After Dark at the Hyde Park Barracks launches fabulously during Mardi Gras

The evocative outdoor stage will welcome a killer opening line-up to this historic Barracks courtyard, as curated by FBi Radio. Described as the “hellfire queen of gutter techno”, Crescendoll will DJ her dark, grimy and psychedelic grooves. Queer rapper JamazOnMarz will speak his truth, and stereotype-busting performer OKENYO will sing hers. As a crescendo to the evening, electronic music legends Stereogamous (Jonny Seymour and Paul Mac) will perform a typically flamboyant and party-starting DJ set.

The hammock rooms of of the Barracks once offered sleeping quarters to over 1,000 men at a time. The hammocks have been recreated using authentic tightly woven flax linen, and visitors now can try them out for themselves. For the launch of After Dark at the Hyde Park Barracks, Jonny Seymour and Paul Mac of Stereogamous will be leading a guided meditation in the historic hammock room, providing a restful soundscape of ‘sacred’ LGBTQIA+ music including George Michael, Sylvester, Bowie, field recordings, sounds and vibro-acoustic therapy. Come in, lie down and be restored and transformed! Be sure to register on arrival for this strictly limited event.

Andrew George Scott – aka Captain Moonlite – was one of Australia’s earliest LGBTQIA+ figures and enjoyed an extremely colourful career. Find out more during a panel discussion between crime historian Dr Andy Kaladelfos, artist Todd Fuller and Sydney Living Museums curator Nerida Campbell. Fuller’s 2018 animation ‘With Whom I Was United by Every Tie (Captain Moonlite)’ will be projected onto the museum’s walls, and Moonlite’s original letters will be on display. 

Hyde Park Barracks has a self-guided immersive experience using sanitised iPods and earphones. Its innovative audio technology will take you on a journey in the footsteps of the people affected by this place: male convicts, female immigrants and First Nations inhabitants. The tour is especially evocative after dark, and is the perfect complement to the evening’s ‘Queer Histories’-themed program, with its live music, talks, performance, art, food and a pop-up bar. 

Rosebery’s Archie Rose Distilling Company is Australia’s most highly awarded distillery, famous for gin, vodka and whisky. They are spearheading the pop-up bar for After Dark at the Hyde Park Barracks, including a drink on arrival included with your entry ticket. You can also buy a delicious and waste-free meal from the Oz Harvest Food Truck, with talented chefs creating delicious vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes on site and all leftovers at the end of the night redistributed to people in need.