Hall

9pm to 2am

BYOG

Bands: Widgies, Layabouts


1981
We Are The People Our Parents Warned Us Against - 21 February 1981
Party was to be held at the Fruit Market but it burned down and party was held in Hyde Park South instead.

Parade was rained out and postponed until 21 March.


1982
On Our Way To Freedom - 27 February 1982
4,000 tickets

Showgrounds

 


1983
Our Lives, Our selves - 19 February 1983
6,000 tickets

AMP Pavilion


1984
We'll Dance If We Want To! - 25 February 1984
8,000 tickets $10/$8

Royal Hall of Industries

Profit $41,780

 



1985
Fighting for Our Lives - 23 February 1985
8,000 tickets



1986
22 February 1986
 


1987
21 February 1987
 


1988
27 February 1988
10,000 tickets


1989
18 February 1989
15,000 tickets

Government Pavilion

 Shows:

I Am What I Am - 60 drag queens



1990
17 February 1990
14,500 tickets


1991
16 February 1991
17,000 tickets $45


1992
29 February 1992
16,000 tickets

10pm to 10am

RHI

DJs: 10pm-2am Lexie Bradfield, 2-6am Dean Essing, 6-10am Rob Davis

Horden

 3am: Leggs Galore

Closing: Marcia Hines?


1993
27 February 1993  
18,000 tickets

RHI

DJs: 10pm-2am Craig Truslove, 2-6am Brent Nicholls, 6-10am Dean Essing

Dome

DJs: 10pm-3am Lexie Bradfield, 3-7am Stephen Allkins

Drag Bar

  


1994
We Are Family - 5 March 1994
19,000 tickets

RHI

DJs: 10pm-2am Alex Taylor, 2-6am Tony Svehla (Melb), 6-10am Kate Munroe

Horden

DJs: 10pm-2am ?, 2-6am Lexie Bradfield, 6- 10am Stephen Allkins

 Shows:

RHI: Kylie - What Do I Have To Do

RHI: John Paul Young - Love Is In The Air


1995
Fairy Tales & Lesbian Legends - 4 March 1995
19,500 tickets

RHI - Shangri-La

DJs: Bobby Lloyd 10pm-2am, Peter McNamara 2-6am, Lexie Bradfiel/Kate Monroe 6-10am

Lighting Geoffrey Rose

Hordern - The Astral Garden

DJs: James Arnold 10pm-3am, Dean Essing 3-6am, Rob Davis 6-9am

Lighting: Stephen Hales

Dome - Forbidden Forest

DJs: Thao 10pm-2am, James Fraser 2-5am, Robert Racic 5-8am

Lighting: Charlie Evans

Endeavour Pavilion - Swan Lake

Drag Bar & Performance Space

Festhaus - The Secret Garden - Girls Space

DJs: Colleen Naxon 10pm-2am, Ben Drayton 2-6am

Lighting: Barb Williams

Exhibition House - The Lotus Lounge

Chill-out

 Shows:

RHI: Boy George - Bow Down Mister

RHI Closing: Back to Love

RHI: Go West

Poster by Pierre et Gilles

Mardi Gras Party Anthems CD launched


1996
2 March 1996  
19,000 tickets - sold out 2 Feb

RHI

DJs: 10pm-2am Stephen Blomfield, 2-6am Tony Svehla (Melbourne) , 6-10am Steve Carley

Lighting: Steven Hales

Hordern

DJs: 10pm-2am Luke Leal, 2-6am Guy Delicious (UK), 6-9am Lexie Bradfield

Lighting: George Stavropoulos & Bill Jensen

Dome

DJs: 10pm-2am Steve Sonius, 2-5am Junior B, 5-8am Steve Worthy

Lighting: Mark Anderson

Carousel Bar - girls space

DJs: 10pm-1am Nadine Haynes, 1-4am Rachel Harvey, 4-7am Sharyn Brand

Lighting: Barbara Williams

Kensington Centre - chill

DJs: 12-4am Gary T, 4-8am DJ F.E.

