Club Quarantine (Club Q) is avirtualgay club based inToronto that began hosting URL (online) parties in early 2020 during theCOVID-19 pandemic.[3][4][5] Created by four friends, recording artistCeréna Sierra, DJCasey MQ, comedian Brad Allen, and digital creative Mingus New, Club Q began by hosting parties onZoom in March 2020.[6] In Ontario, full closures of all non-essential businesses were recommended by the province on March 16 2020.[7] Club Q's first online event took place on that same Monday, March 16, 2020, with a modest 12 attendees.[8] The Club Q Zoom event on March 17, 2020 featured a spontaneous livestick-and-poke session where a virtual club-goer got a tattoo reading "Club Q".[4] Later online events often saw 1,000 attendees.[4] By April 2020, Club Q had partnered withPAPER magazine (a collaboration called PAPER x Club Quarantine) to host a series of events.[9] Club Q hosted their firstIRL (real life) - as opposed to URL) event forHalloween 2021 at a membership basedco-working space called Eastroom in Toronto where 700 people attended. The IRL halloween event was called "Literally Dead" and was also live streamed to a Zoom audience.
On April 3 2020, Club Q celebrated the birthday ofChester Lockhart who hosted the party on Zoom. Performers at the April 3 online event includedDorian Electra,Charli XCX, Abhora, Santi Storm,HANA,Allie X,Alice Glass, and That Kid.[10]
Club Q on April 8 2020 featured performances byPabllo Vittar; DJS Nídia, Mazurbate (Matthew Mazur), and DJ MINAS; andDrag performers Rify Royalty and Louisiana Purchase.[9]
On April 15 2020, Club Q featured a liveDJ set byRebecca Black (ofFriday fame), who had recentlycome out asqueer.[11][12]Javiera Mena, Sateen, Himera, and Allysin Chaynes also performed at the 3-hour virtual event.[13]
On April 22, 2020, Mike Thornwell hosted the virtual party.Victoria Monét was a guest DJ, in celebration of her newestsingle at the time, "Dive".[14]Gia Woods, Dana Dentata, MEATY,Nar, JayJay Kings andDinah Jane performed at the April 22 event as well.[14] The night also featured a surprise performance fromNasty Cherry.[15]
Brendan Jordan hosted Club Q on April 29, 2020, whereBig Freedia,Uffie, Aluna (ofAlunaGeorge), Messer (Mitch Grassi), Casey MQ, Edge Slayer, and drag performers Junior Mint and Paris L'Hommie performed.[16][17]
Lady Gaga performed at Club Q via Zoom in June 2020, dedicating her performance toMarsha P. Johnson.[18]
American DJD-Nice also created an online party by the same name in March 2020 that saw over 100,000 people attend virtually viaInstagram Live, including celebrities likeKylie Jenner,Rihanna, andMissy Elliot.[19] DJ D-Nice's Club Quarantine played largelyhip-hop and rap music, while the Canadian Club Q plays a wide variety of music genres includinghyperpop.[19]