Tegan and Sara to Headline Club Skirts Dinah Shore

Winnie McCroy READ TIME: 3 MIN.

Club Skirts Dinah Shore celebrates its 24th year by upping the ante with a star-studded roster of performers, including this year's headliners, pop stars Tegan and Sara. These Canadian lesbian twins are making a pit stop in Palm Springs on April 5 with their hit tour "Hearthrob," and the two look forward to making the desert hotter than hell!

"It is our first time attending and performing," said Sara in a recent interview with EDGE. "Our show will be high energy. Our job will be to entertain and ensure everyone has a good time. Generally we do 'the hits' at something like this... play the songs people love to hear and love to sing along to. We can't wait!"

The ladies said they would perform the majority of songs from "Hearthrob," which debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200. They are also thrilled that their single, "Closer" broke into the top 20 on the Pop Church, is currently on rotation on over 150 Top 40 radio nationwide, and week after week keeps a solid spot on the VH1's Top 20 Countdown.

"We were really thrilled about 'Closer' doing so well on the radio," said Sara. "As a band that has been around for a long time, we thought it was important to continue to expand our fan base and reach new people with this album. Radio is a big part of that for us right now. It hasn't changed our personal lives, but it really has helped us reach a new generation of fans!"

The mainstream hit has attracted a new crop of fans, and it hasn't hurt that Taylor Swift invited the girls to sing it wit her at one of her August Staples Center shows. Tegan and Sara were also picked by Dinah alumnus Katy Perry to perform at the "We Can Survive" benefit concert on Oct. 23 at the Hollywood Bowl. They will also play for an Amnesty International concert at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Feb. 9.

"We are very liberal and the rights of minorities are very important to us -- gay rights, a women's right to chose," said Sara.

The band followed up this success with their new track "Shudder to Think," which is on the soundtrack for the hit film "Dallas Buyer's Club." This perfect storm of hits has converged on the twins to transform them into a bonafide headlining act, which they say they love.

"For so many years we struggled to garner enough success to warrant that status and we cherish it now! We're very familiar with the event, although we haven't attended or performed at it in the past," said Sara. "By all accounts everyone seems to have a blast and we're delighted to be included."

Also included in the weekend's diversions are a comedy night featuring Fortune Feimster, Erin Foley and Gina Yashere, an opening party and Friday pool party with a performance by Evelyn Champagne King, a White Party featuring Iggy Azalea, a Cabana Girl Pool Party with band Hunter Valentine, the Saturday night Beach Ball, and a Sunday Wet and Wild Pool Party featuring singer Mary Lambert. All in all, these ladies are in good company!

"We have always been honored to have a strong gay following and performing at events like Dinah Shore are a thrill for us!" said Sara. "Being a sometimes marginalized community, I think its important for people to have a destination/event that shows the strength of our fraternity."


by Winnie McCroy , EDGE Editor

Winnie McCroy is the Women on the EDGE Editor, HIV/Health Editor, and Assistant Entertainment Editor for EDGE Media Network, handling all women's news, HIV health stories and theater reviews throughout the U.S. She has contributed to other publications, including The Village Voice, Gay City News, Chelsea Now and The Advocate, and lives in Brooklyn, New York.

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