(Portland, ME) VIVA the Sensation, Portland’s dancing diva, bids Maine a fond farewell with a final showcase this Pride season.
The annual celebration of Queer revelry, spearheaded by notorious Portland bisexual, VIVA the Sensation, returns on June 6 with an all new lineup of incredible artists, now at Geno’s Rock Club in Portland. As usual, the event kicks off the Pride season, with this year’s party marking the bittersweet end of an era: the fourth and final DISCOTHIQUE (*) doubles as VIVA’s going away party, as the local star will be moving from Portland to Atlanta.
(*) DISCOTHIQUE [dis-co-thick]
n. A night of joy and dancing you’ll never forget; VIVA the Sensation’s annual pride and Portland pop culture showcase; an iconic irreplaceable party.
VIVA the Sensation’s Final Fond Farewell Fête
As always, DJ Red Tide will set the vibe for an incredible night, spinning dance tracks between acts. Dress to impress (yourself), and don’t forget shoes that free you to groove. Hosted by Prismatic Productions’ very own daddy, Aquarius Funkk, the final Discothique features performances from local drag legends Finn Gerring and Carmelita Foxx, music by Rexy Dinosaur, and an extra special farewell roast and sendoff toast to the headliner herself. VIVA The Sensation will take the stage with an electrifying set of original disco, edm, and pop songs. This powerhouse has performed for ecstatic audiences at Pride festivals, concert halls, for arts organizations, and community events at Bowery Presents venues. It is a visually arresting show with pulsing rhythms and soaring vocals over a “pristine mix of genres and styles… the ‘untamed girl’ perspective in the lyrics is inspiring,” as radio host SPARRO\^/HAWK described in a 2024 review.
About VIVA the Sensation
VIVA is the great-granddaughter of A.A. Thorne, a human rights advocate and the first person of African descent in the world to earn both bachelor’s and advanced graduate degrees conferred by a British University. This legacy informs VIVA’s values of civic participation. VIVA the Sensation has appeared in award-winning short films, commercials, feature films, is a singer and multi-instrumentalist; and is an Indigo Arts Alliance AIR, a Maine Arts Commission Project Grant Grantee; a Grantee of the National Endowment for the Arts American Rescue Plan; an alum of Re/Union: Re-Editioning: Black + Native Histories, a convening at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts; a Music to Life (funded by the Mellon Foundation) juried artist; a Hewnoaks AIR, and a SPACE538 AIR. VIVA the Sensation’s debut single, Goddess, written in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Roe V Wade, is now available on all streaming platforms along with her sophomore track, Want Me. Audiences eagerly await the release of her latest single, Live Like I’m Gonna Die, slated to hit streaming this spring. VIVA the Sensation is not just a singer backed by dancers, but an accomplished performer, unafraid to use the whole stage and express the music with her gigantic personality. She has been publicly and privately glamorous in Portland for so long that more than once the Time and Temp building has flashed her name, and even the bus stops are emblazoned with her face. The show has moments of humor, of poignancy, and a sizzling aesthetic that audiences always remember, made extra special by this ultimate goodbye party. Follow the journey online at patreon.com/seevivasing, or find VIVA on Instagram.
Venue Information
Geno’s Rock Club is located at 625 Congress Street in Portland. Tickets are just $15 for general admission. Doors open at 8:00 and the show begins at 9:00. For more information, please call (207) 747-5594 or find Geno’s Rock Club on Facebook.