Pride 2015: The ones to watch out for
By Will Stroude
Don’t limit yourself to the local this year: As Pride season proper begins, we bring you a taste of what to expect from the best events on offer around the country…
LONDON (June 27)
It’s up there with the world-beaters and remains the capital’s biggest one day event, with a quarter of a million people turning out for Pride in London 2014 – figures no doubt explained by the fact Sinitta used it as an opportunity to debut her first original material since 1997. With a ‘Heroes’ theme and rainbow-clad parade route passing some of the world’s most iconic landmarks before ending in a monumental party in Trafalgar Square featuring Blue, Collabro and more, if you’ve yet to experience the buzz that is Pride in London, this is the year. You can even spend Sunday recovering at Pride in the Park as live entertainment, community stalls, sports events and,who knows, maybe even good weather descend on Vauxhall for the afternoon.
NORTHERN PRIDE (July 17-19)
As well as being one of the best prides you’ll find on these shores, Newcastle’s resident LGBT event is also one of Attitude’s favourite things: free. And if that doesn’t get you firing up the confetti cannon then frankly there’s no hope left for you. This year the Geordies are putting on a special three-day spectacular, and while the line-up at Exhibition Park is still to be confirmed, last year included a special set by that old favourite of ours (and yours, judging by last year’s HOT 100 results), Shayne Ward. Away from the festival, the Pink Triangle is well worth a visit for newcomers to the city, and as Steps’ Faye Tozer advised us before hitting the main stage last year: “It’s fabulous fun going around getting absolutely trollied with a bunch of strangers”. Who are we to disagree?
PRIDE CYRMU/CARDIFF MARDI GRAS (August 15)
The pride fest of the west returns to Cooper’s Field this year, exactly three decades after a grand total of 30 people took part in the city’s first ever march in 1985. The event’s transformation shows just how far we’ve come, and while this year’s line-up is still to be announced, last year’s roster of Misha B, Stooshe, Eternal and Britain’s Got Talent-winning boyband Collabro promises exciting things to come. Highlights from 2014 included the boys covering Let It Go and making a girl in the front row cry with unfettered joy: If that’s not the true meaning of Pride we don’t know what is.
MANCHESTER (August 28-31)
The perfect summer swansong, the UK’s biggest pride festival outside the capital takes place each year over August Bank Holiday weekend, meaning four days and three nights of partying as Canal Street transforms into carnival central for The Big Weekend. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, this year’s event is already shaping up to be the best ever, with pop legends Texas already confirmed to headline and bags more acts to be announced. Given the likes of All Saints, Anastacia, MKS, Steps, Sugababes and Kelis have all graced the main stage over the last few years, expect big things for 2015.
More Pride info: To book Exclusive Gay Travel packages visit Marriottweekends.co.uk/pride
More stories:
Tel Aviv Pride draws biggest ever crowds
All aboard for Amsterdam’s epic Pride weekend