Manchester Pride: The lowdown

Wayne Clews

August 15, 2008

The action runs until August 25

THUNDERING into town like some huge rainbow-painted juggernaut, Manchester Pride has taken over the city centre for 11 days to celebrate the city's diverse and vibrant lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

This year's festival promises to be bigger than ever as Manchester Pride - sponsored by CityLife - has reached the grand old age of 18.

As with previous years, the first week of Pride is a lower-key event, providing plenty of opportunities for the more culturally-minded. BBC Manchester is hosting five lunchtime concerts, running from Monday, that explore the role music has played in the struggles for equality.

The Pride Chamber Music series features work by Dame Ethel Smyth who, as well as being a composer, was a suffragette and formidable establishment lesbian. The concerts take place daily at 1pm and donations can be paid on the door.

For poetry buffs, the Inside Out poetry evening will take place at Taurus on August 18 at 7pm, with readings from Lydia Rullow and Cath Nicholls. The following day, at 5.30pm, Stockport Central Library hosts a poetry event presented by Age Concern, featuring writers of all ages.

Taurus will also be home to a new comedy play by Sarah Evans, The Speed of Dating, which runs from August 19-21 at 8pm. Meanwhile, the on-going exhibitions Military Pride, My First Pride and The Lost Dresses of Travilla will be taking place at the Imperial War Museum North, Urbis and the Palace Hotel respectively.

However, for many, Manchester Pride really takes off over the Big Weekend. From Friday, August 22, you will require a wristband to enter the Gay Village. Tickets are available from most outlets in Canal Street or from manchesterpride.com. Expect traffic chaos on August 23 as the parade makes its flamboyant way through the city centre from 2pm, which heralds the true start of the party weekend.

Clubbing enthusiasts will not be short of alternatives. Cruz 101 will be transformed into Her Majesty's Gay Ship and they have lined up performances from Urban Cookie Collective, Michelle Gayle, Lonnie Gordon and Gwen Dickie over the weekend. Poptastic have also gone for a nautical theme; their main event, Hello Sailor, features Steve Strange as DJ and takes place on August 23 at the WKD Arches beneath Piccadilly Station.

Essential never do anything on a small scale and have booked Mutya Buena, formerly of the Sugababes, Tina Cousins, Natasha Hamilton and DJs from Space in Ibiza for their party nights.

Uni-Challenge takes over the Manchester University Students' Union on August 23, with contributions from Federation, who will be back for their own party at the Ritz the following night. The same venue also hosts the grand final of Mr Gay UK on August 22.

Late addition Boy George will play a DJ set on the opening night of the Big Weekend. For women, Vanilla is hosting a mini Dykefest with Fish Tank at Alter Ego on August 23 and Climax on August 24 at Bar Rogue. If clubbing isn't your bag, there is plenty to keep you busy inside the Village. The main stage will have performances from Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Alphabeat, Four Poofs And A Piano, Client, new hotly-tipped boyband Avenue, and many more.

Cabaret and performance will take place in Sackville Park and there is plenty of browsing to be done round the markets or at the Lifestyle Expo, where charities, support groups, social societies and sporting clubs will be on hand for info and advice.

The whole shebang reaches a dignified climax with the Candlelit Vigil, which takes place in Sackville Park on August 25.

This moving tribute to those who are living with HIV or have been lost to the disease is a moment of calm amid the madness and this year promises to have a performance from Heather Small.

With all that going on, it will be a miracle if anyone makes it into work on the Tuesday.

Manchester Pride runs until Bank Holiday Monday, August 25 in venues throughout the Gay Village and across the city. For more information click here or check out the various previews and interviews to the right.

Share your Pride pictures at our Flickr community here.

