Drag Night at Bar 379

Drag is back at Bar 379 on May 17th, featuring Axel Lexa, Jenny Tall, Lexy Moore, Magnolia Knox, and Sahira Q, with music provided by DJ Isla.

Audience members can catch performances by Axel Lexa, Jenny Tall, Lexy Moore, Magnolia Knox, and Sahira Q, with music provided by DJ Isla at Bar 379 on May 17th from 8 p.m. until late into the night.

“I like Bar 379 because it’s a lot more intimate than many other venues. It’s small and cozy which is nice. Big venues can be intimidating,” said one of the featured drag artists, Magnolia Knox.

They began performing with the Haus of Q in July of 2022 after watching a show by Betty Baker and Sahira Q at the Gordon Best Theatre.

“I told them I wanted to do what they were doing, and two weeks later Sahira put me in drag and I went to an open stage at the now closed South Eatery Tap and Grill,” Knox explained. “I performed Roar by Katy Perry. It was super fun and felt very freeing so I kind of just stuck with it. Being in drag just makes me feel like a bad bitch and it’s fun to play with gender and explore the dark spaces of my brain I don’t like to visit.”

In an effort to give space to locals who want to get their own start in the Peterborough Drag scene, Knox is also hosting a Drag Open Stage ahead of the evening event. Called Blooming Thorns, it will take place at Dreams of Beans at 138 Hunter Street starting at 5:30 p.m. Following the Open Stage, Haus of Q performers will migrate to Bar 379 to prepare for the show.

Knox said that audience members at the May 17th Drag Night can expect to see comedy, burlesque, clownery, and drama. “I think drag is amazing because no two performers are alike. Everyone has their own spin on things and unique style that is really magical,” they said. “I will also be doing a new number that explores what it is like being a survivor of sexual trauma and how that can shape our self-image, so I hope people can look forward to that.”

Admission to Drag Night at Bar 379 is free until 9 p.m., or $10 afterwards