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“Leather, Fetish and Fantasy are much more mainstream now than they used to be” says Festival Manager Alex Schoeffel, “it’s definitely not just for the over 35’s or just hardcore enthusiasts anymore. You will see that in the program that we have created and that is where the Melbourne Leather Pride program is different to previous festivals that have existed”
This will be the first year of Melbourne Leather Pride, a completely new alternative lifestyle and sexuality festival that draws upon the sexiest exponents of the arts, music, community groups, workshops and parties, and has already garnered substantial support from Melbourne’s Leather and Fetish community, and most reputable events organizers and retailers.
One of the most exciting events to happen as part of the festival is the search for Mr Leather Australia and New Zealand. Over the past months, every major city in Australia and New Zealand has put on their own search to find a candidate. During Melbourne Leather Pride, they will all come together to compete for the ultimate title. The winner of the competition will be going to Chicago to represent Australia in the infamous International Mr Leather competition.
The festival also includes the Birthday of Melbourne’s premiere leather party, Beyond Black, as well as playing host to WoofClub. The arts are also well catered for with a wild range of visual arts events including a fetish photographic exhibition sponsored by Lecurzia De Sade, and the Australian launch exhibituion of the internationally renowned Bad Behaviour Calendar.
For those who are more into experiencing and participating, there is a fetish expo, as well as a range of workshops and play parties for every sexuality.
“The events in the program are carefully selected and screened to ensure that they directly relate to and are relevant to the community that we are trying to represent and cater to” explains Schoeffel “ Authenticity, or at least a sense of it is vitally important to us, and it’s important to those who attend too.”
“Get excited Melbourne” says Schoeffel enthusiastically, “This is a festival for Adventurous… it is unapologetic about it’s celebration of diversity.”
The demise of the previous fetish festival entities since 2005 has meant that Melbourne has not had a fetish festival for the past two years. Well, that’s all about to change.
Here are some of the must see highlights of the 2008 Melbourne Leather Pride program:
Preview some of the featured MLP exhibitions by clicking here.
For full details of these events, check out our extensive What’s On guide by clicking here.
MELBOURNE LEATHER PRIDE TATTOO COMPETITION
THE OPIUM DEN – 176 Hoddle St, Abbotsford
Friday SEPTEMBER 12
Inked men and painted ladies unite as the festival really kicks off with one of the most exotic flesh fests you will ever see. Great Prizes, Great Bodies, Great music.
From 9pm (All inclusive)
MELBOURNE LEATHER PRIDE FETISH EXPO
FITZROY TOWN HALL – 201 Napier St, Fitzroy
Saturday SEPTEMBER 20
Fully Licensed – Shows on the hour – Stalls – Giveaways
Grand Show at 4pm Tix $12 presale – $15 at the Door
10am – 7pm (All inclusive)
MR LEATHER AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
COLLINGWOOD TOWN HALL – 140 Hoddle St, Abbotsford
Friday SEPTEMBER 26
The best men in leather compete for the National title.
Melbourne Leather Pride welcomes: Mr Queensland Leather, Mr Sydney Leather, Laird Leather Man, Sircuit Leather Man, Mr Eagle Leather, and Mr Urge New Zealand.
MAY THE BEST MAN WIN !!
Starts 7pm – $10 general admission
(for table bookings call: 0408 598 957)
FETISH EXPO AFTER PARTY
FITZROY TOWN HALL
Saturday SEPTEMBER 20
Hosted by MC Poly Filla and featuring Fancy Piece. Come party into the night.
8:30pm onwards (All inclusive)
SLAVE AUCTION
LAIRD HOTEL – 149 Gipps St, Abbotsford (03) 94172832
Saturday SEPTEMBER 20
The Ultimate Gay Charity Bachelor Auction. The Hottest guys, the hottest prizes, and maybe your very own personal slave. Come support the longest running gay charity fundraiser in Melbourne now in it’s 19th year.
Starts 9pm – $10 Men Only
House of IQ
ABODE – 374 St Kilda Rd, St Kilda 0412510424
Saturday SEPTEMBER 20
Styled to suit an Intelligent Queer crowd with a relaxed dress code giving you the comfort to dance your ass off with DJ’s Beaker (Syd), Steve Punch (UK) and Jon Montes (Spain) IQ’s outrageous hosts ‘Theo Saurarse and Antonio Bandanas’ will dazzle and entertain you
11pm – late. Members: $10 / General:$15.
BEYOND BLACK – THE BEYOND BIRTHDAY
Geddes Lane Nightclub Complex – King Street Melbourne
Saturday SEPTEMBER 13
The signature Melbourne Leather Party.
Dress Code: Strict Leather
From 11pm (all inclusive)
WOOFCLUB
Club 80 – 10 Peel St Collingwood, (03) 94172182
Sunday SEPTEMBER 21
Melbourne’s favourite members leather party.
The Durty Dance Dogs return to where it all began.
Further details: http://www.woofclub.com
Start: 1pm
DEMON LEATHER Theatrical Showcase
Dungeon Warehouse
Thursday SEPTEMBER 11
The Dungeon Boys show you their best new gear and how to wear it. Contact Dungeon Warehouse as this event fills quickly.
L&D Photographic Competition – Exhibition Launch
Palookaville
Friday SEPTEMBER 12
Photographers from around the country are exhibiting their works of fetish on film.
From 7pm.
Mezzanine at Abode
ABODE – 374 St Kilda Rd, St Kilda 0412510424
Friday SEPTEMBER 12
Step inside the comforts of the lounge room or shake it up in the intimate settings of the decks room of Abode.
Jon-E and Ms Catatonic take you on a journey through Deep/Progressive/Tribal House and Electro Infused Dance. The fetish art of GRAEME TAVENDALE is on exhibit.
From 10pm. (Dress Smart) Pansexual
BAD BEHAVIOUR CALENDAR Exhibition Launch
Dantes Upstairs – Cnr Gertrude St & Napier St, Fitzroy (03) 94172468
Saturday SEPTEMBER 13
Travis De Jonk and Ross Brownsdon return with the follow up to the critically acclaimed Bad Behaviour ‘08 calendar. Bring in the fetish year for ‘09 with one of our most eagerly awaited Arts events
From 5pm (all inclusive).
Courtesy SameSame.com
Tags: Kinks & Fetishes, Recreation