Bimini, one of the headliners of this year’s Manchester Pride Festival, has pulled out of performing due to the event’s main headline sponsor.
The drag artist, who placed as runner-up on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, said in a statement this week that they ‘cannot in good conscience perform at this year’s event’.
Bimini wrote that the ‘tough decision’ had been taken because of Manchester Pride Festival’s headline sponsor Booking.com, which is alleged to have profited from the occupation of Palestine (it’s been reported that the platform had listings in the Occupied Palestinian Territory between March 2021 and May 2023).
They said in their statement that ‘as an artist and activist, I stand for justice and accountability’.
Bimini is a familiar and popular face at Manchester Pride, having also nabbed a triumphant headline spot last year.
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The line-up for Manchester Pride 2024 also includes Sugababes, Jessie J, Eurovision star Loreen, Rita Ora, Katy B and Keala Settle, alongside a staggering list of LGBTQ+ performers and talent.
Bimini is the fourth artist to pull out of this year’s huge celebration, with BollyWitch, Felix Mufti and Dan Chan also refusing to perform for similar reasons relating to the event’s headline sponsor.
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Booking.com has said it’s ‘incredibly disappointed’ to head that Bimini has pulled out of Manchester Pride Festival.
Manchester Pride, the charity behind the huge August bank holiday festival, added that it ‘respects and understands’ Bimini’s decision and added that it continues to ‘engage in meaningful dialogue’ with Booking.com.
Bimini said in their statement: “After careful consideration, l’ve made the tough decision to withdraw from headlining the Friday night at Manchester Pride this year. This choice is not taken lightly; I deeply value the Manchester community and the celebration of love and diversity that Pride represents.
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“However, after learning of allegations against one of the event’s sponsors, Booking.com, I have decided I cannot in good conscience perform at this year’s event.
“Booking.com list vacation homes in disputed territories and has been blacklisted by the United Nations Human Rights Council as a company that has human rights violations concerns.
“As an artist and activist, I stand for justice and accountability. Bimini”
A spokesperson from Booking.com said: “We are of course incredibly disappointed, but we continue to engage with Manchester Pride on this topic to help understand the context behind our position.
“We firmly believe that it is up to travellers to decide where they want and need to go. Our role is to ensure that people can make an informed decision that’s right for them, and that includes accurately labelling listings in areas that are disputed or affected by conflict.
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“We also remain steadfast in our commitment to making travel easier for everyone, regardless of who you love or how you identify, and to our many partnerships with organisations like Manchester Pride that share in that inclusive vision.”
In a statement shared with the Manchester Evening News, David McGovern, the Chair of Trustees at Manchester Pride, said: “We respect and understand Bimini’s decision to withdraw from the Manchester Pride Festival. Manchester Pride has always valued the principles of freedom and liberation, and we honour each individual’s right to protest in their own way.
“The team at Manchester Pride stands in solidarity with all those suffering from the devastating war in Gaza and all the innocent people subjected to violence in Palestine and Israel. At our core, we value liberation and believe nobody’s free until everybody’s free.
“After extensive discussions with Booking.com to understand their stance and actions regarding accommodation listings in occupied territory, we are continuing to engage in meaningful dialogue with them and our other sponsors.”
David also explained that, as a charity, Manchester Pride must utilise commercial revenue streams to fund their vital events, community work, and other charity objectives.
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He continued: “Manchester Pride and the LGBTQ+ community have a long, proud history of protest. We fully recognise, respect and support any artist’s decision to perform or not perform at the Manchester Pride Festival and we continue to stand by, facilitate and champion our communities’ right to protest.
“We are a listening charity, we continuously engage with our communities to ensure our programme of activities and grant-making meets the needs and priorities of intersectional LGBTQ+ people living in Greater Manchester. We continue to consult with our artists and communities to be able to provide authentic, meaningful support in the run-up to our vital celebration of LGBTQ+ life.”
Moulin Rouge The Musical is heading to Manchester for the first time EVER
Daisy Jackson
For the first time ever, smash hit show Moulin Rouge The Musical is heading to Manchester on its debut world tour.
