DJ and producer David Guetta for Mardi Gras 2010!

French superstar DJ and producer David Guetta will headline the Royal Hall of Industries at Mardi Gras party 2010.

Guetta’s track Sexy Bitch, featuring Akon, is currently Australia’s number one single having replaced the Guetta-produced Black Eye Peas track I Got a Feeling. Both follow on the heels of the worldwide hit When Love Takes Over, featuring Kelly Rowland, which hit number one in 10 countries.

Guetta got his first breaks in the gay clubs of Paris in the mid-’80s, but really made a name for himself in the mid-’90s promoting parties at such renowned Paris hot spots as Folies Pigalle, Queen, Bataclan, Palace and Les Bains. He continues to delight his gay audience at events like Paris Pride.

New Mardi Gras says that they will have more announcements to make about the party in the weeks to come, including a headliner for the Hordern.

NMG admits that given the split between Parade and Party this year they recognise the need to ensure that the Party holds its own This year’s party will have a truly world-class line-up to ensure its success.

For more information see:
http://www.mardigras.org.au/

New Mardi Gras Seeks to Protect Naming Rights

As Mardi Gras is Australia’s premier gay and lesbian celebration, New Mardi Gras has taken steps to ensure that it stays that way.

Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is approaching its 32nd year, and what began as an act of defiance for gay equality and ended as a violent riot in 1978 has evolved into a powerhouse celebration of Australia’s colourful gay and lesbian culture.

New Mardi Gras (NMG) is to investigate establishing a separate organisation in order to protect its intellectual property which include the use of the name ‘Mardi Gras’.

The move was voted on by its members at its annual general meeting held on Wednesday at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts in Kensington.

It was one of two motions brought before the members. The second, a constitutional amendment that would legally bind the board to consult its members and hold a general meeting before implementing changes such as splitting the parade and party on separate weekends, was defeated.

It is hoped that the changes will result in a more colsultative stance to be taken by the new board of the NMG board.

Here's to a better year of Mardi Gras Celebrations!

New Mardi Gras admits mistake and elects new board

New Mardi Gras (NMG) has conceded that the reason for splitting the Parade and Party to separate weekends was due to a scheduling error with commercial partners and sponsors. The admission was made during the organisation's annual general meeting on Wednesday, held at Kensington, where a new board was elected.

Under intense questioning by members, the board said the split behind the two events was because of conflicting arrangements.

All members of the board were re-elected at the meeting, along with two new candidates: Lynne O'Brien and Michael Douglas. The election brings to eight the total number of board members. The re-elected board members include Joshua Keech, Tony Knight, Kirk Muddle, Rob Partos, Nicholas Parker and Steph Sands.

The 2010 Mardi Gras has a new format for 2010, lasting two weeks and punctuated by major events on three successive weekends – Launch at Fair Day, Parade and Party.

The key dates for the Mardi Gras Season are:
Launch/Fair Day - 21st February
Parade and post-Parade Event - 27th February
Harbour '10- 10 - 28th February
Party - 6th March