Manchester Pride Festival has just announced its day-by-day lineup of artists and events for 2023.
In case you missed it, the UK’s leading LGBTQ+ charity event revealed its highly-anticipated 2023 lineup back in March, and it’s set to be the iconic Festival’s most inclusive roster of local and international queer talent to date.
Undoubtedly back with a bang this summer, and co-created in collaboration with Manchester’s diverse queer communities, Festival organisers say this year’s lineup champions “representation, inclusivity, and community celebration” over the four-day extravaganza.
The legendary Gay Village Party is back, and will light up with performances across three stages – The Village Stage, MancUnity Stage – which is in partnership with Gaydio – and the Alan Turing Stage.
Drag sensation Pabllo Vittar is headlining this year’s Gay Village Party, as is singer-songwriter and Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard, and a mystery headliner still yet to be announced.
Aside from those headline performances, the four-day August bank holiday weekend Festival also includes a whole host of other special events including Queer Asian Takeover headlined by Gok Wan, Trans Filth & Joy headlined by drag artist BIMINI, Black Pride MCR headlined by Raven Mandella, and the Queer Women’s Takeover headlined by Monki.
Here’s a quick run-down of the official Manchester Pride Festival stage splits for 2023.
Manchester Pride Festival is back for 2023 this August bank holiday weekend / Credit: Manchester Pride
Friday 25 August
Village Stage – Headlined by BIMINI, with additional performances from Tito Bone, Midgitte Bardot, Cyro, The BollyWitch, An0maly, Finley Odin, Darnell, Denon, Xzan, and DJ Jess Rose.
MancUnity Stage, in partnership with Gaydio – You can expect an evening of “dancing, partying, showing off and feeling good” with Fat Pride, featuring The Niallist, Ivy Profemme, The Fat Britney, Joe Spencer, Miss Lei-Lei, Sam Buttery, and Joanna Cuddle.
Alan Turing Stage – hosted by Donna Trump, with La Discothèque Orchestra, Queeriosity Cabaret, Pecs Drag Kings, The Enby Show featuring Cyro, Flick, and Carrot.
Saturday 26 August
Village Stage – Headlined by Pabllo Vittar, with additional performances from Jodie Harsh, Black Peppa, Monopoly Phonic, Tom Aspaul, Violet Blonde, and Jsky – and a special multi-platinum selling headliner soon to be announced.
MancUnity Stage presents Black Pride MCR, all brought together by Darren Pritchard with headliner Raven Mandella, as well as Swagga, Kele Le Roc, DJ Stacy Bee, DJ NKay, DJ KL, Queens in Kicks, Goodie Magnum, and Dymond.
Alan Turing Stage welcomes the Queer Asian Takeover hosted by Lucky Roy Singh, with headliner DJ Gok Wan, alongside Gracie T, Reeta Loi, The Bitten Peach, Bollyqueer, House of Spice, Club Zindagi and more.
The UK’s leading LGBTQ+ charity event announced its diverse lineup earlier this year / Credit: Manchester Pride
Sunday 27 August
Village Stage – Headlined by Danny Beard and Friends, alongside Jake Shears, Natasha Bedingfield, Lisa Scott-Lee, Cheddar Gorgeous, Barb, Kelly Llorenna (N-Trance), Jonbers Blonde, Bailey J Mills, Lady Bushra, Banksie, The BollyWitch, Lill, and Ginny Lemon’s Dog Show.
MancUnity Stage presents the Queer Women’s Takeover with Monki, Kim Lana, Blasha and Allatt (Meat Free + Frixxxion), Mix-Stress and Friends, SWAGGA featuring DJ Stacy Bee, Queens in Kicks, Freequency3, Club Clam, What She Said, Vanilla, and Fat Camp.
Alan Turing Stage – Cutie-POC Cabaret hosted by Rikki Beadle-Blair, Angie Brown, The Cocoa-Butter Club, NoirTones, and Ghetto Fabulous, as well as Your Manchester hosted by Belinda Scandal.
Monday 28 August
Village Stage – Closing the festival with the Misty Chance and Friends, and Disabled Queer Joy Cabaret.
MancUnity Stage – THE RUNWAY by Banksie, and Firehouse with Dakota Schiffer.
Alan Turing Stage ends the event with Disney Classics performed by The Untold Orchestra.
Day-by-day stage splits for the 2023 Festival have been announced today / Credit: Manchester Pride
Closing the four-day Festival is the Candlelit Vigil with George House Trust, which is a moment of reflection in Sackville Gardens.
As the home of Alan Turing, The National Transgender Memorial, and the Beacon of Hope, the gardens are set to be transformed into a sea of flickering candles to remember and honour those lost to, and stand in solidarity with, those who are living with HIV.
It also provides the space to reflect on and remember those who have been persecuted in the LGBTQ+ community, both here in the UK and around the world.
Find out more about Manchester Pride Festival 2023 and grab tickets here.
