How did grouse party get started?
Grouse was an idea between myself and musician, Romy Hoffman. We met when I made Macromantics badges for her, and bonded over punk and rap music. We kept getting really frustrated by the monotonous vibes at gay nights back then, and craved the kinds of queer parties we’d both experienced in the North West of the USA. We decided to stop being those jaded punk-lezzos complaining in the corner, and started our own party.
What have been some of the highlights of Grouse?
Alice Springs: This year, the highlight, hands down, was travelling to Alice Springs for Pride Carnivale and DJing at their after party. We were gob smacked by the number of interesting queers and left-of-centre legends we came across in such a small town, smack-bang in the desert. It inspired me to start taking Grouse on the road more, to even more remote locations.
Katy Perry: The biggest LOL moment was when Katy Perry rocked up to Grouse in 2010. She got among the ladies, dirty-danced and created a stir. She asked me for a mic to give a shout-out to the crowd, and Romy and I kinda looked at each other and grimaced… and told her we didn’t have one. I often wonder what she would have said (something about kissing girls and cherry Chapstick), but I think it’s cool we didn’t let her take over our party and take the mic.
The Julie Ruin: We were so psyched to DJ at The Julie Ruin show, having both been so heavily influence by Riot Grrrl as teens and still to this day. The show fell soon before Romy relocated to the USA, and it was a really special full-circle moment for the two of us; going from headbanging to Bikini Kill anthems at the divey beginnings of Grouse, to a sold out show at The Corner Hotel supporting one of our feminist heroes.
Tell us about the 2015 Midsumma grouse lineup.
This lineup is a total dream team. I’m really proud of it being such a local lineup this time too; a mix of our favourite artists who’re slaying the biz right now, and DJs who are like family friends to Grouse.
