IONA SMITH

What started as my first event 'SNEAKOUT'- a queer live music night, soon grew into something much bigger. The first edition was in a sold out 150 person venue, which comprised of mostly indie, rock and drag performances. ​A few months after my first event, I hosted “Pride is Not Over’ in Paradiso, which I organised in protest to the over commercialisation and inauthenticity of Pride Week, and the lack of FLINTA* representation on lineups. This edition drew nearly 1000 visitors, and was an overwhelming success, with a stacked lineup of bands, Dutch hip-hop icons, ballroom and local legendary DJs. The latest Paradiso edition ‘Save De Saarein’ sold 1500 tickets in only a few hours, and raised EUR 35,000 for one of the oldest queer bars in Amsterdam.​