The multi-award-winning spectacle has announced an eight week run of shows at the Palace Theatre.
Moulin Rouge The Musical is set to bring ‘a world of splendour and romance, eye-popping excess, glitz, grandeur and glory’ to Manchester next autumn.
The musical, based on Baz Lurhmann’s revolutionary film starring Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman, features more than 70 hit songs from across 160 years of music.
Audiences will hear everything from Offenbach to Lady Gaga as the Palace Theatre stage is transformed into 19th century Paris.
The musical is set amidst the unparalleled extravagance and beauty of the iconic Moulin Rouge nightclub, where the space beneath the red windmill is filled with bohemians and aristocrats, boulevardiers and reprobates.
It follows the tale of lovesick American writer Christian and the subject of his affections, Satine, the star of the Moulin Rouge.
Their glittering love story is halted by the nightclub’s host and mastermind, Harold Zidler, and the Duke of Monroth, who wishes to buy the Moulin Rouge – and with it, Satine.
The all-singing, all-dancing cast also includes starving artist Toulouse-Lautrec and tango dancer Santiago, along with a full line-up of Can Can dancers, musicians, and more.
This is the first time ever that Moulin Rouge The Musical has performed in Manchester, landing at the Palace theatre on 20 August 2025.
The show has won a whopping 10 2021 Tony Awards (including Best Musical), an Olivier Award, and masses more.
Carmen Pavlovic for Global Creatures, producer of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, said: “It is thrilling that the Manchester Palace will host Moulin Rouge! The Musical next year as part of its world tour.
“Manchester is such a welcoming, lively and culturally vibrant city, world renowned for its rich artistic and musical heritage.
“A city also known for defending free speech and liberty of opinion, so we know that the bohemians and artisans of the Montmartre will be embraced with open arms. We can’t wait to welcome Manchester to the Moulin Rouge!”
Casting is still to be announced.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical will come to the Palace Theatre Manchester between Wednesday 20 August and Saturday 4 October 2025. For information and to be first in line for tickets, sign up at moulinrougemusical.com
Magical new illuminated nature trail to light up popular Rochdale lake this autumn
Thomas Melia
Those autumn walks are going to be better than ever, as a brightly-lit nature trail is hitting Hollingworth Lake this October.
Known for drawing visitors from all over Greater Manchester and the north west, this Rochdale country park is set to host an environmental art experience suitable for all ages.
Running from Thursday 24 October to Sunday 27 October 2024, walkers can expect the skies near Hollingworth Lake to be lit up by a magical variety of lanterns and light features inspired by animals, insects, and the surrounding wildlife.
Titled Wild Wanders, the event will be completely free, and is the creative genius of Rochdale Borough Council and international outdoor arts specialists Walk the Plank – with funding from Arts Council England and the Garfield Weston Foundation.
300 local school children, community groups, and artists have helped make the trail come to life.
This is a full sound and visual experience, as alongside the bright lights and captivating displays will be a soundscape of school children‘s voices describing their ambitions for a more environmentally-friendly world.
The event aims to show people what it could be like to live in a world that is biodiverse, carbon neutral, beautiful, and sustainable.
Advanced booking is advised, and visitors will have the option to select a 30-minute time slot between the events opening hours each night.
Parking and toilet facilites will be available on site, with accessible spaces for blue badge holders able to be requested when booking tickets online, and visitors can also purchase drinks and snacks from the nearby The Woodlands Cafe before or after the trail too.
A magical new illuminated nature trail will light up a popular Rochdale lake this autumn / Credit: Rochdale Borough Council
“This will be something we’ve never seen before, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to another world,” teased Councillor Sue Smith, who is the cabinet member for communities and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council.
“There will be something to captivate all ages, including hands-on elements and a kaleidoscope of colour featuring fire gardens, flowers, moths, stilt walkers, lanterns, woodland animals and much more.
“It will be bold and magical, so don’t miss your chance to get free tickets when they are released.”
Wild Wanders will run from 6:30pm to 9pm on 24 & 25 October, and 6pm to 9pm on 26 & 27 October – with free tickets available to book from 10am on Monday 23 September here.