Friday, June 9, 2023

Utah Pride with Trixie Mattel + more! June 2nd - 4th, 2023

Last weekend the Utah Pride Festival kicked off Pride month celebrations! 2023 marked a more elevated experience for the Utah audience with performances from Icona Pop, Dragonette, Drama, Crystal Waters, Trixie Mattel herself plus more! 


Icona Pop hit the dance scene with their 2012 singles "I love it" and "All Night" and remained a fixture on the dance floor at club nights in the LGBTQ+ community ever since. The Swedish electropop duo are not a couple but they are both advocates for and icons in the LGBTQ+ community. The girls hit the stage from 10pm-11pm on Friday night DJing, singing their hits and sharing the stage with guest performer Ultra Nate for the tailend of their set. 


Trixie Mattel @ Utah Pride Festival 6/3/2023






The Friday night dance party kept going because up next was the biggest star of them all. Trixie Mattel herself closed out show day one with an 11pm  to midnight DJ set and yes,  she looked good and had us feeling gorgeous ourselves. 

She also ended up drawing the biggest crowd of the weekend by far!









Saturday's lightning delays didn't stop the music acts lined up that evening which included the OG gay icon, Crystal Waters, Canadian singer/song writer Dragonette and best friends from Chicago, Drama. 

Crystal Waters brought it to the stage with some fierce, flirty and even X rated dance moves during an extended rendition of her 1994 hit, "100% Pure Love." Her energy and enthusiam left the crowd in awe and riled up for more! 


Dragonette @ Utah Pride Festival 6/3/2023
photo by Nikki DeMartini




Dragonette followed and she's just as fun as I remember her. Without the backing band, Martina Sorbara held it down with only a DJ cranking out the tunes behind her as she worked the stage. Small
but mighty, she rallied up the crowd before bidding ado with her hit single, "Hello." 




Dragonette @ Utah Pride Festival 6/3/2023
photo by Nikki DeMartini















Indie crooners, Drama put their party pants on and hit the stage with a club set in the 11pm - midnight slot on Saturday night. Na'el Shehade and Via Rosa started out at the DJ deck, Shehade spinning while Rosa encourgaed her bandmate on as this was one of their first club sets. 

Drama @ Utah Pride Festival 6/3/2023
photo by Nikki DeMartini

While he didn't mix songs off their 2020 album, Dance Without Me, Rosa hopped on the mic for a more dancey version of their 2022 single "Don't Hold Back". She was jubilent as she swayed around the stage, happily engaging with fans as the duo's super chill vibe ended the night on a light note.
It was so fun to see them having fun up there. 


Drama @ Utah Pride Festival 6/3/2023
photo by Nikki DeMartini


Drama @ Utah Pride Festival 6/3/2023
photo by Nikki DeMartini






Icona Pop just released their first single in years "Shit We Do For Love". Dragonette released her first new album in six years last year and this year she's bringing Twenties on the road. "Feel the Same" is the latest from Drama and they'll be playing more club sets this Summer!






The party doesn't stop there, Pride is just getting started!

This weekend LA Pride welcomes thee hottie, Megan Thee Stallion and no it's not a fantasy, Mariah Carey!  


Next weekend San Francisco hosts their Pride celebrations and festivies!