Drag Festival: Drag’d Out Beechworth

Hi Posse, November has been a HECTIC month, finally I’ve got some time to sit down and write for you all. Weekend before last I was invited to go perform at a new Drag Festival. Run by a friend of mine since we were teens, of course I was on board. Set in the very picturesque Victorian country town (state not historical period) of Beechworth about 15 drag performers, King and Queens, came from all over Australia to be a part of the extravaganza. We were flown in, put into various hotel/motels and given a timetable. Over 8,000 tickets were sold for the 4 days/nights of events, plus there were loads of local businesses who’d sponsored that got a show in their venues.

I was put in a group of three. All of us have been stalwarts of the drag scene for over 40 years. We three have done TV and film. Not many of our era have done so much. We haven’t spent much time together this century but in the 20th century we did a lot of stuff together. It was unbelievably amazing to be back working together and haunting the same venues. Cindy Pastel of whom the lead character in Priscilla: Queen of the Desert was loosely based. Vanessa Wagner, who had her own club nights and events, is one of Australia’s leading fundraisers and information disseminators of the HIV/AIDS crisis. Me, also part of the Priscilla crew, raving reporter on MTV, radio, print, etc etc etc. Between us nearly 130 years of performing.

Drag Festival: Drag’d Out Beechworth

The people, venues, shows and excitement were electric. It was a wonderful 4 day/night extravaganza. Sadly I only took photos on the Friday. It was a street party. Afternoon was for families and then the kids were sent home and it became a full street disco. What a night. This is not the complete set of King and Queens. Sorry. I was working, and having WAY too much fun to stop and take pix.

Want to be a participant in the 2023 event? Here’s the Drag’d Out Beechworth link for you to sing up. This year we had party goers from all over Australia. It would be so fab to have an international posse next year.

Lastly, this is my new buddy Brooke. She and her husband Russell were in charge of getting us where we needed to be at all times. The moment she greeted me at the airport I felt such a strong connection. We had a ball. Drag’d Out Beechworth was such a fun Drag Festival. So Aussie, inclusive, ridiculous, wonderful and mad. Can’t wait for 2023.

Perfume

Of course you wonder what perfumes I took. Just three.

Armani Privé Cuir Amethyste: If Daim Blond and Bottega Veneta EdP had a lovechild it would smell like this. It’s the perfume that people noticed and loved over the two wears I gave it.

BDK Parfums Pas ce Noir: This is a drier, spicy, masculine take on Baccarat Rouge 540 and I think it’s closeness to Cloud means that it doesn’t smell interesting enough to comment on. Because it’s close sisters are so OTT though and headache inducing for me this is a much less powerful and agonising scent. So, loving those perfumes but not being able to wear them I have happily found a substitute.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Absolue Pour le Soir: So funny. In the city APLS is a bit naughty and fun. There’s so much other smell it wars with for attention. In a country town it is so over the top. I kept getting outrageous whiffs and sniggering to myself. I’m thankful that I only gave myself a single spritz. Any more and I might have been run outta town.