Manchester Pride Festival 2024 has announced its final headliner, with girlband icons Sugababes added to the huge line-up.
Rita Ora has also been announced as a special guest, joining Jessie J and Loreen on the massive billing.
The huge LGBTQ+ celebration will return to Manchester over the August bank holiday weekend, centred around the four-day Gay Village Party and the parade through the city.
Also added to the Manchester Pride 2024 line-up is The Greatest Showman actress and singer Keala Settle.
This year’s Manchester Pride Festival will kick off on Friday 23 August with Brit-award-winning popstar Jessie J – her first performance in Manchester in six years.
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Keala Settle will also perform on Friday, belting out classic Pride anthems with a live band on the Alan Turing Stage.
Also on the Friday you’ll see drag artist BIMINI, Trans Filth & Joy and Runway by Banksie, Manchester’s very own 7-foot drag supermodel.
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Moving onto Saturday 24 August, and The Village Stage will be headlined by two-time Eurovision winner Loreen.
Rita Ora has just been added as a special guest to the Saturday line-up – the global star delivered an unforgettable performance at Manchester Pride back in 2018 and will be back for an exclusive pride performance in 2024.
Also on Saturday, the Indoor Arena will pay homage to Manchester’s warehouse clubbing legacy and will host the Gaydio Dance Arena. Headlined by DJ Paulette, there’ll be a line-up of Gaydio DJs including Dave Cooper and Forbid.
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There’ll be disco, house and funk galore at The Village Stage when Black Pride MCR takes over, while the Queer Asian Takeover returns to the Alan Turing stage.
Sugababes. Credit: Publicity picture
Then on Sunday, Sugababes will deliver a nostalgic performance with a headline appearance on The Village Stage.
They’ll be joined on Sunday 25 August by Atomic Kitten’s Natasha Hamilton with Danny Beard & Friends; and Steps’ Claire Richards over on the Alan Turing Stage, alongside Pride Divas with Misty Chance.
As Sunday draws to a close, audiences can expect to be dazzled by, Queenz: The Show with Balls, reigning Drag Race UK champion Ginger Johnson, and so much more at Danny Beard & Friends on The Village Stage.
The festival will conclude on Monday 26 August with, as always, the Candlelit Vigil in the sacred setting of Sackville Gardens.
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In collaboration with George House Trust, this special moment will honour those we have lost and stand in solidarity with those living with HIV. This heartfelt experience will be a powerful reminder to combat stigma and come together as a community in unity and support.
Second Release Weekend and VIP tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster now from £27.50 for a day ticket and £42.50 for a weekend ticket.
A fixed donation of £2.50 from every ticket sold goes directly to the Manchester Pride Community Fund, ensuring that LGBTQ+ causes and projects in Greater Manchester receive vital support with grants that are distributed throughout the year. Pledge Band tickets must be purchased to facilitate the event.
More information about Manchester Pride Festival 2024 and ticket purchasing can be found on the Manchester Pride website.
Manchester’s Block Party comes to the streets of Stockport town centre this summer
Danny Jones
Stockport and its street party scene seem to be thriving at the moment and now Manchester’s increasingly popular Block Party is getting involved too.
We’ve all seen how SK1 Records and their street parties have taken off over the past year or so, so it only makes sense for Block Party to team up with them and others to bring their tried and tested format to another Greater Manchester borough this summer.
No, we don’t care how many times you repeat it, it isn’t Cheshire and hasn’t been for ages.
But back to the matter at hand, Block Party – who have already seen great success over at Piccadilly Trading Estate with the help of Manc brewers Cloudwater, Track, Balance and Sureshot – are set to deliver a day of music entertainment, food, bevs drink and fun for all the family.
Block Party always goes off (Credit: Supplied)
Aptly named ‘Stock Party’ (some things just line up perfectly), the latest street party will be landing on the historic Underbank in collaboration with all their usual partners as well as local beer experts Robinsons Brewery and Runaway, as well as Michelin-recognised Where The Light Gets and many more.
