Australian R&B singer-songwriter Becca Hatch has joined the all-star line-up of Sydney Mardi Gras' Blak & Deadly First Nations gala concert.
First held during Sydney WorldPride, the gala will light up City Recital Hall at Angel Place on February 27.
Hatch joins the likes of ARIA-award winner Emily Wurramara, DJ Tyrone Pynor, and Steven Oliver, who returns as host.
The cast includes special performances from Bangarra Dance Theatre’s Daniel Mateo, the smooth sounds of Sivillion, performance art icons The Huxleys, and burlesque artist Kitty Obsidian.
Joining them is Nancy Bates with students from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Nana Miss Koori, and the Supreme Dream Girls Josie Baker, Felicia Foxx and Jojo Zaho.
The event kicks off at 7pm with the sound of DJs before the main show begins at 8pm. Guests are then invited to party on with the Ra Ra Kick Ons with performances by El Beauty and more.
The event has been curated by the original creator of Blak and Deadly, Ben Graetz, aka Miss Ellaneous, with associate curators Aunty Sue Pinkham and Liza-Mare Syron.
"It's an incredible honour to bring together such a diverse and fabulous lineup of performers from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander queer community, alongside our deadly allies and supportive mobs," said Graetz.
"This celebration of talent, culture, and pride is truly something special!"
Sydney Mardi Gras chief executive Gil Beckwith said Blak & Deadly is the premiere theatre event in the official Mardi Gras festival program and she was ecstatic to have been able to secure City Recital Hall for its return.
"We welcome locals and visitors alike to experience this stellar line-up of First Nations talent, for what will be a very big night in the Mardi Gras festival."
Former WorldPride chief executive and current City Recital Hall chief Kate Wickett said the event sits atop the Tank Stream, a site of significance for the local Indigenous community and the original waterway that served the Gadigal people.
"We are so honoured to host this rainbow explosion of First Nations talent and cannot wait for the Hall to be filled with the sounds of First Nations fabulous!" Wickett said.
Tickets are $117.50 including the booking fee or $57.50 for First Nations people who use the code "MOBTIX" at checkout. Tickets are available at cityrecitalhall.com.
Eliot Hastie is a senior news producer at Channel Ten, reporting on a range of general stories, specialising in foreign affairs and LGBTQ+ stories. He’s also a reporter for Gay Sydney News, where he covers LGBTQIA+ culture, politics and nightlife. He previously helped to build and launch ausbiz, Australia's only live streaming finance news channel, where he was also an executive producer and host. He has previously worked as a finance and business journalist for publications including Fintech Business, Real Estate Business and other Momentum Media titles. Eliot holds a journalism degree from the University of Westminster and brings experience in both broadcast and digital reporting. Contact Eliot: [email protected]
