Absolut X

Overview

If you're looking for more dance parties and free events to hit up this Mardi Gras, look no further than the Absolut X takeover of the House of Music and Booze.

Across three days, the booze brand is teaming up with three of Sydney's most boundary-pushing queer party crews — Heaps Gay, Xaddy's Door List and Angels Only — to throw three massive day-to-night events. Think of it as a three-day music festival with a different curator running the show each day.

It all kicks off on Friday, February 23, with the Heaps Gay: Hot Mess party. Running from 4pm until midnight, the takeover of the St Peters venue will start with an afternoon social club featuring an LGBTQIA+ networking session and a photography exhibition. As the sun begins to set, the multi-space bar will be transformed into a hot and messy nightclub, with legendary London party crew Pxssy Palace and Jessey club superstar Cookie Kawaii on headlining duties.

Crescendoll, Pa777ience, Club Chrome, Charlie Villas, Ruby Teys, Stelly G, Pea Oh Ma and the Heaps Gay DJs round out the lineup for the first day of Absolut X at the House of Music and Booze.

The House of Music and Booze, Sophie Joyce

Then it's Angels Only's turn on Saturday, February 24. Billed as Haven, the event promises eight hours of joyous dance floors celebrating community, house, techno and vision, with Madami, Jason De Cox and Isa all on the lineup. If you get down early, you can enjoy a yoga session to get you appropriately limber for an evening on the dance floor.

Finally, on Sunday, February 25, Xander Khoury, the founder of House of Silky, will be bringing his renowned Xaddy's Door List parties to the festivities with Xaddy's Day 2 Night. Throughout the day, there will be a post-Sissy Ball recovery sesh with a free drink for anyone part of the ballroom community, before the party well and truly kicks off with sets from Aotearoa's Atarangi, Oscar Nñ on their Australian tour, and Japan's Nasthug for their only Australian stop on a huge Asian tour.

Basically, it's going to be a weekend full of debaucherous DJ sets and joy-filled dance floors — all for free. So, if you're looking to fill your Mardi Gras schedule with more party energy, here's one to have on your radar.

If you're planning to head along, make sure to RSVP.