2025 Midsumma Carnival Artists

After hosting the Midsumma 2025 Program Launch, we are so excited to bring back Adam Noviello as a headliner performer for Midsumma Carnival! Adam is a nonbinary singer-songwriter and actor, described by Mama Alto as “The long lost love child of Troye Sivan and Lady Gaga”, and was recently named by Triple J as 1 of 10 Queer Artists To Discover Before They Blow Up.

Cerulean is one of Naarm/Melbourne’s most dynamic and vibrant conceptual performers, bringing a refreshing cloud of excitement and pleasure to the stage. As the current reigning winner of the national Miss First Nation pageant in 2021 and the Supreme Queen pageant at Sydney World Pride 2023, she is set to propel her way into shaping the future of drag. With 4 years of drag under her belt, she’s performed and hosted at various festivals, clubs and community events around the nation.

You can catch Cerulean in an intimate but upbeat evening of First Nations performance and discussion in Blak & Fabulous at Pride of Our Footscray Community Bar on 31 January.

Image: Joseph Mayers 

Alex is a regular at one of Melbourne’s longest running queer parties CLOSET as well as LUST, Homo Erotica and Barba. You’ll catch him regularly at a variety of venues around Naarm including Revolver Upstairs, Poof Doof and Sircuit. He's had the pleasure of spinning tracks in Perth, Sydney and Hobart with a recent appearance at the Sydney Opera House.

Image: Matto Lucas.

DJ ENN is a regular of the Australian queer club scene calling Naarm/Melbourne home. Covering a multitude of genres; from hands-in-the-air disco campery to filthy tech & intimate progressive dark rooms – his sophisticated musicality distills down to an infectious taste in groove no matter the intensity or genre.

In 2024, he supported Fedde le Grand at the Finale Mardi Gras party as well as opened for Client Liaison on their national Club Liaison tour in Brisbane. He also opened for Trixie Mattel on the debut of her Solid Pink Disco party in Australia in 2022.

Dani Leever is a genderqueer nonfiction writer from Naarm. They're a staff writer at MTV and they're currently the Online Deputy Editor at Archer Magazine. They write about gender, mental illness, pop culture and queerness. Outside writing, Dani performs as a genderbending drag DJ called DJ Gay Dad and have performed at stages around the country, including at Mardi Gras, Midsumma and Laneway Festival.

Sugar Plump Fairy (AKA Gerard Frank Long) has been DJing in Melbourne and beyond for the last 20 years and currently runs one of the best parties in town called Bruno Disco. Former incarnations include his run as promoter and resident DJ at The Outpost and MARY! (A Gay-ass Disco for Every Body). His favourite genres are underground disco & house, and has played support to the likes of DJ Spen, Ron Carroll, Prosumer and Sandy Rivera. He’s also played pretty much every queer venue around town.

The Demon Twink of Smith Street. Green Room Award Nominee. Drag cabaret artist. Transgender man. Highschool teacher. Florian Wild is the MONSTER! Playing at Chapel Off Chapel 29 Jan - 2 Feb.

Hosting the Sports Precinct throughout the day, then dashing to the Picnic Stage to host Lip Sync Limelight, Frock Hudson is our hostess with the mostest! Catch Frock Hudson during Midsumma at Frock's Melodic Mondays at Grouse, and Frock Hudson's Storytime Sing-a-long at the Victorian Pride Centre 23 & 25 Jan.

Gogo Bumhole is the drag gremlin that excites, entices and frightens audience. Gogo was birthed into this reality in 2020, and has slammed themselves onto every queer stage they can find including The Tivoli (QLD), Brunswick Picture House (NSW) and Woodford Folk Festival. They've returned from a 2024 Europe tour performing at All Together Now and Electric Picnic (Ireland), Same Heads (Berlin) and NACHTLICKER (London). You may also know them as their other performance persona and show SEWER RAT GIRL, and from their recent smash-hit wrestling club night HOLE-MANIA in Magandjin/Brisbane. Get ready to shake some ass with them this Midsumma Carnival. 

