Cheryl amongst pop stars and DJs to join this year’s festival, headlined by Ariana Grande
Updated 11 July
They revealed a chart-topping line-up earlier this year, headlined by Ariana Grande. But it turns out the Pride team had more up their sizeable sleeves, recently announcing a host of new artists; including ex Girls Aloud singer Cheryl, award-winning musician Emeli Sandé and singer-songwriter Tulisa (formerly of NDubz), who returns to Pride after performing in 2016.
Also taking to the stage is Ministry of Sound Classical, who perform orchestral reimaginings of the Ministry’s bestselling dance compilation The Annual. The live performance by a 50-strong London Concert Orchestra will feature nineties hits including Hey Boy Hey Girl (The Chemical Brothers), Sunchyme (Dario G), Insomnia (Faithless) and Right Here, Right Now (Fatboy Slim).
The DJ line-up, featuring the likes of Faithless and Basement Jaxx, has also been given a boosting with American record producer and house pro Sandy Rivera (aka Kings of Tomorrow) and female duo Maze&Masters, who’ll bring their underground party vibes to the Depot Stage on Sunday night.
The all-new Pride Live, which makes its debut at Piccadilly’s Mayfield site this year, will feature several performance spaces and a huge outdoor area called The Yard. Cavernous indoor ‘Depot’ will host DJs and dance acts, while The Concourse will host a street food market, bars and another stage area hosting pop-up performances. The platforms of the station will be home to a funfair.
Grammy and Brit Award winner and honorary Mancunian Ariana Grande will take the headline slot on Sunday, joining a four-day line-up featuring: Years & Years, Bananarama, Chelcee Grimes, Becky Hill, Liberty X, Louisa, Youngr, Pixie Lott, Four of Diamonds and transgender German singer songwriter Kim Petras.
DJs and dance music performers, meanwhile, include Basement Jaxx, Nicky Siano: Hallelujah Disco, Gok Wan, Rhythm of the 90s, We Love Pop, Jodie Harsh, Hercules and Love Affair, K-Klass Live and Faithless.
Manchester Pride Festival is the flagship event of Manchester Pride; one of the UK’s leading LGBT+ charities, which has raised and distributed over £1.5million to related causes since 2003. This year’s festival (23-26 August) will be made up of Manchester Pride Live, the Candlelit Vigil, the Superbia Weekend, the Gay Village Party, Manchester Pride Parade and Youth Pride MCR. BAME and women’s events are also currently being developed.
See the full Pride Live and festival line-ups below….
MANCHESTER PRIDE LIVE
Saturday 24th
Emeli Sandé
Years & Years
Kim Petras
Louisa
Lady Leshurr
Youngr
Gok Wan
Basement Jaxx (DJ set)
HEDKANDI 20th Anniversary Tour
Freemasons w/ Katherine Ellis
Jodie Harsh
K-Klass Live
Sink the Pink DJs
Rhythm of the 90s
Sunday 25th
Ariana Grande
G-A-Y presents Cheryl
Ministry of Sound Annual Classical
Tulisa
Bananarama
Faithless (DJ set)
Nicky Siano's Hallelujah Disco
Becky Hill
Four of Diamonds
Chelcee Grimes
Hercules and Love Affair
Bongos Bingo
We Love Pop
Maze&Masters
Gay Village Party
Liberty X
Danny Beard
Saara Alto
Pride Live tickets for Sunday have sold out but Saturday (from £34.50) and weekend (from £69.50) tickets are still available here
MANCHESTER PRIDE FESTIVAL CALENDAR
THE GAY VILLAGE PARTY | Gay Village | 23-26 August
Promising the ultimate village street party un Manchester’s famous Gay Village, this Pride staple will see community performances in Sackville Gardens, plus markets and parties across the village’s venues. Ticket prices for this event are subsidised by Manchester Pride to help deliver a safe, community pride celebration.
Day tickets from £10, available here
THE SUPERBIA WEEKEND | Citywide | 23-26 August
The (alcohol-free) Superbia Weekend is the charity’s alternative to traditional hedonistic Pride celebrations. Its free-to-attend programme will include film screenings, cabaret, conversation, community workshops, new art and a free post-Pride Parade party. Headlining the weekend is the North West premiere of Deep in Vogue, a compelling documentary on Manchester’s vogue ball scene; featuring performances from Honey Dijon and House of Ghetto, and followed by a voguing afterparty.
Free
MANCHESTER PRIDE PARADE | Starts at Great Bridgewater Street | Saturday 24 August
This year commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, the Pride parade invites LGBT+ people and allies to come together and march through the city centre. In 2018, the parade saw 150 entries, equating to just over 10,000 participants in floats and walking entries from businesses and community groups across the region.
Free
MANCHESTER PRIDE LIVE | Mayfield Depot | 24-25 August
A brand new addition to the festival taking place in Mayfield, just a short walk from The Gay Village Party; see full details above.
YOUTH PRIDE MCR | YES | 24-25 August
A new addition to the festival for 2019, this 14+ event for young LGBT+ has been developed through engagement with young people from across Greater Manchester. The event will be made up of two different elements over the course of two days - Free Yourself and Know Yourself.
Free
THE CANDLELIT VIGIL | Sackville Gardens | Monday 26 August
As ever, there’ll be a reflective end to the celebrations, as attendees take a minute to remember those lost to the HIV virus and the challenges that that LGBT+ communities still face today. Sackville Gardens, home of Alan Turing and the Beacon of Hope, turns into a sea of flickering candles as the party comes to a close.
Main image: Sophie Muller
