Macy Rodman performing at the inaugural Bushwig. (Photo: TheThinkTheater Queer Photography)
Bushwick’s vibrant drag community is gearing up for the third annual Bushwig Festival—a celebration of all things drag that has grown from a small, one-day affair with just 30 participants to a weekend-long extravaganza featuring over 160 acts.
“Bushwick is just becoming gayer and gayer,” Bushwig 2013’s emcee Macy Rodman told B+B last year—and clearly that influx is continuing apace. Over the last couple years the neighborhood has carved out a place for itself on the queer nightlife scene, as a spot where alternative, outrageous and unpolished drag performers are welcome.
This year’s Bushwig is set to be a no-holds-barred celebration of that inclusive, subversive spirit. Featured drag artists include Bushwig co-founder Horrorchata, West Coast transfer Merrie Cherry, the legendary Penny Arcade, plus many, many more. Saturday will also be seeing the appearance of a surprise guest from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6.
An eclectic array of performers will provide live music, while a dozen or so DJs (including a “special secret guest” on Sunday) will be keeping the beats fresh. Vendors Lucy Roux and Hot Dog on a Stick (no really, they’re talking about actual hot dogs) will be hawking delicious goodies, while bad-taste-embracing designer BCALLA and the Museum of Drag and Gender will also be setting up shop.
Some of the proceeds from the Fest will go towards the Radical Diva Grant—an independently run arts grant aimed at queer artists—while the rest will be dedicated to the hunt for a permanent full-time drag space.
And good news for all you cool moms and dads of Bushwick: the Bushwig dames are all for equal opportunities, so you can bring your young’uns as well. Under 12s get in free before 6 p.m., and the organizers promise to keep the festivities PG (ish) pre-9 p.m. I double dare you to bring a stroller.
Bushwig 2014 will be held at Secret Project Robot (389 Melrose Street, off the Morgan or Jefferson L stops), on September 6-7 from the early afternoon til the early hours of the morning each day. A single ticket is $20 while a weekend pass is $30. Tickets are available here, while a full line-up can be seen here.