Great Southern Nights
In association with Mardi Gras and APRA AMCOS
Presents
EXPRESS YOURSELF – QUEER DISCOVERY
Hosted by the Merivale Group at The Beresford Hotel

ARIA Award-winning chanteuse Montaigne will headline the very first Express Yourself – Queer Discovery  showcase at Sydney’s iconic The Beresford Upstairs on Saturday 28 November.
A joint initiative between Mardi Gras and APRA AMCOS, Express Yourself – Queer Discovery is a series of three music showcases that will see emerging LGBTQI+ artists perform alongside an established headliner to a room of industry heavyweights and the general public.

At the end of the series, a panel of judges will select two of the emerging artists to perform at a Mardi Gras event in 2021.

Australia’s king of indie-pop Brendan Maclean will play host for the first night of musical odyssey, where Montaigne and two of Australia’s hottest emerging queer artists will treat audiences to a glittering live music extravaganza.

Tickets sold out quickly at the weekend – so stay tuned for details on how you can watch the show online.

“I’m super excited to be part of the Mardi Gras Express Yourself launch! I haven’t performed in so long and it will be nice to perform in front of the community that I so proudly belong to,” said Montaigne.

The first Express Yourself – Queer Discovery is taking place as a part of Great Southern Nights, a new music event to kick-start the recovery of the live music industry – featuring 1,000 COVID-safe gigs across Sydney and Regional NSW throughout November. Great Southern Nights is a NSW Government initiative delivered by Destination NSW in partnership with ARIA.

Mardi Gras and APRA AMCOS are still accepting applications from emerging artists. If you’re a budding Troye Sivan, can sing with the quiet sincerity of Courtney Barnett or spit rhymes like Miss Blanks – now is your chance to perform alongside an established queer performer to a room of music industry tastemakers, with the opportunity to perform at the largest LGBTQI+ festival in the Southern Hemisphere.

Showcase applications must be submitted by Tues 27 October 5pm AEDT. Apply here!