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Day: August 5, 2015

Manchester Pride confirm daily line-up for Big Weekend

Posted on by Gary Hart

With less than four weeks to go until Manchester’s annual Pride festival starts, visitors can plan which acts to see, as the full daily line-ups have been announced for the Main Stage Arena, Gaydio Dance Arena and Sackville Boutique Stage, for Friday, August 28 – Monday, August 31.

Dannii Minogue: Main Stage Arena, Sunday August 30
Dannii Minogue: Main Stage Arena, Sunday August 30

Tickets for the Big Weekend are currently priced at £25 for a weekend ticket, £15 for day tickets and children’s tickets are also available from £5.

Tickets provide access to the event, including the Main Arena, Sackville Gardens, the Gaydio Dance Arena and the Expo.

Ticket sales help Manchester Pride raise money for LGBT and HIV charities and organisations in Greater Manchester.

For more information on The Big Weekend, click here:

Friday, August 28

Main Stage Arena

♦ Texas

♦ Bipolar Sunshine

♦ La Voix

♦ DJ Riv

Gaydio Dance Arena

♦ Crazy P Soundsystem

♦ James Holroyd

♦ Disco Mums

Sackville Boutique Stage

♦ ManBears Picnic

Saturday, August 29

Main Stage Arena

♦ DJ Fresh

♦ Seamus Haji

♦ Alesha Dixon

♦ KStewart

♦ Sarah Harding

♦ Sarah Whatmore

♦ Karen Harding

♦ Rowetta

♦ MDNGHT

Sackville Boutique Stage

Heather Peace presents…

♦ Jess Vincent

♦ Sound of The Sirens

♦ Lynne Loudon

♦ MIRI

♦ Jes Stretton

♦ Proms in the Park

♦ Claire Mooney

♦ Jay Walker

Gaydio Dance Arena

♦ Jodie Harsh

♦ Graeme Park

♦ Stonebridge

♦ Kriss Herbert

Sunday, August 30

Main Stage Arena

♦ Dannii Minogue

♦ Kristyna Myles

♦ Atomic Kitten

♦ Rival Joy

♦ Little Boots

♦ DJ Riv

♦ Stooshe

♦ Shane Richie Jnr Band

Sackville Boutique Stage

♦ Kelly Wilde

♦ Kavanagh

♦ Angie Brown

♦ Ikenna

Gaydio Dance Arena

♦ Hot Since 82

♦ Lauren Lo Sung

♦ Andy Butler

♦ Sian Bennett

♦ Maze & Masters

Monday, August 31

Main Stage Arena

♦ Union J

♦ Mitch Miller

♦ Lucy Spraggan

♦ Eva Inglesias

♦ The Supreme Fabulettes

♦ The Waletones

♦ Sheena McHugh

♦ Charlie Cooper

♦ Nikki Graeme

♦ Simon Gross

♦ James Barr

For more information on The Big Weekend, click here: 

Free Mindfulness Course at MindOut

Posted on by Graham Robson

MindOut, the LGBTQ mental health project will be offering an eight week FREE Mindfulness Course starting September 14, run for and by LGBTQ people with lived experience of mental health issues.

MindOutThis eight week course will run on Mondays from 4.30pm – 6.30pm starting on September 14.

♦  Do you experience stress, anxiety or unhappiness?

♦  Would you like to learn to become calmer and kinder to yourself and others?

Mindfulness based cognitive therapy meditation has been proven to help people deal with stress, anxiety, depression and chronic pain.

For more information or to book a place, telephone 01273 234 839.

Or email: info@mindout.org.uk

 

Sonique to headline Doncaster Pride

Posted on by Gary Hart

Sonique, Princess Elsa and the NUM… Doncaster Pride has it all!

Doncaster PrideThe 9th Doncaster Pride will take place on August 22 in Sir Nigel Gresley Square in the town centre. It will run from 1pm to 9:15pm.

Although Doncaster Pride is first and foremost a celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights, organisers are positively promoting the event to everyone in Doncaster and surrounding areas as a way to bring together the wider community.

Pride organisers have teamed up with the local NUM branch and local collieries, including recently closed Hatfield Colliery, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the miners return to work after the strike.

An unusual combination of groups? Well not really as anyone who’s seen the film Pride, released last year, will know. There is history between the mining communities and the LGBT community dating back to the 80’s when the group Lesbian and Gay’s support the Mineworkers (LGSM) raised money for striking miners and their families – the true story is told in the film.

Event organiser Jenny Dewsnap, said: “It was too good an opportunity to miss. Living in the heart of the Yorkshire coalfield we just had to do something to recreate the London Pride March of 1985 where the massed collieries and marching bands led the Pride London March through the streets of London to show solidarity with the LGBT community who had supported them through the strike. We approached the NUM locally and they have been extremely supportive. There will be miners carrying banners, Women Against Pit Closures and possibly even the LGSM members from London will join us.

