As if there wasn’t already enough to get excited about on the eve of Sydney’s annual Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, we’ve just found out that this year’s parade will be graced with a massive float honouring late LGBTQ icon George Michael.
As Mashable reports, the lush mobile tribute will be the art-child of electro-pop DJs Paul Mac and Jonny Seymour, Sydney street artist Scott Marsh and the crew behind the DIY Rainbow group.
Mac and Seymour, AKA Stereogamous — two of Michael’s longtime mates and collaborators — will be spinning classic George Michael tunes all night under a centrepiece designed by Marsh, which will be a smaller version of the incredible ‘Saint George’ street mural he erected in Sydney last month.
YES, there will be a George Michael themed float in the 2017 Mardi Gras Parade. Sign up here to be part of it: https://t.co/sqw0ZgdWVp pic.twitter.com/X1YgU7gfoP
— Sydney Mardi Gras (@sydneymardigras) January 13, 2017
“George was obviously a trailblazer for our community and his death over Christmas was shocking,” DIY Rainbow’s founder James Brechney tells Mashable.
“We knew that float applications had closed by then so felt we had to change our concept to make sure at least one float honoured the life and music of George.”
The heavenly effigy of the Wham! singer will apparently be flanked by two giant candles, with clouds decorating the base of the float.
“It’s quite a spiritual creation and I’m glad I drove it down that direction. With the mural lit up it will nearly be like George is looking down on us,” Brechney says.
To boot, more than 90 dancers will don iconic ‘Choose Life’ shirts, plus fluorescent outfits inspired by Wham!, and there’ll also be “a smattering” of policemen, in a cheeky nod to Michael’s 1998 hit ‘Outside’.
“We feel these three iconic looks from George span his musical career as we want to honour everything he achieved,” Brechney says.
As you may recall, Michael was so stoked with a 2010 Mardi Gras float in his honour that he decided to stick around to perform at an after-party later that night.
And now in 2017, Saint George’s spirit will continue to watch over his fans and followers in the LBGTQ community as they all let our hair down this weekend.
‘Cause you gotta have Faith.