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Vicky, Stockport (26/08/2005 at 10:00)

Should be a great weekend, I cant wait. Lets hope the weather stays good.

david, stockport (30/08/2005 at 14:57)

Hi, I am writing to express my disgust at the outrageous practice of doubling the prices of everything within the whole pride event. I am totally supportive of raising money for charitable causes but think it is absolutely abominable the way every shop and stall more or less doubles their prices for the weekend. The village Off License for example were selling 50p cans of pop for B#1, Essential nightclub tickets were B#16 as opposed to the usual B#7, does the extra money paid to these establishments go to the charitable causes? I very much doubt it. It is pure avarice as far as I can see and I have heard the same thing from many different people. It is a disgusting practice and needs to be addressed. Thank you.

Amy, Manchester (23/09/2005 at 12:53)

I totally agree with the first comment on prices, it is supposed to be for charity, not extortionism. I's also like to say that even though I assume they don't pay the acts on the various stages much, if anything I'd imagine, it doesn't mean they have to book such utterly bad performers. I'm all for camping it up, but I'm SICK of seeing a load of people we barely remember miming to choons or on the rare occassion singing to backing tracks when there's SO much talent on offer in this city. I think I saw like ONE act that actually played live music all weekend, and it was such a shock people didn't know what to do! They were pretty great too, we crashed the next stage they went to play on.

More of this please. What the point in having such a great set-up if you're not going to use it?

steve, manchester (25/08/2006 at 12:31)

So its that time of year when everybobdy in Manchester is havung a good time, so tickets & everything goes up it costs a lot of money to stage this event so stop moaning and have a good time or dont come.

Ian, Manchester City Centre (26/08/2006 at 10:06)

Responce to the comments below - I suggest you have a look at the manchester pride website (www.manchesterpride.com) and view the "what's on" section. You'll see that the days have been changed, so there's a mix of music throughout the big weekend... Dance with Galaxy Radio, Live bands (Sunday) with Bodyrockers, Lorraine (who headlined V fest last weekend), Marc Almond etc, then one pop day with Jamelia headlining. Additionally in the park there's live classical music, accoustic sets, locally sourced comedy and street theatre...

Come on - have a fun weekend and support operation fundraiser - it's the only pride organisation in the uk that continually raises money for charity year after year! (nearly half a million pounds raised over 3 years!)

Have fun girls and guys - I know I will!

rice, manchester (26/08/2006 at 20:17)

im gay, and did'nt go because like said prices rise 20%

ex-pat, london (26/08/2006 at 22:37)

I came back home a few weeks back, only to find that rampant heterophobia is becoming the norm.

To say I was ashamed, is a little short of the truth.

The town that gave me everything, now leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

How can it be that a couple are refused entry to a night club, as they are not gay?

As soon as my fiancee was seen, we were told "gays only".

The club, Mutz Nutz.
The night, Pop-tastic on Saturday.

I reported this to the council, to be told that after September, this sort of behaviour will be illegal.

Where did it all go wrong?

Six years ago, Canal Street was the most vibrant place in the UK.

Now, it's a place that harbours "disgust".

Don't get me wrong, taking in the old clubs was the best. But getting refused to a club for being straight, was the worst.

Shame on Manchester, and how dare the council continue with the "Pride" festival.

Celebrating bigotry, it's saddening.

I'm ashamed of my home town. Of the people who have let this cancer grow.

I just hope that the bigotry that I am told is now the norm, is eradicated and that the council and police work together to rid the town of such attitudes.

Peter Warrender, Haverfordwest (28/08/2006 at 18:16)

Once again a great success.Well organised ,Well designed entries,The rain kept off and the sun shined from all the floats and walkers full of love and happiness.
Its a pity the world of today cannot capture a drop of it. Well done everybody.See you next year Love to you all Pete and Linda x x from south west Wales

Brian, Manchester (30/08/2006 at 18:21)

Just like to say a big thanks to all those that worked hard over the weekend. I have a bar in the village and despite the weather we had a great weekend; it is Manchester afterall. I am looking forward to next year; I hope the weather is better.