Featured Image – Manchester Pride
Audio
Kaiser Chiefs continue debut album’s 20th anniversary celebrations with more tour dates
Danny Jones
Northern music veterans Kaiser Chiefs are set to continue the celebrations of their debut album’s 20th anniversary with even more milestone tour dates next year.
It’s hard to believe it’s been two decades since their very first LP, Employment, was first released, just before the onslaught of indie landfill took over the UK and beyond back in the 200s, but it really has been that long.
2025 has seen the beloved Yorkshire band rolling back the years and playing all the hits from the seminal debut record, and since the scenes at Glastonbury, Kendal Calling, Tramlines, Latitude and more have been such good vibes, they’ve decided to keep the party going even longer.
Announcing further tour dates next February, the Leeds legends will be heading back on the road before you know it and playing all of the hits.
Confirming a dozen new live shows, the noughties hit-makers behind ‘I Predict A Riot’, ‘Ruby’, ‘Oh My God’ and many more will be heading to Manchester for just the second stop on their upcoming tour.
Heading to O2 Victoria Warehouse on Saturday, 14 February, the ever-familiar British five-piece haven’t yet announced a hometown gig.
That being said, we have a feeling you can expect something extra special – perhaps a Temple Newsam 2.0 – to be revealed for them not too far down the line.
Speaking on the tour extension, frontman Ricky Wilson said: “This summer, we played a load of shows to mark the release of our debut album, Employment. It went well. Probably better than our first summer 20 years ago.
“It was the year after that first year that things really took off, so we hope you will join us in February to help celebrate with us ‘the year it really took off’.
“If you were with us the first time, or unfortunately missed out due to other commitments, we hope you will join us for a joyous lap of honour. (Plus, I spent quite a bit on a new blazer and want to get my money’s worth)”.
NEW: @kaiserchiefs NEW: Kaiser Chiefs are heading on the 'MORE Employment' tour, playing their debut album in full plus their greatest hits at #O2VictoriaWarehouseManchester on Sat 14 Feb!
— O2 Victoria Warehouse Manchester (@O2VicWarehouse) August 15, 2025
Our Audio North followers will be glad to hear that there a plenty of gigs taking place up at the top end of the country, and you can see the full list of ‘More Employment‘ shows down below.
Kaiser Chiefs’ 2026 UK tour dates:
13 Fri – Bradford, Live
14 Sat – Manchester, O2 Victoria Warehouse
15 Sun – Stockton, Globe
17 Tue – Dundee, Live House
18 Wed – Glasgow, Barrowland
20 Fri – London, Eventim Apollo
21 Sat – Hull, Connexin Live
23 Mon – Norwich, UEA
24 Tue – Swansea, Building Society Arena
26 Thu – Bournemouth, International Centre
27 Fri – Cambridge, Corn Exchange
28 Sat – Wolverhampton, The Halls
Tickets for the Kaiser Chiefs’ show here in Manchester, as well as all other nights live on Friday, 22 August from 9am; you can get ready to grab yours HERE.
We’ll see you there.
And until then, why not see what the lads had to say to our friends over at The Hoot when we interviewed them back in May?…
Featured Images — Cal McIntyre (supplied)/press shots/The Manc Group
Audio
Manchester Pride announces Nelly Furtado as surprise headliner
Daisy Jackson
Manchester Pride has just dropped another huge headliner for this year’s festival – and it’s only global pop superstar Nelly Furtado.
The huge LGBTQ+ festival, celebration and protest had kept its final headliner under wraps for months, but has today announced the Maneater star will be joining the line-up for 2025.
Nelly Furtado will co-headline Manchester Pride alongside Olly Alexander, with tickets for both the Gay Village Party and Mardi Gras already on sale.
Also announced on the line-up today are DJ Paulette and Moonchild Sanelly.
Manchester Pride 2025 will take place from Friday 22 to Monday 25 August, with four days of live music, celebrations, the parade, parties, and the candlelit vigil.
Already-announced headliners include Olly Alexander, Leigh-Anne, Billy Porter, and Tulisa, alongside loads more queer artists.
Nelly Furtado is known for her anthems like Maneater, Promiscuous and I’m Like A Bird, and will bring Mardi Gras to an uplifting, powerful end on Sunday 24 August.
Homegrown legend DJ Paulette will also join the Sunday Mardi Gras line-up, along with South African trailblazer Moonchild Sanelly on Friday at the Gay Village Party.
Mark Fletcher, CEO of Manchester Pride, said: “Welcoming an Icon like Nelly Furtado alongside DJ Paulette and Moonchild Sanelly further showcases the diversity of musical tastes that we’re catering for. They’re each sure to create some unforgettable moments.
“Manchester Pride 2025 will be bold, brilliant, and bursting with Pride energy, but it’s at a tipping point.
“Pride can only thrive if our community shows up: by attending events, joining the Parade, and buying supporter bands.
“We’ve seen what happens when we don’t rally together, and we cannot let that happen in our City. This is the moment to stand up, come together, party as a protest and ensure Pride continues to shine long into the future.”
For full-day line-ups and more information on Manchester Pride 2025, download the Manchester Pride app.
Emily Sergeant -
26th May 2023 