 Shows:

RHI Midnight: Welcome speech by Bev Lange

RHI Midnight: Three is Family - Trudi Valentine and 130 dancers

Horden 12:30am: Free Gay and Happy - Wyness Mongrel Bitch with 60 marching boys and 30 marching girls and 30 marching drag queens from the parade

RHI 2.30am: Love Shack - Bernina Bod, Maud Boat, Portia Turbo & 50 dancers

RHI 5am: The Boss - Mogadonna hanging by a giant gold hoop from the ceiling

RHI closing: Thelma Houston - Don't Leave Me This Way

Party production manager: Mark Peterson


1997
1 March 1997  
Sold Out 31 Jan

RHI - Purple Passion

DJs: Dean Essing 10pm-2am, Steve Carley 2-6am, Warren Gluck 6-10am

Lighting: Steven Hales

Hordern – Mango-a-Gogo

DJs: Mandy Rollins 10pm-2am, Brent Nicholls 2-6am, Steve Sonius 6-9.30am

Lighting: Barb Williams

Carousel – Lemonessence

DJs: Sveta Gilerman 10pm-1am, Sioux Spears 1-5am, Sharyn Brand 5-8am

Dome – Rubyfruit Jungle

Gary T 10pm-3am, Bucknaked 3-6am

Kensington – Lime Groove

Annabel Gaspar 10pm-3am, Michael Robinson 3-8am

Exhibition House – Stawberry Daiquiri

Drag Bar

 Shows:

RHI midnight: Chaka Chan

RHI Closing: Village People - (You) Can't Stop the Music

Party Director: Gary Leeson


1998
20 Years of (R)evolution - 20th Anniversary - 28 February 1998  
Largest party ever - 27,000 tickets $70 - sold out 24 Jan

RHI

DJs: 10pm-4am Warren Gluck, 4 -10am Steve Carley

Lighting: Steven Hales, Barbara Williams;

Horden

DJs: Luke Leal and Brent Nicholls

Lighitng: Allan Parkinson

Dome

DJs: Steven Alkins and Sveta

Lighting: Jamie Ivarsen

Carousel

DJs: Mandy Rollins, DJ Kat, Sioux Spears

Lighting: Lisa Kemball, Barbara Williams

Horden Mens Toilet

DJ: Buck Naked

 Shows:

RHI 2am: Dannii Minogue - All I Wanna Do

RHI 3am: Recreated "I Am What I Am" show from 1989 with 60 drag queens

RHI 4am: Kylie - Better The Devil You Know

RHI Closing 1: Jimmy Sommerville

RHI Closing 2: Mogadonna

Party Director: Gary Leeson


1999

 Celebrate The Future - 27 February 1999  
20,000 tickets $85 - sold out 29 Jan

Red - Vegas is Burning - RHI

DJs: Sean Manley, Steve Carley, Warren Gluck

Stage Lighting: Barb Williams

Dance Floor Lighting: Allan Parkinson

Silver - Satellite Of Love - Hordern

DJs: 10pm-2am Greg Boladian, 2-6am Luke Leal, 6-10am Sioux Spears

Lighting: Antony Read

Thunderdome - Dome

DJs: Sveta, Annabelle Gaspar, Bill Cotsis

Lighting: Jamie Ivarsen

Orange & Blue - Aloha Dot Big Top - Costume Pageant

DJs: 10pm-4am Dot Dingle, 4-close Garry Tee

Orange - Girls Space - Tent

DJ: Mandy Rollins

Blue - Boys Space - Tent

DJ: Buck Naked

 Shows:

RHI 1am: Dannii Minogue - Everlasting Night

RHI 2am: Jimmy Barnes - You Make Me Feel Mighty Real

RHI 5am: Erin Hamilton - Dream Weaver - bed moving through crowd

RHI 10am: Marcia Hines - I’ve Got The Music In Me

Party Director: Gary Leeson

(Rainbow Party held on same night at Australian Technology Park)


2000
2000GETHER - 2 March 2000  
24,000 tickets $95 - sold out 29 Jan

RHI – New Millennium Dawned

DJs: 10pm-2am Gavan Bright, 2-6am Wayne G, 6-10am Luke Leal

Lighting: Allan Parkinson

Hordern – Age of Technology

DJs: 10pm-2am Sveta, 2-10am Victor Calderone

Lighting: Antony Read

Dome – Year of the Dragon

DJs: Mandy Rollins, Scott Shimmia, Bill Cotsis

Lighting Jamie Ivarsen

Womens Space (Mini Circus Tent)

DJs: Jude Tsai, Kelly Lynch

Mens Space (Mini Circus Tent)

DJs: Steve Sonius, Buck Naked

 Shows:

