The Big Weekend, on August Bank Holiday, will also see Gok Wan try his hand at DJing...
FALSE reports of a naked streak aside, Pride will nevertheless be spicing up August Bank Holiday proceedings, as Melanie C, aka Sporty Spice, has been announced amongst this year's headliners.
In an ‘exclusive event' presented by G-A-Y, the singer-songwriter will take to The Thomas Cook Airlines USA Stage; following in the footsteps of Will Young, Tulisa, MNEK, Judge Jules and Groove Armada.
Melanie C, who has somewhat astonishingly sold over twelve million records since her Spice Girl days, will be joined by relative industry newcomer Louisa Johnson - who became X Factor’s youngest winner in 2015 and has since collaborated with chart-topping electronic group Clean Bandit. Her debut album is due this year.
Manchester Pride's Main Stage
Saara Aalto
And Pride 2017 will have a double dose of the X Factor, as Johnson is joined by the 2016 series’ runner-up Saara Aalto. The Finnish pop singer and songwriter is a reality show regular, having placed second in The Voice of Finland and both 2011 and 2016 Eurovision song contests. It’s all paid off, however, with a five-album Sony deal including the likes of Sia.
Never mind looking good naked, fashion guru and LGBT icon Gok Wan will be showing people how to look good on the dance floor during the Big Weekend: turning nineties deep house and reggae as he tries his hand at DJing - alongside more seasoned disc jockey Shaun J. Wright.
Hercules & Love Affair vocalist Wright - also known for his work Stereogamous, Bell Boys, Bobmo, Kiki, Alinka, and System of Survival - will light up Gaydio Arena at the Pride event, which last year raised a record-breaking £149,000 for LGBT and HIV causes.
Tickets for the weekend, which also include the iconic parade and candlelit vigil finale, are now on sale from £20 at bigweekend.manchesterpride.com
