Oxford Street small bar Ching-a-Lings will hold its final Gawj drag night event this Thursday and replace it during June’s Pride Month with a new talent competition hosted by the “Cxnty Women’s Association”.
Gawj host and drag queen Michelle Mayhem announced news of her Gawj night’s closure on Instagram on Monday night.
“This Thursday will be the final Gawj @chingalingsbar, we would love to see you all there,” the Gawj Instagram account said. “This is not due to any specific reason other than it’s time for change!
“Thank you all! for getting Gawj with us every Thursday. We appreciate you all SO very much and it’s been absolutely incredible to be with you all every Thursday night.”
Mayhem told Gay Sydney News on Tuesday that Gawj has been running for about a year.
“Although I am sad it is ending, it is always good to have a change up in shows!” Mayhem said.
“Before Gawj, I was doing ‘Pop’ (with Babydoll), which also lasted a year. It is important, especially during quieter months, like in winter, to keep people excited to go out.
“I’m excited for a bit of a break and to see what the new vibe holds.
“However, I may or may not be back sooner than you think with something new. I am keen for the months ahead!
“I’ll be heading to Melbourne for a week in June and I’ll be performing my new song SEESAW down there – so I’m excited for that! Lots of fun things on the horizon!
“Most importantly, go support your local drag.”
New talent competition night
Ching-a-Lings bar manager and co-owner Tosh Lanyon told Gay Sydney News that Ching-a-Lings was discontinuing Gawj after it had “a very good, long-lived life” for about a year.
“It was just time to freshen things up and I thought what better time than with Pride Month coming up,” he said.
The new event will be run each week during June by one of the Cxnty Women’s Association’s members, which includes drag performers Lauren Order, Barbi Ghanoush, Amyl and Diana Whole.
It will also incorporate a talent competition, Lanyon said, allowing for anyone to perform drag, sing or do something else talented to impress the audience, who will vote on the winner by clapping loudest for who they believe was the standout performer.
First prize for the talent competition is $100, the second prize is a bottle of gin, and the third prize will likely be a free drink at the bar and “maybe a lollipop”, Lanyon said.
“It’s gonna be bloody fab!”
The bar is collaborating with the brand Malfy Gin and creating custom cocktails for each of the four queens to match their personalities. Each queen’s drink will be on special during their hosting night.
Gawj’s last event will be held on Thursday, June 30, at Level 1/133 Oxford St from 9pm.
Happy hour is 6pm-9pm.
Ching-a-Lings is open 6pm until 11pm on Wednesdays; 6pm until 1am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; and 6pm until 10pm on Sundays.
Ben Grubb is the founder and editor of Gay Sydney News, an independent publication covering LGBTQIA+ news. A journalist with more than 15 years' experience, he has reported and edited for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, WAToday, Brisbane Times, The Australian Financial Review, News.com.au, ZDNet, TelecomTimes and iTnews, primarily on the topic of technology. He previously hosted The Informer, a queer current affairs program on Melbourne’s JOY 94.9 radio station, and contributes to LGBTQIA+ media including Stun Magazine. Ben has also appeared as a technology commentator on Channel Ten's The Project, ABC RN’s Download This Show and commercial radio stations 2UE, 2GB and 6PR. Contact Ben: ben.grubb@gaysydneynews.com.au
