20 Years of Loose Ends · A Tracks of Our Queers Special

Hello, it is Hip Hop Ho.

I'm coming to you from beautiful Larrakia country to say a few words about Loose Ends.

My memory of the noughties, just as a disclaimer, is very hazy.

I do remember it was about 2007, 2008 was the first time I would have come down to Loose Ends.

And I remember there was about 10 to 15 people on a Sunday night dancing joyously to incredible music, lots of freaky, interesting people.

Everyone was so warm and lovely.

And, you know, from there, I think really we made it a habit to go.

It was every Sunday night.

It was what we looked forward to at the end of the weekend.

And me and my friends just had the most wonderful time time down there regularly.

I heard music down there that I'd never heard before.

I saw shows down there that I'd never seen before.

It was a real lesson for me in queer art and culture and something that has really shaped and formed me as an artist before I even knew that I was going to be an artist.

Hi, this is Aya Bertogno.

I

am

a

big fan of religiously since 2019, and I've had the pleasure of playing, I think, since that year as well, most years.

And if I'm not playing, I'll definitely just be there, dancing my ass off.

I remember my first ever loose ends was Mardi Gras 2019.

My friend and fantastic performer, Fox Luger, had invited me along.

They were performing in the side room in that glass window room that used to be there.

And I remember just being in absolute awe, like firstly seeing so many queer folk in the one space and then also watching J.D. Sampson perform.

Annabelle Gaspar, like the lineup was phenomenal.

It was just a really special experience.