White Out

Katherine Ellis, of Bimbo Jones and Freemasons fame, returns to Australia to headline Sydney’s newest party, White, at Marquee. 

Sydney’s gay scene is set to get shaken up by a new collaboration, bringing Europe and Australia together with a new season of events at some of Sydney’s most spectacular clubs. The next chapter starts on the Easter long weekend, as a mammoth White Party descends on one of Sydney’s leading new venues, Marquee at the Star Casino.

Organisers have secured the talents of UK dance diva Katherine Ellis, of Bimbo Jones and Freemasons fame, as the special guest headliner.

“I’m very excited,” Ellis tells SX. “I always love coming to Australia; I think this will be my fifth visit. I am looking forward to seeing everyone in white too – I love white parties.”

Ellis will be taking to a special themed stage alongside a hand-picked line-up of home-grown and UK DJ talent. “I will be performing some of my biggest hits and also performing my upcoming Freemasons collaboration called ‘Tears’,” she says. “I love the city; I now have wonderful friends and fans there too. I feel very lucky that Sydney is inviting me back yet again.”

Ellis is particularly excited to get our reaction to ‘Tears’. “At this point it’s all about that song,” she says. “It’s a big vocal, an emotional subject and the track is brilliant! We are working on the video over the next couple of weeks and hope to release it in April or May. Everybody seems to be loving it and I hope Sydney feels the same!”

Through her collaborations with The Freemasons and Bimbo Jones, Ellis has acquired quite the gay fan base. “I guess it’s more colourful in a gay club,” she muses. “People are more adventurous with their clothes, or lack thereof, and the themes and design are always impeccably executed. There’s so much talent in the gay community, I feel very blessed to have been embraced by you all.

“Great club nights are the same all over the world, however I must say the Sydney fans are exceptionally warm and up for it!”

Ellis is actually wearing her wedding dress on the night. “My husband Max, our kids and I have been living in our house for 12 years and in that time we have accumulated a lot of stuff!” she tells.  “Over the last year I have been de-cluttering and re-evaluating the usefulness and relevance of all this 'stuff' and having a clear out; so in the spirit of this cleansing process I am having my wedding dress made into a stage outfit for the White party! It’s a beautiful dress by IDOL, which aside from my wedding I’ve only worn once!”

Easter Sunday, March 31, 10pm, Marquee, The Star, Pyrmont. Tickets from $35 from www.juicedevents.com.au