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Manchester Pride 2025 line-up announced, with headline performances from Olly Alexander and Leigh-Anne

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 14th March 2025

Manchester Pride has revealed its 2025 line-up and headliners ahead of the city’s huge LGBTQ+ celebration.

Set to take place, a usual, over the August bank holiday weekend, this year’s live entertainment features headline slots for Olly Alexander, Leigh-Anne, and Billy Porter.

Manchester Pride will span across the Gay Village Party and the newly-announced Mardi Gras event at Depot Mayfield.

The line-up is packed with LGBTQ+ icons and allies once again as summer’s event calendar heats up.

This year’s Manchester Pride festival will take place between Friday 22 and Monday 25 August, culminating in the candlelit vigil at Sackville Gardens.

Topping the bill this year is Brit Award winner and Years and Years frontman Olly Alexander, along with multi-platinum pop star Leigh-Anne, of Little Mix fame, and Hollywood superstar Billy Porter.

Also announced by Manchester Pride today are special guests including Tulisa, Big Freedia, Sonique and Louisa Johnson, Jodie Harsh, and multi-award winning cabaret artist, Danny Beard with The Danny Beard Show.

Manchester Pride has also worked with community collectives to commission a number of immersive shows, including House of MCR, which will bring together dance, singing, lip-syncing and fashion.

Kulture Cabaret will be a celebration of queer South Asian and Middle Eastern performers, and Queenz: Drag me to the disco will feature during the bank holiday celebrations.

Bongo’s Bingo will kick off the Manchester Pride celebrations each day.

This is all part of the first-ever line-up for the brand new Mardi Gras event, which will take place on the Saturday and Sunday and has an ambition to better represent marginalised communities such as trans, non-binary, and queer local talent.

The Gay Village Party will be back in Manchester Pride’s spiritual home from Friday 22 to Monday 25 August, featuring Samantha Mumba, B*Witched and Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge – with more still to be announced.

These performances will be across two stages, the Alan Turing stage and the Indoor Arena, alongside a funfair, market stalls, and pop-up food vendors, plus Ginny Lemon’s Dog Show.

Mark Fletcher, CEO at Manchester Pride, said: “Manchester Pride is the city’s celebration of LGBTQ+ life and culture and each year we’re challenged to respond to the diverse needs of our communities.

“Working closely with LGBTQ+ groups and collectives from Greater Manchester we’ve been able to respond to the needs of our communities in presenting a queer focussed, intentional line up of performers who will elevate and lend their support to the rich bed of LGBTQ+ performers that this city has to offer.

“With the introduction of the new Mardi Gras event we needed to make sure that we stayed true to what Pride is about in this city.

“Our communities were clear that they wanted to see LGBTQ+ performers front and centre and we’re thrilled to announce a line up which serves.

“With so many stages available across the two live music based events we’re confident that there’s something for everyone; whether that be multi platinum selling pop artists, drag queen royalty or ballroom fierceness that you can expect to see at the special House of MCR Show.”

Manchester Pride 2025 line-up

Friday 22 August

Gay Village Party

  • Samantha Mumba

Saturday 23 August

Mardi Gras

  • Leigh-Anne // Billy Porter
  • Special Guest: Big Freedia
  • Gok Wan // Sonique // Booty Luv // Joshua James // Bestley
  • The Danny Beard Show // Dean Mccullough’s Pop Machine // Bongo’s Bingo
  • Queenz: Drag Me To The Disco // Black Pride Mcr // Runway X Banksie
  • Rikki Beadle-Blair // Darren Pritchard

Gay Village Party

  • B*Witched // Diana Vickers
  • Gaydio Dance Arena

Sunday 24 August

Mardi Gras

  • Olly Alexander
  • Special Guest: Tulisa
  • Tayce // Jodie Harsh // Louisa Johnson  // K-Klass // N-Trance // Banksie
  • Stephani B // Anna Phylactic // Lucky Roy Singh
  • House Of MCR – Pride Edition //
  • Gaydio Dance Arena // Bongo’s Bingo // Kulture Cabaret

Gay Village Party

  • Sister Sledge Featuring Kathy Sledge // Angie Brown
  • Ginny Lemon’s Dog Show
  • Diva’s Only With Misty Chance // Your Manchester Live With Belinda Scandal

Tickets and more information are HERE.