Greg Gould is one of Australia’s most exciting rising stars, captivating audiences worldwide with his electrifying performances, incredible vocal prowess,  and infectious charisma. Fresh from headlining prestigious events like AAMI Park Stadium Pride Cup, Chill Out Festival, Darwin Pride, and Sydney World Pride, Greg is not just setting trends — he’s reshaping modern soulful pop music.

Two-time Icelandic Eurovision star, Hera Björk, embarks on her first Australian tour. This vocal powerhouse shares her candid stories of life in the crazy Eurovision bubble. Join Hera for a not-to-be-missed intimate evening of camp comedy and cabaret, plus a Euro disco to follow the show, in Hera Björk - The Queen of Effing Everything.

Hollywould Star from Rupauls Drag Race Down Under S3 Top 4.  Classically trained singer accepted into the Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music. She’s been seen touring in Voss’s WERQ The World the world, major stage productions like The Book of Mormon and Porgy and Bess throughout Europe as well as slaying the floors of nightclubs around Australia. They most recently were seen performing as a Destiny Child Member with the Grammy Award winning Kelly Rowland at the 2023 Domain Dance Party for Sydney World Pride to an audience of 20,000 people. The first and only contestant to receive model management from the Drag Race Down Under franchise formally with IMG and now with CHIC. Hollywould shows off her skills as an accomplished performer, recording artist and DJ, into the hearts of people around the world. HollywouldStar.com

You can catch Home Grown Musicals Australia at Chapel Off Chapel on 31 January in a special concert that will showcase the immense talent within the LGBTQIA+ community, offering heartfelt performances that delve into stories of love, identity, struggle, and triumph. Each song is a testament to the diverse narratives that make up the vibrant fabric of queer life in Australia.

Hailing from her small country town of Tambo in central Queensland. She’s in the big smoke now and is on a mission to become a big star, sing with her idol Tina Arena and is a hopeless romantic that suffers from being enduringly delusional. Who can relate?! See her in Jacqui Randa Full Bloom Cabaret Show at The Motley Bauhaus, 24 to 26 January.

Melbourne Fringe Best Cabaret Award winning star Jens Radda: Skank Sinatra comes to Carnival to host the Picnic Stage. Jens Radda is an actor, singer, drag artist, and producer based primarily in Melbourne/Naarm, Australia, and tours both nationally and internationally. Skank Sinatra picked up a Cabaret weekly award at Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2024 and their show Madame Martha's Hush Cabaret, with Meg Hickey and Iva Rosebud, recently won the best cabaret award at Melbourne Fringe.

Photo by Aubrey Haive.

Jimi The Kween is the drag superstar of your dreams, combining top-class DJ sets, powerhouse vocals and a stage presence that will blow your wig off. Fresh off her USA, Europe and Australasian tours across 2024, Jimi TK is a personality with a skill set like no other. A multi-instrumentalist and multi-talented star who is reaching new heights following the release of her first 4 singles with plenty more to come. Jimi’s recent successes include shows with Diplo, Kesha, Paris Hilton, Bimini and Trixie Mattel and supporting the iconic Kylie Minogue in Los Angeles.

Johnny delivers a powerful performance in a testament to the artistry of drag kings, a niche within drag culture that has long fought for recognition and representation.
“Drag has become wonderfully celebrated in the mainstream thanks to RuPaul’s Drag Race, but in comparison to drag queens, drag kings are woefully underrepresented,”
“Kings are fighting to be seen and recognised in an increasingly commercial industry, and we are often dismissed as a lesser art form compared to our drag sisters.”
“Drag is for everyone.” Winning altimate.SHOWDOWN 2024 Johnny Gash says is more than just a title. “To me, holding this title means encouraging my community to continue to be louder and prouder than ever, and to hold each other tight.”

An immersive dive into the musical journey inspired by the Cotton Club Era. Get dressed to the nines and experience the electrifying rhythm with smooth velvety vocals accompanied by a myriad of emotions heightened by Band Orchestrator, Adrian Szondy. You can catch Joti in Blacknificense - The Cotton Club Experience at Chapel off Chapel on 24 or 25 January.

Following the success of his acclaimed show "He's Every Woman" and after taking a few years off, Justin Clausen is thrilled to announce his return with "Back in Business," a one-night-only performance at the Loft. Known for his extraordinary ability to forge deep connections with his audience, Justin is set to deliver a show filled with humour, heart, and unforgettable characters.