“We have managed, through the support given to us by the NUM, to book the Sheffield City Pipe Band to lead our march and we’ve given the mining communities of Doncaster a reason to march, unfurl their banners proudly and lead our walk through the streets of Doncaster.”

The march is only part of what promises to be a colourful day with a main stage featuring over 8 hours of dance, music and drag as well as the regular array of market stalls, fairground rides and information providers – including Doncaster Pride’s own Big Lottery funded Youth Project that is working in Doncaster schools to help support young people, families and educators to stamp out homophobia in schools.

Sonique
Sonique

Pride Chair, Cath Fox said of the event: “This year’s event is really going to be something special and we’ve really pushed ourselves as a committee to deliver something different. The march will be spectacular and the acts we have for the stage extraordinary! There really is something for everyone and families from across Doncaster and especially the mining communities are encouraged to come and join in what promises to be a great day for Doncaster.”

This year’s stage features dance acts, tribute performers, vocalists, acoustic performers and even a sing along Disney Frozen set with Princess Elsa and “real” snow! Almost all the second half is given over to “Party with Pride” which will feature dance, disco and soul covers from the 60’s right up to date – all this coming to a spectacular end with the headline act, number one recording artiste and Brit Award Winner Sonique who will round off the party with her hits, including “Feels so Good” and “Sky”.

Cath concluded: “This has to be the best line up in years for Pride in Doncaster and we really hope people come and support the event, enjoy the march and the main stage and have a great day out”.

 

 

LETTER TO EDITOR: Thank you – the best Pride ever!

Posted on by Contributor

“I would like to offer huge congratulations to the organisers of this years Pride. I have lost count of the number of people who have said it was the best Pride ever and social media is awash with praise for a simply wonderful weekend.

Adam Brooks
Adam Brooks: Golden Handbag Landlord of the Year

“I cannot begin to imagine the huge amount of work that went into making the event the massive success it was.

“Secondly, I cannot praise the emergency services enough. The bomb scare could have had a disastrous effect on Pride, but the swift action of the emergency services who all remained cheery and polite trying to deal with what must have been a very difficult situation is admirable.

“On a personal note, having a pub in Hove, us Hoveites tend to miss out on Pride. However, this year it was amazing to be able to witness the carnival atmosphere on the streets of Hove, it truly was the best Pride ever – thank you!”

Adam Brooks 
The Bedford Tavern, Hove

PREVIEW: Joan Armatrading comes to Eastbourne

Posted on by Contributor

The legendary blues singer and songwriter Joan Armatrading comes to Eastbourne’s Congress Theatre on Saturday, August 29 as part of a successful major solo tour and marks her first visit to the town.

 

0288-Joan Solo Tour Press Image FINAL

For two hours, Joan will trawl through her career’s songbook from the last four decades and perform her greatest hits such as Love And Affection, Me Myself I, Drop The Pilot and Willow with just two guitars and a piano for accompaniment. She will share some of the highlights of the last four decades and give a glimpse of her world.

Joan said: “I will never retire but this will be the last major tour that I will undertake. For the first time these concerts will be me solo on stage playing the guitar and piano and singing. I want these concerts to be a special lively interactive one to one experience. I have absolutely enjoyed the last 42 years of performances but now, with my final major tour, I want to capture a unique memory for both myself and the audience.” 

The current tour started in South Africa in April this year.  With nearly every show to date a complete sell-out, Joan will be on the road until the end of 2015 touring countries including the UK, Australia, North America, Germany, Denmark, France, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, Sweden and New Zealand.

In 2007, Joan Armatrading became the first female UK artist to debut at number 1 in the Billboard Blues chart. She also became the first-ever female UK artist to be nominated for a Grammy Award in the blues category.

Event: Joan Armatrading live in Eastbourne

Where: Congress Theatre, Carlisle Rd, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21

When: Saturday, August 29

Time: 7.30pm

Tickets: £30.50

To book tickets online, click here:

Or telephone the box office on 01323 412000

Chancellor commits to look at Brighton mainline upgrade study

Posted on by Sarah Green

George Osborne MP, indicates when announcing the extension of the scope of the Lewes-Uckfield rail study, that he wants to look at rail links in Sussex more generally, including the viability of a Brighton Main Line 2.

Simon Kirby MP
Simon Kirby MP with Rail Minister, Claire Perry MP

The Chancellor was responding to a letter from Maria Caulfield, the new Conservative MP for Lewes.

He said: “As part of the Summer Budget, I have announced the extension of the scope of the Lewes–Uckfield study to look at improving rail links between London and the south coast, including upgrades to existing routes, consideration of the Brighton Main Line corridor, and re-examination of the Department for Transport’s feasibility study on BML2.”

