Event - Sniffing Velvet (2026)
Last Summer we made a series of short videos in which members of the LGBTQIA+ talked about how they feel in the cosplay scene. Matti, one of the cosplayers, dreamed of becoming a drag queen and gave some insights in the power that a costume and a persona can give.
That power was obvious once the stars of Sniffing Velvet entered the stage.
The baddest bitches in the house did what made them feel alive, good & proud. We should all be able to find something that makes us feel that way.
It was fun, there were feathers, booty & smoke and no profanities were shunned. There was a touch of anarchy, the same heartfelt anarchy that made the movie Priscilla, Queen of the desert one of very few enjoyable musical comedies. And most importantly: both the artists & the public had a great time filled with laughter and the possibility to be themselves without feeling judged.
▶️ All photos can always be found on/downloaded from my Flickr and here in this Album!
▶️ A "How to download stills from Flickr" tutorial was posted here.
▶️ Some highlights might go to Instagram, Threads or Bluesky.
▶️ A video might go to Clapper & to Tiktok
▶️ Buy Red Cathedral a whisky on Ko-Fi
▶️ Updates are on THE Facebook.
▶️ The Youtube channel has no new content (often Sony camera tips)
▶️ Give a follow to this young creative foundation: Deep Red Noise vzw/asbl
Or rather: give a follow & like everywhere.
The Sniffing Velvet photo gallery: (Click on the arrows on the side to scroll):
UPDATE: 50% of all images are edited & uploaded
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So now remains another question to ponder about: is there a fundamental difference between burlesque cabaret & drag cabaret? Could they mingle in a perfect world? Is one allowed to enjoy both?
Both are about empowerment. Both try to find edges and balance on there with humour and defiance. Both are frowned upon by the reactionary mass who is scared and indoctrinated (Just read the paragraph: The state of the world). Both revolt against a status quo that tries to suppress groups, genders, bodytypes, choices, freedom,.. and I have.. or rather: I reclaim the freedom to enjoy both.
And lest I forget: Bruges also has a Pride parade. Those in Antwerp, Hasselt and Maastricht I already covered, but Bruges is a new one.. and that shows what I said last year: Prides are still a necessity, seen the returning-from-never-been-fully-away-but-better-hidden-for-a-while animosity against the LGBTQIA+ community.
Namaste.
A direct link to this article: https://tinyurl.com/sniffingvelvet26
