Over the dark side of the rainbow

FROLIC Dark Rainbow will offer a darker point of difference for Ballarat Frolic Festival in 2021.

From Friday, 11 to Sunday, 13 June, the fresh and “unapologetically queer” branch of the Festival is aiming to nudge country Victorian boundaries, while being edgier, bolder, darker, and wintrier than anything Frolic’s done before.

Festival director Jay Morrison said this adult take on the usually “community-minded, open and family-friendly” event will spark another unexplored corner of many peoples’ curiosities, and “push the envelope.”

“This is something that Australia and Ballarat hasn’t seen before. Some of the material may be challenging, but also fun, because this is about playing in the darker side of queer culture,” he said.

“Queer festivals, which we love being a part of around regional Australia, are often very similar and offer the same artists and people.

“This is something new for our Festival, and will show people in and outside Ballarat a little bit of a different side to the city. We urge you to come Frolic with us under the Dark Rainbow.”

Frolic Cabaret is planned at The Piano Bar. Aurora Kurth will host, and Adelaide Fringe award winning act The Leather Lungs will perform alongside local artists.

A mind-blowing black light disco, the Blänke Pop Dance Party, is set for Volta, while the Dirty Rainbow Immersive Art Experience will be held within former meat factory, the George Farmer Building.

“It will feature projections, performance art, confessions, songs of the dead, and mulled wine at Odin’s Feast. Enter in small groups, make a sacrifice, leave a convert,” Mr Morrison said.

Afterwards, the Dirty Rainbow After Party will be held at the Ballaarat Mechanics Institute with DJ sets and performances from The Huxleys and The Leather Lungs.

The Eastern will host A Pot of Solid Gold at the end of Dark Rainbow, putting on an afternoon of live music by Benedict, Blue House, and DJ Hot Wheels.

More drag acts, live theatre and music, and art shows will be added to the program in the coming weeks and months. Visit frolicfestival.org.