RHI midnight: Don't Call Me Baby

RHI 2am: Sex Bomb (Tom Jones)

RHI 6am: Aliens - Taylor Maid

RHI Closing: Last Dance

Party Director: Glenn Horder


2001
Out There Everywhere - 3 March 2001
22,000 tickets

RHI

DJs: Sean Manley, Jake Kilby, Greg Boladian, Wayne G

Hordern

DJs: Sveta, Frankie Knuckles, Alex Taylor

Dome

DJs: Jude Tsai, Annabelle Gaspar, Garry T, Thomas The Funkengine

City Live

DJs: Richard Weiss, Peter MacNamara, Fergie (UK), Baby Bear, Mark Murphy

Fox & Lion

DJs: Feisty, Steve Sonius, Junior B, Bill Cotsis

Plus Arena Cabaret Space and all of Bent Street

 Shows:

RHI 1am: Vanessa Amorosi (with Tracey the Laser dancer)

RHI 3.30am: Adeva - This is a Warning - male dancers
Adeva & Shauna Jensen - Sisters are Doing it for Themselves - female dancers

RHI 4am: Christine Anu

RHI Closing: Sheena Easton


2002

 Happy Mardi Gras - 2 March 2002  
20,000 tickets $110

Hordern - Heavenly Hard House - Fast Furious Fun

DJs: 10pm-1am Gavan Bright, 1-3am Peter MacNamara, 3-6am Rachel Auburn [UK], 1-8am, 8-10am Mark Murphy

RHI - Uplifting, heartfelt house and sexy vocals

DJs: 10pm-1am Sean Manley, 1-4am Jake Kilby, 4-7am Neil Lewis [USA], 7-10am Paul Goodyear

Dome - Fat Funky House made4summer with delicious vocals

DJs: 10pm-1am Mike Kelly, 1-4am Mandy Rollins, 4-7am Scott Schimmia, 7-10am Sveta

Women's Bar - Asian Kitchen (upstairs)

DJs: 10pm-2am Renae, 2-5am KDJ, 5-8am Feisty

Men's Bar - Fox + Lion - first floor

DJs: 10pm-2am DJ Chip, 2-5am Richard Weiss

 Shows:

RHI 1am: Deborah Cox - Nobody's Supposed To Be Here (Moving in centre of hall), Absolutely Not (with 10 drag queens in Gucci)

RHI 2:30am: Bardot

RHI 4am: Human Nature

RHI Closing: Alcazar - Crying at the Discoteque
          


2003

 25 Years of Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Bisexual and Queer Culture - 1 March 2003  
First New Mardi Gras party

17,000 tickets $95

Many services for this party were donated or supplied at a reduced rate, including DJs and lighting designers

RHI

DJs: Luke Leal, DJ Josh (Adelaide), Paul Goodyear, Alex Taylor

Hordern

DJs: Tony Svehla (Melbourne), Mandy Rollins, Doug James, Buck Naked, DJ Chip & Mike Kelly (Back-to-back)

The G-Spot (City Live)

DJs: Mr. Flynn, Neroli (Brisbane), Shigeki

Grand Pagoda (Up-and-coming)

DJs: Dr. Jane, DJ Kenny, Henri, Karl Moser, Sista P, DJ Tas

Dome - Costume Pagent, Chill

 Shows:

RHI: Suzanne Palmer - Hide U, Show Me

Horden: C-Vox

RHI Close: - & Sexy Galexy


2004
Metamorphosis - 6 March 2004  
17,000 Tickets $120 ($99 early bird, $140 at the door) - sold out 4 March

RHI - Cinemorphosis

DJs: 10pm-1am Alex Taylor, 1-4am Ryan Murphy, 4-7am Luke Leal, 7-10am Shigeki

Horden - Sparticus

DJs: 10pm-1am Kylie Rose (Brisbane), 1-4am Lisa German (UK), 4-7am Sveta, 7-10am Mike Kelly

Stage 11 & Tent - Austin Powers - Retro

DJs: 10pm-1am Stephen Blomfield, 1-4am Justin Scott, 4am-close Jake Kilby

Dome - Barbarella - Costume Parade, Chill

DJs: 10pm-3am Richard Weiss, 3-6am Seymour Butz

Forecourt - Up and Coming

DJs: 10pm-12am Dan Murphy (House Anthems), 12-2am Guy Hornsey (Trance),
2-4am William Silva (Trance),
4-6am - Daniel Hannan (Funky),
6am-close - Nicole Phillips and Paul Lillie (UK) back to back (Funky House)

