Manchester Pride Festival has today revealed the final headliners for 2023’s star-studded LGBTQ+ celebration.
Taking place, as always, over the August bank holiday weekend, the charity has added big names to the existing line-up that includes Jake Shears, Pabllo Vittar, Gok Wan, Danny Beard, Natasha Bedingfield, Lisa Scott-Lee and Jodie Harsh.
Joining them at Manchester Pride Festival will be Alison Goldfrapp and Raven Mandella, plus celebrated drag artist and musician Conchita Wurst.
The celebrations will run across the Gay Village from Friday 25 until Monday 28 August, culminating as always in the candlelit vigil at Sackville Gardens.
Alison Goldfrapp is best-known for her vocals with electronic duo Goldfrapp, whose hits have included Strict Machine, Ooh La La, Ride A White Horse, and Rocket.
She’ll be performing hot off the success of her debut solo album The Love Intention, and the single So Hard So Hot, on the Saturday of the Manchester Pride Festival.
Joining her on 26 August will be the ‘unapologetically Black and queer’ dancer, drag performer and DJ Raven Mandella, who will headline Black Pride MCR on the MancUnity Stage.
Raven Mandella. Credit: Publicity pictureAlison Goldfrapp. Credit: Publicity pictureConchita Wurst. Credit: Publicity pictureNew acts have joined the Manchester Pride 2023 line-up
Mandella has performed on stages with Honey Dijon, Groove Armada, Kelly Rowland, and Nile Rodgers, and has become a crowd favourite through his flamboyant performances at Heaven in London, the Ministry of Sound, and Glitterbox.
Conchita Wurst, former Eurovision champion with the song ‘Rise Like A Phoenix’, will join Booking.com in the Manchester Pride Parade before taking to the Village Stage later that night.
Also known as Tom Neuwirth, Conchita became a figurehead of the queer community overnight after that iconic Eurovision win, and has released albums, hosted TV shows, and used his platform to support socio-political causes.
The Saturday line-up also includes Black Peppa, Jodie Harsh and international drag icon Pabllo Vittar.
This year, a staggering 96% of Manchester Pride performers identify as queer, as the festival continues its dedication to fostering diversity, inclusivity, and community celebration.
🎉 SPECIAL GUESTS ANNOUNCED 🎉
Prepare to be amazed!! We couldn't be more thrilled to reveal our incredible special guests for the Gay Village Party 2023! ⚡️
Joining us this year are the legendary performers Alison Goldfrapp, Conchita Wurst, and Raven Mandella! 🌈
54% of performers are women, 51% being people of colour, more than 42% from trans and non-binary communities and 34% of performers being disabled or neurodivergent.
Mark Fletcher, CEO of Manchester Pride, said: “This year, more than ever, we are thrilled to be presenting such a diverse lineup that truly reflects the vibrancy and diversity of our communities.
“Alison Goldfrapp’s powerful performances, Raven Mandella’s unapologetically queer stage presence and Conchita’s inspiring music and message will undoubtedly make this year’s festival an unforgettable celebration.”
Tickets for the Gay Village Party are available to purchase through Ticketmaster, and for each ticket sold, £2.50 will be donated to the Manchester Pride Community Fund, which directly supports LGBTQ+ causes and projects in Greater Manchester via grant distribution.
More information about Manchester Pride Festival 2023 and ticket purchasing can be found at www.manchesterpride.com.
Manchester’s famous 24-hour charity run for the homeless expands into three new cities
Danny Jones
Manchester city centre’s famous 24-hour charity run, which raises money for Britain’s homeless community every year, is growing once again in 2025, with the heartwarming event expanding into a trio of new regions.
The annual 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness may have started out life here in Manchester, but last November saw it branch out for the first time ever, launching the maiden edition of The Birmingham 24 Hour Run – an instant success, with the return 12 months later confirmed soon after.
