Live Review: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert @ The Domain

It’s gay Christmas. 

Thousands of ear-to-ear smiles flock to The Domain, ready to experience a once-in-a-lifetime show as some of the world’s most iconic pop royalty prepare to grace the stage.

The buzz is like no other. Punters of all ages flood the grounds in mesmerising waves of rhinestones, sequins, and colour, setting the air alight with laughter and excited cheers.

Our first esteemed performer of the evening, Deborah Cheetham Fraillon, Yorta Yorta woman, soprano, composer, and founder of the Short Black Opera, casts a hush over the crowd as her soaring, operatic vocals leave everyone in complete awe. Pure, goosebump-inducing high notes and earth-shaking vibrato struck the audience to its core.

Deborah Cheetham Fraillon by Daniel Boud

Before the audience had a chance to know what hit them, the satin-draped soprano steps back into the smoke and the stage transforms with screens of vibrant colour and pulsing beats - Electric Fields are next on the bill.

The duo joined by a troupe of dancers turn the energy up to 11. Zaachariaha Fielding’s iconic power vocals belt over a blast of funk disco beats, performing this year’s official WorldPride anthem We The People.

In an interview with ABC Radio National, Fielding explained the simple message behind the song: “We represent people, that is what the whole song is about. We want to know where we are going as a people, who we are as a people, we need to look at ourselves.”

“I think everybody should have a bit of pride in who they are.”

Electric Fields by Daniel Boud

Now that the party had been well and truly started, tonight’s stunning hosting pair Casey Donovan and Courtney Act step out from the wings, the adored drag artist cloaked in none other than a plume of metallic balloons (the first of many dazzling outfit changes for the two across the evening).

The hosts announce to a sea of rapturous cheers that this year’s Sydney WorldPride marks the first WorldPride in history to sail to the southern hemisphere. And by the palpable joy coursing throughout The Domain, it’s clear Sydney is proud to host.

Courtney Act ducks away momentarily to return to the stage in glittering gold, sans balloons, kicking off a full musical number, pulling out all the stops for a completely camp spectacular. Impeccably synchronised choreography, flurries of feather fans, ballroom dancing, lifts, flips and all, framed in a flair of flames and fireworks - the memo was definitely go hard or go hard or go home.

Courtney Act & Casey Donovan by Daniel Boud

Courtney Act Broadgay by Daniel Boud

Kate Wickett, CEO of Sydney WorldPride, then stepped out before the crowd in a roaring blaze from her Dykes On Bikes entourage, thundering across the stage. Met by resounding applause, as well as a loving heckle by fashion influencer and queer activist Deni Todorovič in the front row, “Yesss Mumma K!”, Wickett delivered a heart-melting speech before welcoming the next act, Australia’s Eurovision entry of 2022, Sheldon Riley, accompanied by the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir.

Kate Wickett by Daniel Boud

Sheldon Riley by Daniel Boud

Riley offers a tear-jerking ode to the 78ers, the marchers of Australia’s first Mardi Gras in 1978 who through their fight, paved the way for the beautiful celebration we get to enjoy together today. With footage from Australia’s earliest years of Mardi Gras splayed across the screen, Riley’s powerful performance, amplified by the grandeur of the choir, honoured Australia’s history of queer activism in a magnificent spectacle.

And what would a WorldPride Opening Concert be without a drag lip-sync extravaganza? The kings and queens did not disappoint, descending onto the stage in a sensational splendour complete with glittering cowboys, flower wigs, and full crowd choreography to get the groove going again.

Drag Spectacular by Daniel Boud

Before the next performance, the screens turn to host the faces of some of the world’s adored queer icons, sending their shoutouts and well wishes to Sydney WorldPride, including Billy Porter, Katy Perry, Trixie Mattel and Jennifer Coolidge, sending the audience into an absolute spin.

Our co-host Casey Donovan returns again, this time in a shimmering cascade of flamingo pink satin, belting a breath-taking rendition of the Bob Dylan classic Make You Feel My Love. As an emotional tribute to the passing of marriage equality in 2017 - a year that while cemented in triumph, still bears a scar for the Australian queer community who battled tirelessly amidst degrading resistance - Donovan’s unmatched vocals brought a glassy twinkle to countless eyes in the crowd.

But now, it was time for celebration.

Jessica Mauboy by Daniel Boud

Australia’s pop powerhouse Jessica Mauboy arrives in an entourage of hot pink and a waterfall of curls flowing down her back, opening her set with her infectious party-starter Glow. Charging into a pulsing performance of Automatic, Mauboy is in her element, freely flying through vocal acrobatics and non-stop choreography. She has the crowd in her sparkly gloved palm. 

