After more than a year hiatus, Athens-based drag artist and promoter Alex Suarez will descend upon the stage with a cast of local and regional performers ready to reclaim the spotlight.
“Deja-Brew” is scheduled to take place outdoors on Friday, April 30 at Athentic Brewing Company, with shows at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.. There’s no cover charge, but if you’ve ever been to a drag show, you’ll know that cash tips are strongly advised. The venue will be enforcing masks.
Presented by Femme Haus, the evening’s lineup is set to include performances by Suarez with DJ Quincy, Athens artists Cola Fizz and Miss He, Atlanta-based Brigitte Bidet and Knoxville, Tenn.-based Harri Scari.
“Femme Haus is just me,” Suarez told the Banner-Herald, who founded the local production company in February 2020 with the intent of reaching beyond the downtown bar scene through hosting LGBTQ+ events, art shows and classes.
After having to cancel Femme Haus’s first shows at the Caledonia Lounge and Sister Louisa’s Church due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Suarez is looking forward to finally getting started. Pre-pandemic, she performed three or four times a week, earning enough to be considered a full-time gig worker and preparing to go on tour.
“(COVID) threw a wrench in everything,” said Suarez. “I couldn’t claim unemployment through anyone, so I got a day job. I did a couple digital shows, but mostly I was just doing my makeup in my room, taking pictures and calling it a night.”
After visiting the Athentic Brewing Company’s outdoor and indoor space earlier this year at the behest of DJ Quincy, Suarez found the venue open and enthusiastic about partnering with Femme Haus for a drag show.
“We are super excited to become more involved in the LGTBQ+ community, and (Deja-Brew) is only part of the start for us,” said Kimberly Wise, Athentic’s marketing and events coordinator. “(Our venue) has always been about creating a community spot that is inclusive, safe, and welcoming to everyone.”
The brewery’s commitment echoes that of Femme Haus, which is dedicated to creating safe spaces for gay, trans, straight, male, female and non-binary people in the absence of a gay bar or resources that aren’t involved with the University of Georgia.
“I’m trying to be that resource, or at least be someone who can point people in the direction of those resources,” said Suarez.
Athentic Brewing Company is located at 108 Park Ave. in Athens. Visit https://athenticbrewing.com/ for safety information and the Deja-Brew Facebook event page for show details.
