THE MAIN EVENT
Liverpool Pride
For first time ever, two Premier League football clubs (Liverpool and Everton Football Clubs) will be represented in a Gay Pride March when the UK’s biggest free Pride event outside of London, Liverpool Pride 2012, gets under way this weekend.
But don't expect to find Steven Gerrard or Darren Gibson swapping football studs for those of a more exotic kind, the two clubs will be represented by staff, supporters and members of the LFC women’s team. Maybe next time.
The festival is going nautical for its third annual celebration of all things LGBT to be held this Saturday, 4 August , taking place at The Pier Head and throughout the city’s Stanley Street Quarter.
The day begins with the Liverpool Pride March, which gives the LGBT community the chance to parade through Liverpool’s streets in a tide of colour, music and celebration, all in line with the sailor theme.
The march will leave William Brown Street at 12pm, participants are asked to muster from 11am. It will then process along Lime Street before taking in Queen Square Bus Station and Whitechapel.
No sign of Stevie G
The Stanley Street Quarter promises "fabulous entertainment" throughout the day (from 2pm – 8pm) on a much larger scale then ever before.
Hosted by Desperate Scousewives’ Layla Flaherty, the stage’s line up features DJ sets and performances from each of the Stanley Street Quarter’s bars.
At the Pier Head meanwhile, the “It’s Liverpool” stage has headliner performances from Marcus Collins, Liz McClarnon, TOWIE’s Jessica Wright and 2 Shoes.
Other highlights of the day include an LGBT market, 2 for 1 tickets on Mersey Ferry river cruises and a Health and Wellbeing zone. There will also be open Zumba classes for all the family to enjoy! Food and drink stalls will be posted around both festival sites.
Eberle Street will have entertainment from the GBar and Garlands DJs throughout the day from 2pm -11pm.
On Sunday 5 August events taking place including the Big Gay Brunch at Tate Liverpool and Gay Gardens at the Bluecoat. The Pride Weekend will be brought to a close with the Love Music Hate Homophobia
event at Leaf on Liverpool’s Bold St. This chilled out evening of music and entertainment will comprise of purely homegrown talent and will raise funds for the Michael Causer Foundation.
*Liverpool Gay Pride 2012, Sat-Sun, Aug 4-5, Liverpool city centre. Free.
BEST OF THE REST
A raft of crafts in Liverpool One
Discover hundreds of one-off creations including jewellery, prints, photography, textiles, ceramics, soaps, candles, accessories and much more at the Liverpool ONE Arts & Craft Fair, this Saturday and Sunday.
It's a monthly thing, as Liverpool ONE showcases some of the North West’s finest artists and designers.
Situated on Thomas Steers Way, the promenade adjacent to the Hilton Hotel and various bars and cafes, the fair sits between the bustling heart of Liverpool ONE and the hive of activity at the Albert Dock and the Pier Head.
And when you have finished there, you can go up to The Beach, Liverpool ONE's fabulous chunk of the Caribbean on Chavasse Park, and survey the majesty of your purchases.
*Liverpool ONE Arts & Crafts Fair, Outdoors on Thomas Steers Way (next to the Hilton hotel), Sat/Sun August 4/5, 10.30am – 5.30p. Free.
Elbow Jane
Elbow Jane
To celebrate the long-awaited arrival of summer folksters Elbow Jane will be playing an outdoor concert in aid of charity tonight, in the grounds of St. John The Divine Church, Frankby
Bring your own refreshments and seating. Hot food available during the interval. They say it will be a lovely evening in a beautiful setting (that's provided the rain stays off).
*Elbow Jane, St. John The Divine Church, Frankby, Frankby Road, Wirral CH48 1P. on Friday 3rd August from 7.30 p.m, £12 on the door or 0151 678 6155.
St Lukes
Nothing Left To Burn
Unique to Liverpool this weekend a new event as Team Robbo and Yu share their guerilla art tactics with Urban Strawberry at St Luke's (Bombed Out) Church; bringing together an East-west fusion of “old school rules”, whatever that is.
The day features a host of live performances, thus:
1pm Hope Jazz Workshop
2pm David Mellor (poet)
2.45pm John Hall
3.30pm William Maitland
4.15 pm Falling for Elise
5.00pm Pagoda Guzheng Ensemble (ft Zi Lan Liao , USL and Cecilia W Yu
5.45pm Room 3
6.15pm Dusty and the Termites
7.00 pm Rufus Hok
During the afternoon - around 5pm-5.30pm - there will be a special live art installation. Models will move among the audience and question your relationship with your bank .... but this will be with a little twist if YU and Team Robbohave anything to do with it.
At 7.30pm a bit of a change of pace - the action moves outside the building for a special ceremony before a special screening of The African Queen at 9.00pm.
And why are USLdoing all this? Well, "YU is the driving force behind the I Protest Arts Charity - an organisation that enables people around the world to express themselves without fear. In freedom. The way art should be. And that's why we want to be involved,” they say.
Fully licensed bar. And maybe some food too.
*Nothing Left To Burn, Saturday, August 3, St Lukes (Bombed) Church, Leece Street, Liverpool L1. Please make a generous donation at the door.
