GAYLETTER

London-based queer electronic musician and vocalist Billy Lloyd is back in NYC for a performance at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater, one of our favorite places to see shows. When Earl Dax interviewed Billy for GAYLETTER he used the pronoun “he” but I just noticed on the Public Theatres’ site they use “they.” I don’t know which one I should use, so I’m not going to use either. I’ll just call Billy, Billy. In 2014  2014, Billy released Billy’s first self-produced EP ‘Who ( / ).' Cut to 2016 and Billy has released ‘Who ( /// )’ the 3rd instalment in the trilogies of EPs. Billy’s music is very relaxing. It’s introspective and often very haunting. Billy’s cover of David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ is like floating on a cloud with an IV of Xanax in the arm. Billy is performing for one night only. We suggest you go see Billy. It’ll be good for your blood pressure!  —tom

This event sounds super duper lovely. It’s a celebration to the life of Willi Ninja, one the people who, if he didn’t start the Vogue movement, he certainly brought it to the attention of the rest of the world. Willi who died in 2006 at the age of 45 was the head of the House of Ninja. His house was more than just a collection of performers, it was a home to all kinds of talented kids who had nowhere else to go. The generous and nurturing father figure is who Willi should be most remember as. This Friday night the The Bronx Museum of the Arts will host a night of celebration for Willi. “Various DJs will provide music, a photo/video montage will be screened, a performance by the NYC Chapter of the Legendary House of Ninja followed by a brief awards ceremony will take place hosted by some of Willi’s beloved dance and fashion family.” The organizers tell us that Willi’s “memory lives on in each of us who aspire to greatness despite the challenges we all face.” I couldn’t have said it any better than that.  —tom

If you are a big fan of Saké, like me, this documentary might interest you. This is an advance screening of the film, co-presented with the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), before it airs to the public on PBS. It’s followed by Q&A with the producer Masako Tsumura at the Asia Society New York. The film was directed by the NYC filmmaker Erik Shirai, he was a cinematographer for the Travel Channel series No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain. The description goes like this: “Go behind the scenes at Japan’s Yoshida Brewery, where a brotherhood of artisans, ranging from 20 to 70, spend six months in nearly monastic isolation as they follow an age-old process to create saké, the nation’s revered rice wine.” This doc seems promising, I read good things about it —  it won “Special Jury Mention for Best Documentary Director, at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival.” I go nuts and bananas for Saké, specially if it’s hot. Can’t wait to see how the real shit is made!  —Abi

I’ve always liked the name of the location for this party: “Secret Project Robot Art Experiment.” She’s nuts and bananas! Which is fitting for this party as it is also a little nuts and bananas...in the best possible way. “Come celebrate the end of summer with: BBQ + Happi hour until 7pm, cheap drinks all day and empanadas from the Empanada Lady.” Music is by some of our favorite people from around the world. There’s Abby, Bebe, Habibio, Mungo and DJ DJ DeSe. Secret Project is moving locations so this is the last chance you’ll likely have to party there. And as mentioned this is also the last Tortura party for the summer! They have a great backyard which will be open all night. There’s a million hosts listed for this event so I have a feeling it’s gonna be lit. Get outside and enjoy this nice weather while we still have it queen!.

We were in Fire Island last weekend and it was super crowded, that wasn’t a good thing as it’s always more relaxing with less people, but I guess if you don’t have to go to the only supermarket there, or the overpriced wine shop or to the “cafeteria,” then you can prob just chill at your house by the pool and ignore the crowds. I mean it was so basic there, this white man yelled at us because we were complaining that there were too many white generic men on the island: “If you’re gonna talk shit about white people in front of me I have to speak up!” he spat at us. I mean what an idiot. Now that I’ve let that out, I am so glad that this weekend BOFFO is throwing their second annual Fire Island Performance Festival on the island — they really need some culture there. Their program is very good. Some of the performers include Tyler Ashley, Xavier Cha with Rafael Reynoso and Adonis Vasquez, Eartheater, Fluct, Fragile (Wolfgang Tillmans), M. Lamar, Pearl (from RuPaul’s Drag Race), Casey Spooner, Ssion and many more. Expect “a weekend of performance, music, and dance made for the island’s unique social and geographic context.” We’re big fans of Wolfgang Tillman’s work and excited to hear about his “live band project” ‘Fragile’. It was founded in 1983 and will return at the festival 33 years later. It “involves musicians from three continents in varying constellations... I’d say if you are not already there, browse the schedule, take a day trip, bring some greens and try to ignore the basics!  —Abi

If it hasn’t set in that summer is ending, bitch, wake up! Labor day is two weeks away and a lot of queens are already wearing Pre-Fall. Sad, I know. But get over it. New magazines are going to hit the shelves soon, and so is some fresh art. To bring their summer exhibits to a proper-close, MoMA PS1 “opens its doors for a late-night celebration of [their] soon-to-close summer exhibitions. One of the city’s most anticipated art events, Night at the Museum will feature special programming organized by artist Meriem Bennani.” I haven’t been to the museum since the Art Book Fair (I worked one day at the fair and was like, OK, I’m good for another year) but with a Warm-Up every weekend and barely any rain all summer, PS1 has been busy. Their long-ass hosting committee for the event is a testament to the museum’s constant hustle: Alan Cumming, Jonathan Horowitz, Ryan McNamara, Cindy Sherman, Laurie Simmons, Alexander Skarsgård, Mickalene Thomas, Klaus Biesenbach and many, many more are included. Should be a fun event. The courtyard is such a great place to chill with a beer or a coconut water, so why not check this out for the night? August’s awful humidity seems to be behind us. Wear pants and finally leave your AC’d apartment!  —Chris Stewart