Smashing out hit after hit, the energy doesn’t dip even for a moment as Mauboy electrifies the audience with crowd-favourites Running Back, Been Waiting and Burn. Mauboy reaches in for the heartstrings for her passionate ballad, Little Things, before cranking the dial up once more with her 2013 banger Pop A Bottle (Fill Me Up) and for the finale, her 2018 Eurovision Song Contest stunner We Got Love, embracing the air with open arms as transcendent harmonies soared over the enraptured crowd.

One would think the party would end there, but the night had so much more to go. Ben Franklin, former Minister of the Arts, took to welcoming the next act - a showcase of Australian ballroom culture featuring the almighty House of Silky, House of Luna, and House of Slé. In a fierce display of voguing, fashion, and sheer elegance, the Houses proceeded to perform their hearts out, flaunting the astounding talent nurtured by Australia’s ballroom communities.

Mo'Ju by Daniel Boud

Next up, we have acclaimed singer-songwriter Mo’Ju bringing in their irresistible groove Change Has To Come - a message befitting of tonight’s celebration while we revel together this evening in our progress in equality and acceptance as a nation, there is so much change still yet to come.

Smoke billows onto the stage and the speakers blare as hyper-pop sensation Charli XCX bounds out solo in a black leather skirt and bra, rainbow fur sleeves and pink go-go boots - the British pop princess has arrived. Her monumental presence alone on stage is staggering, bouncing from one side to the other with mind-blowing energy, batting her mega-hit collab with Icona Pop I Love It right out of the park. Two backup dancers join her for 1999, but the three together deliver the same intensity of a full stage. 

Right before her next track, Charli takes a moment to address the audience.

“The queer community have kept my career alive, and I feel so understood in this space and I owe everything that I have to all of you. So thank you so much.”

Charli XCX by Daniel Boud

Showcasing her range as an immaculate performer, Charli, her face sparkling with sweat on the big screens, gives it all she’s got, bopping her way through Boys. Full steam ahead through the super-charged choreography, Charli doesn’t miss a note or a beat, sending the audience into a dancing frenzy with her 2022 album favourite Beg For You, before the cult-adored Vroom Vroom, performed once again completely on her own, then closing the set with a high-octane run of Unlock It (Lock It).

And now, the moment everyone had been waiting for. The lights bathed the stage in a golden glow and out spilled a troupe of dancers as her pop majesty Kylie Minogue glided out onto the Sydney stage to greet her expanse of adoring fans, near hysterics as they screamed from the bottom of their lungs. For anyone who dares to discount a woman in music after she pushes 30, the 54-year-old music supreme, also titled Australia’s highest-selling recording artist of all time, was a force of nature, leaving the audience in utter awe with every move.

Kylie Minogue by Daniel Boud

Neck to toe in a black and blue bedazzled jumpsuit, Minogue set the crowd into a full disco fever with Spinning Around. The coursing beats of Get Outta My Way are next to follow as Minogue flawlessly dances about the stage, with any freeze frame capturing an impeccable stature of poise and control. This is a pro still undoubtedly in her prime. 

The stage lights became a twinling galaxy as Minogue kicked off Supernova from her 2020 album DISCO, before winding it back to the start of the millennium with Your Disco Needs You. 

“I just want to say your energy and being here with you here tonight is so amazing. And just hearing you like that takes me back to, well, many occasions but back to 1994. It was a lot sweatier than this though because it was indoors but I’m so happy to be here with all of you tonight.”

Slowing the pace, Minogue hypnotises with her sultry number Slow Down And Dance With Me, sending the audience into chaos with every side smirk. The beat winds the crowd up once more as iconic ‘La la la’s echo across The Domain - Can’t Get You Out Of My Head has every single punter scream-singing along.

And then, the grand reveal, Minogue’s jumpsuit is pulled away to reveal a stunning sheer blue gown, sparkling as if she is the ocean itself, and the concert finale All The Lovers brings the night to an all-time high, as Dannii Minogue appears next to her sister in a matching pink outfit. It’s safe to say - the crowd loses its mind at the surprise. The superstar sisters perform together before rejoining centre stage for a long hug, singing side by side in each others’ arms. There couldn’t be an arm in the crowd without goosebumps as together, the Minogues cheer: “World Pride - we love you!”

Dannii & Kylie Minogue by Daniel Boud