Manchester Pride line up announced

Mel C, Bimini, Charity Shop Sue are among the acts gracing the stage this year

Author: Frankie GoldingPublished 1st Jun 2022

Manchester Pride have announced their line up for this year, which they are hoping to reflect the key causes that matter most to the local LGBTQ+ community.

This comes after the organisation conducted a six-month review and consultation with the region’s LGBTQ+ communities that revealed a general feeling that Manchester Pride no longer reflected some of the key causes that mattered most to them.

As such, Manchester Pride have promised a refocused effort 'back onto its activist roots'.

They hope that this can be seen in the acts announced at this year.

See the line up here:

Alan Turing Stage:

This stage will feature performances from queer icons Bimini, Nadine Coyle, Melanie C and Charity Shop Sue throughout the weekend.

The Friday of Manchester Pride will also feature the event Trans Filth and Joy, an event put together by Trans Creative and Milk Presents, which features a plethora or transgender talent.

Lucia Blayke - the founder of London Trans Pride - has been announced as one of the performers.

MancUnity Stage:

This stage will kick off with Fat Pride - a celebration of big bodies with an evening of dancing, partying and feeling good.

It has been announced that Black Pride MCR will also feature at this stage, taking festival go-ers on a historical journey of black queer history with exceptional DJs and iconic dancers from the Northern Vogue Ballroom scene.

Some of Manchester’s best female talent will also be taking to the MancUnity stage for the Queer Women’s Takeover including; DJ Róis, founder of What She Said Club, which gives space to LGBTQ+ women, gender non conforming and non-binary people.

Cabaret Stage:

This stage will host ‘The Enby Show’, described as an “electric, unique and vibrant” gender-bending variety show that bins the binary and crashes the cis-tem.

It is also set to feature burlesque with Duncan James from Proud Cabaret and a show from Pecs Drag Kings - a critically acclaimed all-female/non-binary theatre and cabaret company.

What else is new?

Also new this year is that 'Pride Live', a gig which featured Ariana Grande in 2019, has been cancelled having been identified as 'less important' to the community.

Instead, prioritised is The Parade, The Candlelit Vigil, the Gay Village Party, Superbia Weekend, Youth Pride MCR, Family Pride MCR and Human Rights Forum.

We have also been told to expect quiet spaces and low-income tickets this year, with more information on this being rolled out nearer the time.

First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Hits Radio app.