ON August 30 last year, Confidential published an interview with Jackie Crozier, Festival Director for Manchester Pride, after she had announced that she was stepping down from her role. I spoke with Jackie whilst Manchester Pride 2011 was in full swing but other than memories of her time at the UK’s biggest Pride, got very little from her about her plans for the future.
Female artists, female fronted bands, female hosts and even female comedians will preside over the one day festival hosted at the Manchester Rugby Club ground in Cheadle Hulme
That all changed this weekend. Jackie Crozier, the one-woman Exocet missile, has announced that she is launching her own festival. The name, LadyRock, the idea, to bring girl power back to the 21st century. For Jackie it means bringing ladies and their lads together for good music, signed and unsigned, in one of the UK’s most musical cities, Manchester.
Female artists, female fronted bands, female hosts and even female comedians will preside over the one day festival hosted at the Manchester Rugby Club ground in Cheadle Hulme - an open air event for the second May bank holiday (remember your umbrellas).
Jackie Crozier - Photo by Dawn Kilner
Whilst standing in the corner of the city’s premier lady bar, Vanilla, I was witness to the first run of photos being snapped for the launch promotion and marketing. Lady Rockers and their Rocker Boys posed for the camera whilst wearing branded LadyRock tees. After observing some of the Lady Rockers, their asymmetrical hair and sleeve tattoos, I turned to Jackie and asked, “is it a gay festival?”
Apparently not, but a women’s festival which aims to invite ladies from all walks of life (and their male friends) to enjoy a day of entertainment in Manchester. Like Park Life but with heels. “It will be the biggest and the best women’s festival in the UK,” promises Jackie, “I’m really looking forward to it.”
The UK’s next ladies festival has been on the cards for a while, probably longer than Crozier will let on. Jackie’s stepping down from Manchester Pride was a shock to the system for Pride supporters because her role had become synonymous with Pride in Manchester and the vast growth of the event over the last four years.
Photo by Holly Cummins
Jackie told me, “I always said I wanted my own festival, I never thought it would happen”, which gives some indication as to why Jackie left Pride behind: it wasn’t her baby. Still, the decision wasn’t one taken lightly and it was only after a cup of tea and pep talk with close friend Heather Peace that Jackie got the nerve to chase after her dream and launch LadyRock.
Before signing off I begged for a hint of the line-up. My attempts were futile, "no exclusives for you there Jordan," said Jackie, "you'll have to wait until the tickets go on sale".
With an enviable black book and a few celebrity mates to fill the VIP area, it looks like Jackie is on to a winner with LadyRock. We’ll all have to find out this May. Tickets go on sale from March 1st.
For more information visit www.ladyrockfestival.com or follow LadyRock on Twitter @LadyRockFest
Follow Jordan McDowell on Twitter @jordanjmcdowell
