The iconic Cherry Hellodies series is making a triumphant return to Coney Island USA on August 1 at 9 p.m. with its seventh installment, South of Heaven. This year’s show promises to be the most spectacular yet, featuring a lineup of daring performers and a tribute to a beloved mentor.
Miss Cherry Delight, the Brooklyn-based musician and creator of Cherry Hellodies, has crafted a show that is both thrilling and meaningful. “I think that Hellodies is insane with taste,” Delight said. “I like to do insane with purpose, with direction. But not just to shock because I can. There’s a direction and a meaning.” The show is known for its unconventional blend of heavy metal, death-defying stunts, and sideshow acts all delivered with a sense of humor and a touch of the absurd.
The Lineup: A Diverse Cast of Performers
This year’s lineup includes a diverse array of performers, each bringing their unique talents to the stage. Among the acts are Pearls Daily, Boya Baddie, Echo Thorn, Queerly Femtastic, Artina Darkly, Désirée De Sade, The Trickster Bruises, Faux Pas Le Fae, and Aurora North. The headliner for this year’s show is the legendary performer Chris McDaniel, whom Delight credits for her beginnings in Coney Island.
“Chris was one of the main ways that I got to perform in Coney Island because back when I was a little baby Cherry, I was his little cowgirl assistant on stage, holding targets and stuff for him with his whips and pulling tumbleweeds across the stage,” Delight recalled. McDaniel, known for his traditional act, is excited about the departure from his usual routine. “It’s a departure for me cause I’m a more traditional act, so it’ll be a wild, wild time,” McDaniel said. “I was honored to be asked. I’d do just about anything for Cherry.”
A Tribute to Chuck Varga
This year’s show will also feature a tribute to Chuck Varga, a friend of Delight and a founding member of GWAR and The Sexecutioner from 1985 to 2026. Varga, who has metastatic prostate cancer, has been a significant influence on Delight’s career. “Chuck is a huge inspiration and a mentor of mine, and I love him very much,” Delight said. “So this show is dedicated to him, and there will be a tribute to him in this show out of my love, and it’s just my official thank you to him for everything that he’s given me.”
The Music: A Fusion of Genres
Like in years past, all acts will be accompanied by Delight and her band, featuring Melinda “Melfire” Porto on backing vocals. The band will be playing a mix of genres, including some that are new to their repertoire. “We’re playing a couple of genres that we haven’t done in the past, not just your typical gothic and industrial adjacent stuff but stuff that’s a little outside of our typical wheelhouse,” said Justin Mathews, musician and frequent guitarist/collaborator for Delight.
Mathews also noted the growing audience for the show. “Every year it just gets bigger, and I think that one thing that has been gratifying for me is to see that there are regulars and there are newbies. I like to see the familiar faces, but I also like to see the ranks of those familiar faces grow.”
High-End Raffles and Special Features
This year’s show will also return with high-end raffles, including an original signed photo taken by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame photographer Len DeLessio. Delight encourages attendees to bring a group to the show, as it’s an experience best shared. “Bring a group to the show because it’s very fun. You’re gonna want people afterwards to look at each other and say, ‘Oh my god.’ You’re gonna need to talk to someone on the way home,” Delight said.
Tickets for Cherry Hellodies 7: South of Heaven are available for $30 ($35 day of) at Coney Island USA’s website. The show is open to attendees 18 and older, with alcohol service for those 21 and up.
