‘Cherry Hellodies 7: South of Heaven’ coming to Coney Island

A one-of-a-kind spectacular that combines heavy metal, death-defying stunts and sideshow is returning to Coney Island.

On Aug. 1 at 9 p.m., “Cherry Hellodies 7: South of Heaven” will make its way to the sideshow stage at Coney Island USA. This year promises to be bigger and better than ever.

“I think that Hellodies is insane with taste. I like to do insane with purpose, with direction. But not just to shock because I can. I think that’s like my main thing, not to just be crazy because I can be crazy. There’s a direction and a meaning,” said Miss Cherry Delight, Brooklyn musician and creator of Cherry Hellodies. “It’s important to know that the show does not take itself seriously.

This year’s lineup includes Pearls Daily, Boya Baddie, Echo Thorn, Queerly Femtastic, Artina Darkly, Désirée De Sade, The Trickster Bruises, Faux Pas Le Fae & Aurora North. This year’s headliner is Wild West legendary performer Chris McDaniel, whom Delight credits for her beginnings performing at 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,” said Delight. “I’m very excited.”

“It’s a departure for me cause I’m a more traditional act, so it’ll be a wild, wild time,” said McDaniel. “I was honored to be asked. I’d do just about anything for Cherry.”

This will be the first time McDaniel has performed at Coney Island in about 10 years.

“I’ve missed Coney quite a bit, and it’s wonderful to be coming back to the city. I haven’t been back in quite a while, so it’s gonna be great,” said McDaniel.

Like in years past, all acts will be accompanied by Delight and her band, featuring Melinda “Melfire” Porto on backing vocals, singing her favorite covers.

“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. “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.”

Delight’s Hellodies series has run annually, with the exception of the peak COVID years, and no two shows are exactly the same. For Delight, having a diverse cast was incredibly important.

“It’s very important to me to keep Hellodies diverse. It’s very important to me all the time as an Asian performer; it’s always important for me to always showcase people who are super talented, and from all different kinds of ancestry,” said Delight.

This year will also feature a tribute to Chuck Varga, a friend of Delight and a founding member of GWAR and The Sexecutioner from 1985 to 2022, who has metastatic prostate cancer.

“Chuck is a huge inspiration and a mentor of mine, and I love him very much. 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,” said Delight.

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.

“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,” said Delight.

Tickets for “Cherry Hellodies 7: South of Heaven” are available for $30 ($35 day of) at https://www.coneyisland.com/event/cherry-hellodies080126. You must be 18+ to enter, 21+ to drink.