Mike S, Manchester (17/08/2007 at 10:56)

To ex-pat London - I agree completely - once I can be affectionate with my boyfriend in bars on Deansgate and in the Printworks without getting harrassed or abused.

Until then, I'm more than happy with the status quo. In any event, management usually have absolute right of entrance, they just have to tell the doorstaff to say "no thank you", as opposed to "no, because you're not gay" and there's nothing one can do about it.

Finally, I also agree with the rip-off comments. Half a million quid in 3 years? Nearly half a million people come every year, so that works out at roughly 33p per person per year going to charity. How generous, considering my entrance band alone cost £15 last year!

Demand82 (17/08/2007 at 11:46)

MIke S, I'm gay and spend most of the time away from the village as I find a lot of the people down there just over blown characatures of camps stars from the 60's. To feel the need to express affection to your partner in public, whether you're gay or straight,says more about your need to be accepted than you wanting to give you're partner a kiss.
If you go to the Northern Quater, the Locks, and most of the decent clubs in town, no one would give you and your partner a second look.
Manchester is one of the most tolerant cities for gay people in the UK, if not the most, apart from the odd person.
The gay people hating straights in the village are only perpetuating the divide between gays and straights.

J Green (18/08/2007 at 10:07)

As a straight male from Manchester and one who has spent many Mardi Gras/ Pride weekend in and around The Village celebrating the cities diversity with friends, I have to say that this year, as last I will not be supporting this event.
Too many years have now gone by where we have all seen the steady increase of pricing, whether it be drinks, entrance to bars/ clubs etc.

harshie, Manchester (23/08/2007 at 23:41)

Not every pub charges an entrance fee, and there is always somewhere to sit and chill with a drink that you bring in yourself, in a plastic bottle of course!!

It's only once a year, chill out, watch the people go by, and enjoy the atmosphere . .!

Michael Coleman (24/08/2007 at 15:25)

Popstarz end of Pride Carnival!

Popstarz the club that kicked started the gay indie scene across the globe over 12 years ago is coming to Manchester for the first time in ten years.

Tommy Turntables and the popstarz gang are bringing their three rooms of London craziness and stuffing it inside the Ritz club for an end of Pride 'Carnival'. The popstarz DJ's are joined by Manchester's own Anthony Crank, the gorgeous gay TV presenter and host for BBC Manchester's breakfast Show.

Alongside their blend of indie and pop tunes there's a rare live performance from flame haired beauty Siobhan Donaghy (ex Sugababes). Siobhan's new LP 'Ghosts' has just come out and is receiving critical acclaim as one music journalist wrote "this is like listening to a lost Kate Bush album, its a perfect mix of pop and indie". Listen to the title tracks 'Ghosts', Siobhan sings it backwards! It's unbelievable!

And if that's not enough there's free side stalls and freebies galore including giant space invaders and make over corner.

The fun starts at 10pm on Sunday 26th August, queue jump tickets on sale from selected bars on Canal St and from the pre party at axm. Most drinks are just £2 and tickets are just £7/£8.

More info at www.popstarz.org

jwm (25/08/2007 at 21:14)

I have been a supporter of Manchester Pride for many years. Given the cost has gone up again this year I decided not to buy tickets in advance in case it was raining. Excited by the good weather I went to watch the Parade which was excellent this year. Then on to the Village. Unfortunately not so great. A totally chaotic cuing system for the second year running which for the price of £18:00 entry is quite frankly inexcusable. I decided to abandon and will just have to miss out this year which is a shame, but at least I won’t feel like I’m being totally ripped off!! I Went to Vienna Pride this year. Really good fun & 100% free!! I’d be grateful if someone can enlighten me on the amount raised for charity also, which is approx £125,000. £18.00 x approx 200,000 people that attend = 3’6 Million (plus some sponsorship money) so where does the 3’5 Million or so get spent? (obviously not on well organised pay & entrance facilities).

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