Featured image: Gemma Parker

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A huge house and disco music festival is taking place just on the border of Greater Manchester

Danny Jones Danny Jones House and Vocal Disco Brunch music festival Wilmslow 2025 lineup

Not ready for Oasis fever or festival season to be over? Well, lucky for you, there’s still plenty more live music happening this summer – and if you’re into your house, electronic, disco and dance music, there’s an event happening just outside of 0161 next weekend.

Fancy a little trip out to Cheshire?

Yes, over in the lovely suburb of Wilmslow, the increasingly popular House and Vocal Disco Fest returns for 2025, promising plenty of energy, loads of local food and drink vendors, as well as non-stop tunage all day long.

Speaking ahead of their comeback this year, the organisers say: “Whether you’re reliving the glory days of clubland or discovering disco classics for the first time, House & Vocal Disco Fest 2025 is set to
deliver the ultimate summer soundtrack.”

Hosted at the Phoenix Sports Club (no, as funny as it would be, there’s no connection to Peter Kay or Paddy McGuinness) near Styal, only a short drive from the town centre,

Booked for this year’s festival is chart-topping headliner DJ and Kiss FM presenter, Majestic, best known for his huge remixes and viral house hits.

Speaking of which, local artist, producer and co-creator Jon Fitz, who has recently opened his own bar, Fizpatrick’s in the heart of Stockport, will also be performing 20 years on from the release of his timeless classic, ‘I Just Can’t Get Enough’.

Legendary DJ Allister Whitehead and fellow veteran, Lifford – the velvety voice behind many
soulful house music favourites – will also be alongside Fitz and co. as they turn those old market village vibes into one big dancefloor.

Like so…

Excited to get back behind the decks, Fitz told The Manc: “Now in our third year — and our biggest yet — we’re bringing something truly spectacular to Cheshire. People can expect boutique vibes, intimate energy. This isn’t just a festival, it’s an experience. House & Vocal do things differently”

Once again, festival-goers can expect a day packed with uplifting tunes, a feel-good North West crowd living it large not too far from Greater Manchester, as well as all the perks of a local boutique festival setup too.

Taking place on Saturday, 26 July at Wilmslow Phoenix Sports Club from 12 noon until late, all early bird and VIP passes have sold out, but general admission is still available for £38.75 – and that’s including your booking fees.

You can find out more on House and Vocal Disco Fest 2025, as well as grab your tickets, right HERE.

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Featured Images — House & Vocal Brunch (supplied)

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Oasis fans prepare for biblical rain as Met Office issues thunderstorm warning

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Oasis weather - Oasis fans prepare for biblical rain as Met Office issues thunderstorm warning

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms – just in time for the next Oasis gigs.

The weather service is forecasting ‘heavy rain, with some thunderstorms’ on Saturday, the day of the fourth Oasis homecoming show in Heaton Park.

The opening two Oasis Live ’25 shows at Heaton Park took place under cloudless blue skies with temperatures upwards of 30°C – but that doesn’t feel very authentically Manc, does it?

It’s looking like it’s all about to take a turn back towards normal Manchester weather for the final two shows.

The yellow weather warning is currently in place across Greater Manchester and much of the UK until 9pm on Saturday 19 July.

According to the Met Office, heavy rain is likely in Prestwich from midday until 5pm on Saturday, easing off to light rain until 7pm and then (hopefully) dry by the time Oasis take the stage at Heaton Park.

It’s still fairly warm though, with highs of 22°C.

As for Sunday, the final of the Oasis shows, it’s forecast to be wet weather again until the early evening, with heavy rain showers in the afternoon.

It should brighten up by 7pm, with temperatures reaching up to 23°C.

The Met Office said: “Heavy rain, with some thunderstorms, may lead to disruption in places on Friday night and through much of Saturday.”

Thank god bucket hats and parkas are practically the required uniform for Oasis gig-goers.

If the thunderstorm does hit, remember to allow extra time for travel as some public transport may be affected.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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