You Better Not Kill the Groove: Sophie Ellis-Bextor Is Headlining Mardi Gras 2024's 15,000-Person Bondi Beach Party

DJ, gonna burn this goddamn beach right down — although not literally, of course. But 15,000 partygoers will be murdering the dance floor at an iconic coastal spot thanks to a headliner that's having a helluva moment right now: Sophie Ellis-Bextor. She's just been announced at the top of the bill for the 2024 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras' Bondi Beach Party.

In 2023, when the first WorldPride ever held in the southern hemisphere took place in Sydney, it brought with it an openair club on the sand from afternoon till evening. A massive 12,000 folks went along to dance by the water, with Pussycat Dolls lead singer Nicole Scherzinger headlining.

In 2024, on Saturday, February 24, Ellis-Bextor will do the honours while everyone is rediscovering their love for 2001's 'Murder on the Dancefloor' thanks to Saltburn. It's the first of two trips Down Under for the British singer this year, as she's supporting Take That on their Australian and New Zealand tour in October and November as well.

Ellis-Bextor's discography also includes vocals on Spiller's 'Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)', plus her own 'Get Over You' and 'Hypnotised', all of which she gave a spin on her last visit to Australia in 2022. Then, she headlined Summer Camp in Sydney and Melbourne, and also played Brisbane's Melt Festival.

At Mardi Gras 2024's Bondi Beach Party, Ellis-Bextor will be joined by the previously announced Slayyyter, Jay Jay Revlon, Lagoon Femshaymer, Corey Craig, Tyoow, Mama de Leche and Beth Yen.

The waterside event sits on a jam-packed festival lineup that also spans Adam Lambert, CeCe Peniston and Ultra Naté at the ten-hour, 10,000-capacity Mardi Gras Party at Hordern Pavilion. Sydney WorldPride's Ultra Violet is returning for a second year of celebrating LGBTQIA+ women; gender-diverse celebration Hot Trans Summer will take place on floating venue Glass Island; the ivy Pool Bar is back; and, from there, the list goes on and on, across 17 days, 100-plus events, and with more than 150 performers helping put on a show.

Something that's sadly no longer on the bill is Fair Day, which has been cancelled for 2024 due to bonded asbestos being found in the mulch at Victoria Park.

Jake Davis

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras' Bondi Beach Party 2024 Lineup

Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Slayyyter
Jay Jay Revlon
Lagoon Femshaymer
Corey Craig
Tyoow
Mama de Leche
Beth Yen

Cain Cooper

Gabrielle Clement

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2024 runs from Friday, February 16–Sunday, March 3, 2024. For more information, or for tickets, head to the event's website.

The 2024 Bondi Beach Party is happening from 2pm on Saturday, February 24. For more information, head to the event's website.