Cllr Geoffrey Theobald
Cllr Geoffrey Theobald

Cllr. Theobald, a long-term supporter of BML2, said: “This really is very welcome news indeed and I would like to thank the Chancellor for his foresight in extending the feasibility study to include BML2. It is clear from his letter that he recognises, not only the benefits to long-suffering commuters of a second Brighton mainline but, equally importantly, the potentially massive economic benefits to the south east as a whole. Maria Caulfield deserves a lot of credit for continuing to pursue the case for BML2 in the face of a vociferous and often misleading campaign by her predecessor, Norman Baker, against it. As a former Brighton councillor, Maria can see the wider benefits that BML2 would bring, not just to her constituency. I very much hope that the study will now proceed apace because the current mainline is clearly very close to breaking point.”

Simon Kirby, Conservative MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven is delighted at the news.

He said: “This is great news that the Chancellor has said he will include the viability of a Brighton Main Line 2 in the upgrade study. As a regular commuter myself, I am very much aware of the frustration that an unreliable service can cause. I have been pressing for improvements for a long time, together with other MPs in the South and am delighted that the Chancellor has taken this decision.”

Mr Kirby has met regularly with Rail Minister, Claire Perry MP and management of Southern Rail, Thameslink and Network Rail along with other Southern MPs to discuss concerns about issues of reliability, seating and customer services.

Totnes Town Council to mark Pride week by raising rainbow flag

Posted on by Paul Gustafson

In a gesture of support and solidarity for the local LGBT community, Totnes Town Council will raise the rainbow flag over Totnes Civic Hall during Totnes Pride week.

Totnes Pride

The flag raising ceremony will take place on Monday, August 31 2015 at 6.30pm and everyone is invited to attend.

Totnes Mayor, Cllr. Jacqi Hodgson
Totnes Mayor, Cllr.Jacqi Hodgson

Totnes Mayor, Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, who will open the event said: “Raising the flag to celebrate diversity highlights the diversity in our community in Totnes.  As Mayor I am really proud of the wide mix of people in this wonderful town and delighted that we have come together to celebrate the LGBT community and the Proud2Be group who work hard to raise awareness of LGBT issues.”

Now in its third year, Totnes Pride is one of the UK’s largest rural pride events.

The celebrations will culminate on Saturday, September 5 with a number of events organised by local based LGBT+ charity Proud2Be Project, including appearances from special guests CN Lester and Jacq Applebee.

CN Lester is a singer-songwriter, writer, classical musician and activist who was named one of the most influential LGBT+ people in the country two years running by The Independent newspaper.

CN Lester
CN Lester

CN said: “There’s a dangerous myth that LGBT people only exist in large cities, in gay districts – that we’re not a normal part of everyday life. The best Prides I’ve ever attended have been smaller Prides around the country that celebrate and support all members of the LGBT community, showing us in all our complexity, including us in the fabric of our wider communities. I’m absolutely thrilled to have been asked to participate in Totnes Pride – here’s to breaking down barriers and stereotypes together.”

Jacq Applebee is an activist and writer, and the Co-founder of Bi’s of Colour.  She was included in the first ever Purple List, which honours bisexual activism.

Jacq Applebee
Jacq Applebee

Jacq said: “I am a firm believer (in) the importance of reaching LGBT people who are isolated, including those in rural areas. In the first bisexuals of colour survey and report, which I produced, isolation was one of the regular themes that resulted in participants not feeling part of their LGBT communities. Totnes Pride will be my first Devon LGBT event, but hope it won’t be my last!”

The day kicks off at 11am outside The Dartmouth Inn, with opening speeches from CN Lester and Proud2Be founders Mat and Jon Price, who together with the award winning Samba ROC Band and an 8ft willow peacock will lead a procession up Fore Street and High Street to Totnes Civic Hall.

Community bus service Bob the Bus will be running a park and ride service from 10am and will also offer transport for those with mobility issues.

Visitors can then enjoy community art projects, workshops and talks and a variety of community stands at the Civic Centre from midday.

The fun continues into the evening at Totnes Pride After Party from 7.30pm at The Royal Seven Stars Ballroom, featuring live music from popular Disco Funk band Golddust, Rococo Chanel, and DJ sets from Madame Souza and Rhi Rhi Rhythm.

Entry to the daytime events is just £2 for adults, £1 for 11-18 year olds, and is free to those under 11.

Tickets to the After Party are £10.00 (18 and over only) and are available to purchase in advance from Proud2B and on the door.

Proud2Be are looking for volunteers to help out on the day. If you would like to get involved then please email Julie & Dot at volunteer@proud2beproject.org

If you are an organisation or community group and would like to participate in the procession, click here:

Or email:  info@proud2beproject.org

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