Being brought to life with the help of Stockport’s Business Improvement District (BID), Totally Stockport and Stockport Council as part of the growing ‘Old Town’ revival moment, they’re set to deliver a day of music entertainment, food & drink and family activities around the town centre.
‘Robbies’ Brewery on Lower Hillgate will be home to the main festival square and bar, pouring the freshest beers from each of the breweries, with tunes being pumped out onto the street by SK1 Records and a special DJ set curated by Bohemian Arts Club to ensure a proper party atmosphere.
For those who prefer a nice pinot noir, Isca will be serving up a selection of their natural wines; plus Where The Light Gets In will be serving up BBQ and Honest Crust – one of the best pizza places anywhere in Greater Manchester – will be serving up slices… of heaven, we mean.
Although we can promise plenty of dancing and footfall, Underbank will also be lined with tables and chairs enabling festival-goers to enjoy an alfresco beer from a five-tap van located outside Rare Mags, while Yellowhammer pottery and bakery will see visitors can build their own tankard in a special one-off.
There are even more offerings food and drink-wise too, with popular local bars Spinn Off and Cracked Actor, Cafe San Juan and Marley’s Tacos all serving up street food and pints for you to gulp down in the sunshine (fingers crossed).
Head just a few metres over the road and you’ll also find Stockport’s oldest and newly restored White Lion pub hosting an Old Town General Store DJ set and tap takeover, with Ginger’s Ice Cream Emporium on hand serving up their artisan ice cream. As if things couldn’t get any more summery.
Best of all, you don’t have to wait too long as Stock Party is happening on 20 July, lasting from 12-9pm and is completely free entry. You can bank on us being there and dancing along the cobbles until dusk. See you in SK next month!
Block Party first event in Stockport event beckons (Credit: Stockport BID)
Band fronted by Liam Gallagher’s son announces headline gig at iconic Manchester venue
Emily Sergeant
A band fronted by Liam Gallagher’s son have announced a headline gig at one of Manchester’s most iconic music venues.
In the same week that his old man has been playing a run of sold-out – and absolutely biblical, if we do say so ourselves – shows at Manchester‘s newest live entertainment arena, Co-op Live, Gene Gallagher and his band, Villanelle, have just announced their debut UK headline tour, and tickets are going on sale in a couple of days time.
The upcoming indie rock quartet is formed earlier this year by Liam Gallagher‘s youngest son, who takes on the role of lead vocalist and guitarist.
Gene’s joined by Ben Taylor on guitar, bassist Jack Schiavo, and Andrew Richmond on drums.
The four-piece is yet to actually release any music formally, but Gene says he’s been writing songs for as long “as he can remember”, and they’re already making waves.
The lads are currently introducing themselves in the biggest way possible by opening for LG himself on his ongoing ‘Definitely Maybe: 30 Years’ tour… but as that run of shows nears an end, Villanelle are now preparing to step out on their own for the first time ever.
They’ll be taking to the stage at some legendary smaller venues all across the UK on their debut headline tour.
They’ve already played a handful of gigs at places such as renowned London rock ‘n’ roll pub, The Marquis, and beloved Manchester venue, Band On The Wall, but this is the first time they’ll be heading out on tour.
And of course they’ll be coming back to visit our city.
Manchester music fans curious to hear what the rising band’s sound is all about will be able to head on down to Night & Day Cafe later this year on 22 November and see for themselves.
Villanelle – UK Tour Dates 2024
19 November – Stereo (Glasgow)
20 November – The Grove (Newcastle)
22 November – Night & Day Cafe (Manchester)
23 November – Oslo (London)
24 November – Mama Roux’s (Birmingham)
26 November – Dareshack (Bristol)
27 November – The Bodega (Nottingham)
28 November – Oslo (London)
Tickets to the UK tour dates – including Manchester – are going on sale later this week.
Anyone looking to grab tickets to the Manchester gig at Night & Day Cafe on 22 November will be able to get their hands on them when they go on general sale this Friday (21 June) at 9am.
Daisy Jackson -
14th June 2024 