We here at The Manc have been supporting the cause for a while now, with multiple members of the team having joined both the local and Brummy editions of the run.
Now set to branch out even further in just a few months’ time, The 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness is set to make its Yorkshire debut across two separate fundraising events this autumn, not to mention another event in the West Midlands this winter.
The 2024 Birmingham run saw almost £1,700 for relative homeless causes in the area, with all contributions considered: nothing short of an incredible tally for the inaugural event attended by far fewer numbers than its now well-established founding counterpart.
It was the first time that the Manc-born and bred charity run had ever ventured out of the city, proving that the format and not just nationwide, but a global crisis is what that can be supported all over.
With that in mind, this year, The 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness will be hoping to positively impact rough sleeping numbers in Leeds for the very first time, as well as Sheffield, Hereford and, of course, Birmingham once again.
And yes, you can expect support from our friends over at The Hoot and The Sheff.
Backed by numerous local businesses, fellow non-profit organisations, run clubs, university groups, and plenty more from in and around the community, the annual fundraising relay run attracts thousands – and that’s just in Manchester.
The 24-Hour Run Against Homelessness was started by a bunch of uni students as a charitable arm of their running society, Run Wild MCR, and has since gone on to raise more than £50,000 for the ‘A Bed Every Night Scheme’.
An amazing achievement for a crucial cause we can all get behind.
Overseen by the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity and the Labour MP himself, Andy Burnham (who is a regular attendee every year now), the event that starts at noon one day and finishes at the same time the next, has seen both regional and national news coverage.
Speaking on this year’s expansion, 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness co-founder Tom Lewis told us: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support over the years; the Manchester running community, local companies and so many other organisations have come together to make a real difference.”
“Everyone should get involved with the 2025 events as it brings communities together from across each city to help raise money to aid those in need.”
For anyone considering getting involved with this year’s charity run for the homeless around Manchester city centre, or indeed any of the other four cities hosting in 2025, you can find the dates for each and more information HERE.
You can also watch a helpful little explainer, featuring the voice of yours truly, down below:
Featured Images — The Manc Group/The 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness
What's On
A huge record fair is coming to Manchester city centre this bank holiday
Thomas Melia
There’s a record fair making its way to Manchester next weekend, and it’s taking over one of Manchester’s iconic live music venues.
Record lovers and music fanatics this one’s for you.
Whether you’re after growing your own record collection back home, or showing off your DJ skills, this event has everything you could ever ask for.
The Very Good Plus record fair is arriving in Manchester city centre, and it’s coming to none other than independent live music venue, New Century.
You’ll be able to browse through some of the best vinyl in the region and hopefully spot some releases by some of your musical icons.
There’s even family-friendly stations which give little ones and grown-ups alike the chance to try their hand at making and designing their own record sleeve, as well as getting stuck in with a screen-printing workshop.
A record fair event is taking place at Manchester music venue New Century and NOMA this bank holiday / Credit: The Manc Group
If you cant find any LPs you’re after, you’ll definitely find a caffeinated drink or two at Sadler’s Yard and even have a go at creating your own track on the open decks.
There will be a variety of food and drink options, as well as some food for the soul too, thanks to an array of DJ sets running until the evening courtesy of Ded Luvly on a Pulp Coffee sound system.
Live music lovers can rejoice as just for this record fair event, they’ll be able to roam around this huge gig space and if you head downstairs there’ll be a DJ workshop and sound system experience taking place.
This music-oriented event is a collaboration between iconic music venue New Century, city centre neighbourhood NOMA, and DJ and music aficionado, Living Room Dance Club.
So get ready to dig through the crates, create a few demos of your own, design an album cover or two and enrich yourself in all things music because this event has it all.
The Very Good Plus record fair is coming to NOMA and New Century in Manchester on Saturday 23 August from 11am until 6pm, and it’s completely free – apart from all the money you spend on some good quality vinyl, of course.
Daisy Jackson -
2nd August 2023 