 Shows:

Dome midnight: Costume Pagent



RHI 1am: Fame/Flashdance - Maxi Shields, Atlanta Georgia

Horden 1:30am: Chariot race

Retro 2am: Paul Capsis & band

RHI 4am: Atlas - I'm A Queen

Dome 6am: Screening of Barbarella

RHI close: Pru Grimson - Over the Rainbow - Vanity Fair, Mitzi Macintosh

 


2005
Our Freedom, Your Freedom - 5 March 2005  
19,000 tickets $125 ($99 early bird, $140 at the door)

RHI - Anthems

DJs: 10pm-1am Ryan Murphy, 1-4am Les Smith aka DJ Zac (Brisbane), 4-7am Shigeki, 7-10am Paul Goodyear

Horden - Trance

DJs: 10pm-12am DJ Josh (Adelaide), 12-10am DJ 4 Strings (Rotterdam)

The Dome - Funky House

DJs: 10pm-1am: Daniel Hannan, 1-5am: Richard Weiss, 5-8:30am GI Jode

Stage 11 - Tribal

DJs: 10pm-1am Neroli (Brisbane), 1-4am Sveta, 4-7am Buck Naked, 7-10am Feisty

Fox & Lion - Retro

DJs: 10pm-12am Chris Kenny, 12-5am Stephen Blomfield, 5-8:30am Calvin Wong

The Marquee - Mash, Beaks, Electro

DJs: 10pm-1am The Red Light Disco DJ Team (Melbourne), 1-5am DJ Elroy, 5-8:30am Seymour Butz

Peter Finch Lawn - Up & Coming

DJs:10pm-12am Hamo Tevita, 12-2am Matt Broadfoot, 2-4am Johnson Chan, 4-6am Murray Hood, 6-8am Todd Woods, 8-10am Jez Johnson


 Shows:

RHI 1am: Nicki French - Total Eclipse of the Heart, I Surrender

RHI 4am: Tina Arena - Never (Tiesto remix), Dare You To Be Happy

RHI 7am: Darren Hayes - Insatiable, Pop!ular

RHI Close: Courtney Act - I Should Be So Lucky
Ashley Swift, Courtney Act, Portia Turbo, (more) - Deborah Cox medley

Horden midnight: string quartet & 2 male dancers

Horden various: dancers

Stage 11 3am: Slaves & Pirates - ?, Filthy/Gorgeous

Dome 5am: The Martini Club

Costume Pageant: The Frocks 


2006
4 March 2006  
15,000 tickets $125/$79, (Early Bird $99), Platinum $179

RHI

DJs: 10pm-1am Jayson Forbes and Shigeki, 1-5am Brett Henrichsen, 5-7:30am: Dan Murphy, 7:30am-10am Ryan Murphy

Horden

DJs: 10pm-1am Luke Leal, 1-4am: DJ Josh, 4-7am: Scott Anderson, 7-10am Ric Dreske

Forecourt

Midnight-1am: Costume Pageant

DJs: 1-2:30am DJ Chadi (up and coming), 2:30-4am Madem' J (up and coming), 4-7am DJ GI Jode, 7-10am Kate Monroe

City Live (Retro Disco)

DJs: 10pm-1am Greg Boladian, 1-4am David Hiscock, 4-8am Paul Goodyear

Dome

DJs: 10pm-1am Chip, 1-4am Rob Gilbert, 4-7am Mike Kelly, 7-10am Lim Jeka

 Shows:

RHI

1am: Jimmy Sommerville

5am: Baby Marcelo (Ibitha)

7:30am: Mary Kiani

10am: Therese

Horden

2am: Jan Johnston

4am: Jan Johnston

The Forum

Midnight: Xena (Electronic Male)

8am: Erica


2007
Objects of Love - 3 March 2007    
17,000 tickets $125/$79 (members $99)

RHI - Love a Sunburnt Country

DJs: 10pm-1am Jake Kilby and Greg Boladian, 1-4am Freemasons, 4-7am Paul Goodyear, 7-10am Dan Murphy

Hordern - Love to Travel

DJs: 10pm-1am Sveta, 1am-3am Boy George, 3-6am Mike Kelly, 6-10am Mandy Rollins and Feisty

