The Abercrombie WorldPride Program

Overview

Following years of lockouts and lockdowns, the dance floor has finally made an emphatic comeback in Sydney. The past year had seen the reemergence of storied nightclubs Club 77 and Arq to name a few, as the city's nightlife kicks into the most vibrant it's been in years. One such club, The Abercrombie, is making full use of its 24-hour license and multiple dance floors for Sydney WorldPride by rolling out a stacked program of parties.

Curated by DJ Kate Monroe and party-starter Xander Khoury, the venue has enlisted the help of party crews Heaps Gay, Kerfew, Barba, Sugar, Angels Only, Canned Fruit, Fur Ball, Queer Techno Collective and Queer House Collective to bring together three weeks of packed dance floors, thumping bass and joyous energy.

Kicking things off is the Pride, Play & Party opening event on Friday, February 17. Throughout the weekend, Queer Techno Collective is in charge of a full venue takeover on the Saturday, and Heaps Gay and friends will be hosting kick-ons for this year's Fair Day on the Sunday alongside Sugar who will be bringing soul, funk and disco tunes to the bar's rooftop Casa Rosa.

Fur Ball and Canned Fruit are keeping the good times rolling mid-week with a free Wednesday night hump day event. Queer House Collective is presiding over the tracks on Friday, February 24, followed by an all-inclusive community-led Parade afterparty on Saturday, February 25, which will rage on until 8am Sunday morning.  Then Sugar returns later that day for a recovery rooftop party that promises to treat any sore heads with top-drawer tunes and hairs of the proverbial dog.

The final week of the program features sex-positive dance party Show Us Ya Tips on Friday, a night curated by South Asian creative collective Kerfew on Saturday, and a final queer techno night from Barba on Sunday. Phew.

On the consecutive Mondays of February 20 and 27, Irregular Fit is hosting a set of DJ masterclasses with one of Sydney's finest tastemakers, Ayebatonye. If you've always dreamed of being behind the decks this could be your chance to take the plunge. Keep your eyes on the Irregular Fit and Abercrombie Instagram pages for details on how to apply for a spot in the free classes.

The full program features a swath of free events as well as a few ticketed nights — and all events are free for drag performers and First Nations attendees.