In her solo show debut, Liza's Good Judy, Manda Rozen-Flannery brings both Judy and Liza (yes, you read that right) to life before your eyes, capturing their dynamic spirits, “terrific” catchphrases and soul-stirring vocals.

The Melbourne Rainbow Band is a community/non-profit concert band providing an opportunity for musicians to develop their musical abilities in an environment free of prejudice and discrimination, and to promote the LGBTQIA+ community to the wider population. They began in 1995 and currently have more than 60 members drawn from all walks of life. The MRB exists to provide a safe and enjoyable space where individuals can come and create music. They aim to perform at a strong standard, combining their musical skills and community representation to provide a unique and special experience for all.

Once again, Nick Dorward will be hosting the popular Dog Show on the Picnic Stage from 3pm. Register your furry child prior to 2:30pm on the day at the Picnic Info Tent (located in front of the Picnic Stage).

Nic's Tip: Register early to avoid the queue later!

Pride of our Footscray is a colourful, diverse venue in the heart of Footscray. Featuring entertaining drag shows, a lively dancefloor, and an ornate cocktail lounge, Pride (or PooF) is a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community and our loved ones in the inner west. We are represented at Midsumma Carnival by three of our resident queens: Gloss, Tilly Capulet, and The Birthday Girl.

A high-femme kaleidoscopic cyclone of extroversion and light perversion, Ruby Slippers lives by the motto that you’re either Dorothy, or you’re the twister. She's campy yet vampy, a clown-in-a-gown, burlesque supervillain and drag disruptor. A serial name-dropper, she’s shared the stage with Amanda Lepore, Melanie C, Brooke Candy, Pabllo Vittar, The Boulet Brothers and Boy George, and Michelle Visage has called her work “incredible”.

Ruby will be hosting the Main Stage at Midsumma Carnival.

Returning to Australia for the first time since 2006, Tony and Olivier-nominated actor, Samuel Barnett, joins us onstage to share his excitement about the upcoming tour of Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen as part of Midsumma Festival 2025 at Arts Centre Melbourne.

Sunday School provides emerging DJs from Naarm an opportunity to have a spin surrounded by our gorgeous queer community. Launched in December 2021, Sunday School has facilitated the debut performance of some of Naarm’s most prolific queer selectors. Joining us for Carnival is: Stevie Ellis, Tavonga, Hanju and 2 Factor Authentication.

You can see The Huxleys' exhibition, Gender Fluids, The Huxleys, at the Victorian Pride Centre from 20 January to 8 February (with a talk at 6pm on 23 January), or see them live in Library Up Late x Midsumma at State Library Victoria on 6 February. 

With a comedic wit that could shred brie and a voice as smooth as honey, Tina Del Twist's talents have toured the globe to wild acclaim and applause, garnishing her iconic. Winner - Comics' Choice Award Melbourne Comedy Festival 2022. Tina is accompanied by Cameron Thomas. You can catch her in Tina Lets Loose at Grouse Melbourne from 30 January to 1 February.

"Oriental by birth, Western by training", Tong 桐 (he/him) stands out as one of Naarm (Melbourne)’s few Chinese queer house music DJs. Hailing from Northern China and now based in Naarm, Tong has honed his craft under the mentorship of industry greats and quickly made his mark on the local music scene. He resonates with the origin of House music (diversity, queerness and underground) and embraces diversity in sound, curating a music selection that spans from disco to techno, deep house to pop. His sets weave together the Chicago swing and jack, the New York glam, and the Detroit groove, infusing elements of soul, funk, jazz, tech, and acid to create a unique house music sound and soulful experience.

You can catch the Women's Circus in Small Acts of Resistance at Gasworks Arts Park from 5 to 8 February. Created by a female and gender-diverse ensemble from Women’s Circus, with members in their 50s, 60s and 70s, Small Acts of Resistance explores the need for hope in a world where protest and the voices of the disenfranchised are continually ignored. Blending inspiring circus and the soulful energy of live music and spoken word, they question why the lessons of the past are seemingly forgotten and how small acts of kindness, resistance, and hope can promote change.