Dome

DJs: 10pm-12:30am Seymour Butz with Gemma, 1-1:301m Sterogamous, 2:15-4:15am Bang Gang DJ's, 4:15-6:15am Ben Drayton, 6:15-8:15am Mark Murphy

The Forum

DJs: 10pm-midnight Justin Scott, midnight-1:20am Bob Downe, 1:30-3am Vanessa Wagner, 3-6am David Hiscock, 6-8am Jimmy Dee

Fuse Bar (Women's Space)

DJs: 10am- midnight Madem J, midnight-2am Alexandra, 2-4am Beaker, 4-6am Beatrix

Fox and Lion - Caberet

VJ: Craig-o-rama

Forecourt

4-8am Kyla Sexton (Live Vocalist)

10pm-midnight Mister S (up and coming), midnight-2am Renae Stanton, 2-4am Tim Graham (up and coming), 4-6am Scott Pullen, 6-8am Sista P, 8-10am Alex Taylor

 Shows:

RHI - Love a Sunburnt Country

1am Aussielicious

2am Young Divas

3am Desperate Dragwives

Closing (cancelled)

Dome

12:30-1am Paul Mac live

1:30-2.15am The Presets live

Fox and Lion - Caberet

12:30-1am Hosted by Courtney Act, Brielle Davis, Lesley Hancock & Sylvana

1:30-2am Hosted by Shauna Jensen, Jeremy Brennan & King Casual

2:30-3am Hosted By Claire De Lune, Fiona Leigh Jones & Keren Minshull

3.30-4am Hosted by Chelsea Bun, Hugh Monroe, Doreen Maganni & Darlene



2008


 Brave New Worlds - 1 March 2008  
Tickets: $150/$100 (member $120)

Sold out 21 February. 1500 more tickets released sold out 22 February.

Royal Hall Of Industries - "Discotarium"

DJs: 10pm-midnight Murray Hood, midnight-4am Hex Hector (New York), 4-8am Paul Goodyear (Barcelona)

Hordern Pavilion - "Neon Fusion"

DJs: 10pm-midnight Ruby, midnight-2am DJ JoSH, 2-4am Marty (Auckland), 4-6am Agnelli & Nelson (UK), 6-8am Peter Newton

Dome - "Zootopia"

DJs: 10pm-12:30am Sveta, 12:30-3am – Mike Kelly (Berlin), 3-5:30am Jack Chang (London), 
5.30-8am Mandy Rollins

The Forum - "Hot Rock"

DJs: 10pm-12:45am - Seymour Butz back to back with Gemma, 1.15-3:15am - Stereogamous, 4am-end Annabelle Gaspar back to back with Bill Cotsis

Fuse Bar - "Femmesphere"

DJs: 10pm-midnight Sista P with Percussion from Cyndi Tan, midnight-2am Beatrix, 2-5am madem j, 5-8am Alexandra

Fox and Lion - "Videodrome"

VDJ: VDJ Craig Payne plus Karaoke

 

Forecourt

DJs: 10pm-2am Winners of the DJ Spin-Off Competition: Stryker and DJ Toi, 2-4am Katie Drover, 4-6am Eddie Coulter, 6-8am GI Jode

 Shows:

 

Olivia Newton John

 

Fox and Lion:

12.30am - The Carpenters from Kemsey

2am - Aunty Mavis

3am - Hot Chocolate

 

Bands (in The Forum):
11:30pm - Blush Foundation
12:45am - Blow Waves
2:00am - Grafton Primary
3:15am - Faker
4:45am - The Potbelleez

 

 



2009
Ben Drayton, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Brent Nicholls, Stereogamous, Rob Gilbert, Wayne G, Avra Cybele, Justin Scott, Matt Vaughn, Lauren Flax, Beau Monde, Jake Kilby, Kitty Glitter, Mike Kelly, Feisty, Dan Random, Paul Oakenfold, David Hiscock, Alan Thompson, The Ones, Infusion, Dan Murphy, Annabelle Gaspar, The Freemasons, Alison Jiear

2010
Carl Cox
David Guetta 
Bimbo Jones
Leomeo
Itch-e and Scratch-e 
Alan Thompson 
Scott Pullen
Gemma
Sveta
Women’s Space 
Ben Drayton
Mandy Rollins 
Steve Sonius
Dan Murphy
Jake Kilby
Chaingang