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Note: Meme Gold is Vada‘s August cover star. Image courtesy of Meme Gold and Your Dad Sells Avon.
Get ready as Your Dad Sells Avon launches in Manchester on 24 September 2022. Based at the popular Star & Garter with a slew of familiar names, YDSA looks set to bring new heat to Manchester’s LGBT+ nightlife.
Expect lots of techno, lasers, fabulous apparel and nipples. DJs on the night include influencer, dancer and designer Meme Gold, AKA The Queen of Cool; and This Guy DJ, who plays at some of Manchester’s coolest raves.
The 90s-style rave will feature an all-inclusive line-up of trans, non-binary and POC artists and influencers, hosted by Alexa and Ali.
Iconic model Alexa has gained a huge following online through collaborations with brands such as Doll Beauty, Invisalighn and Balmain. She is currently the face of the Sensorium Beauty by Alexis Stone line.
Ali is a male go-go dancer and the organiser of this event. Having been branded “The King of the Gogo Boys” and named “1 of 7 upcoming queer artists of colour in Manchester”, Ali uses his platform to elevate and create opportunities for other artists.
“How exciting it is to liven up the rave culture in Manchester and sprinkle it with some queerness. Just what the city needed,” says Nik Denton of Toolbox Recordings – one of the city’s most respected DJs.
Other entertainers on the night include performance artist Gert – best known for their unique style of dancing and provocative looks – who is currently holding residencies at Albert’s Schloss and HomoElectric.
And finally Harry, who is a member of the trophy-snatching vogue collective, The House of Blaque. He is currently featured in the latest Burberry campaign.
George House Trust will be present and collecting funds on the night. There will also be a spectacular 5,000mw laser show by laser specialists company MSL.
On coming up with the night, promoter and organiser Ali said he was motivated by the absence of people of colour and trans and NB people working in venues in and around The Village, or being visibly advertised on posters, and so decided to make a change.
Growing up gay and Middle Eastern in Manchester in the 90s and 00s, Ali hardy ever saw anyone that was like him being shown as in a positive light – especially after 911 – so he decided to take matters into his own hands and created YDSA.
YDSA exclusively hires and promotes from minority groups within the LGBT+ community, while paying them fairly and creating a safe space for everyone to dance and have a lovely time.
More information
Tickets are onsale now from the @YDSAevents insta shop, YDSA website, Skiddle and Fatsoma.
Additional benefits for ticketholders include:
- 10% off at CloneZone Manchester
- 10% off at the JOCK websites: jockparty.com and jockparty.shop
- 20% off at jockboxunderwear.com
- 20% off at any ladies treatments with Elliot at Tone MCR hair salon
- 20% off any treatment at the King Street Grooming Salon, Manchester
- £1 from each ticket sale is donated to the George House Trust in your name
Find out more about the artists on their socials: @alistopit @memegold @alexa.allana @gertbebs @invuharry @thisguy.dj.
