Let's get this party started...
But in a chill way.
IT’S THE ASSFEST M24 LAUNCH PARTY!!!
As the weather turns chilly and bush festival season comes to an end, we're bringing a little glimmer back to the city.
Think picnic rugs, firepits and twirling (hoops, floggers, bodies) as well as live performances by Kitty Obsidian and Infernal Desire Machine!!!
We're feeling kinda sentimental about this evening. Both Kitty and Eve are of First Nations ancestry, and it feels beautiful to be opening the festival on land. This years ASSFest has a distinct ecosex flavour - celebration of food / nature's bounty will be an ongoing (accidental) theme.
This will be a very chill (hopefully not too chilly Melbourne) evening to mingle with ASS community - facilitators, assistants, sponsors, helpers and participants - before we drop into deeper spaces together. We’ll be kicking off at 7 and wrapping up at 11ish so everyone can get to bed early (it’s a school night, and also we don’t want to wear you out ;p)
This is very much a grassroots / cocreation event. If you have resources you would like to offer the party, let us know! We'd love a few extra extra fire pits and a sexier sound system! Bring some blankets!
LAUNCH PARTY ART
KITTY OBSIDIAN once broke a mans nose with their boobs!!!
We'll try to avoid serious injury at our Launch Party.
ABOUT KITTY OBSIDIAN
Fierce, fat and fAborigional!
Kitty Obsidian is a proud Australian First Nations performer & staple in the cabaret community travelling worldwide! Hailed as aggressively queer, this non-binary finery picks up tag lines, admirers & accolades no matter where they go.
Teacher and mentor at Bottoms Up Burlesque & Pole School school, Kitty has created the Haus of Obsidian, an all BIPOC, queer drag family dedicated to mentoring and uplifting fellow artists. VIC NAIDOC LGBTIQ+ person of the year 2022, GLOBE award finalist for contribution to the arts 2023: Kitty loves to bring their award winning brand of activism to their art. In addition, they are known for being a public speaker and educational facilitator for queer and trans rights, disability and body acceptance and on the interseconality of this with their indigenous culture.
Back from their EU tour, they have been gifted with such lines as "the demon from down under" and "the they/them wrecking mayhem."
Specialising in sideshow & fetish burlesque, Kitty is a lifelong kinkster. Working in the fetish community since they were legally allowed to, they have been an educator, events creator & host all over Australia. Dubbed 'the jewel in Melbourne's kinky crown' by Melbourne Rubber they often work alongside other kinksters to provide premium fetish performances, skillshares & events.
Beguiling and badass, Kitty has been performing in one way or another for over a decade. Their wicked grin & golden fangs will seduce you to the dark side. Watch out - this kitty has claws!
LAUNCH PARTY ART
Australian School of Sexuality founders Eve X & Sai Jaiden Lillith regularly perform intense erotic rituals in Melbourne & Sydney as Infernal Desire Machine. They'll be doing some live sex magick to open the festival portal...
ABOUT INFERNAL DESIRE MACHINE
We are the Infernal Desire Machine.A wild and wyrd fusion of shibari, kink, ritual, dance, burlesque and performance art. Honouring tradition whilst playing with the edges.
After performing together for four years, renowned shibari rigger Sai Jaiden Lillith and flesh artist Eve X have formalised their creative union. The shows of 2023 have been "spell-binding", "incredible", "world-class shibari"... and 2024 is gonna be even wyrder and wilder.
Raw, theatrical and punk, the magic is flowing freely. Our style is deeply communicative and connected. We fuq with power.
Come. Witness.
A gentle reminder that all festival participants will be invited to our Launch Party, regardless of whether they are attending the full weekend or a day of workshops, however only attendees of Saturday’s workshops (day pass or weekend pass) will have access to the Temple Night.
With dripping anticipation,
ASS
