Vamping it up with Pride

BEATS

MANCHESTER will be awash with rainbow colours this weekend as the annual Pride festival takes over the city centre.

As well as the traditional parade there will be dozens of musical performances.

Sunday is the day to venture into the city if you’re into live bands. Electro-dance stars Diagram Of The Heart are one of the highlights alongside Kelis, Dradonette, My68, The Sticks and Sam Gray. The Women’s Stage will take over Sackville Gardens from 6-11pm. There will be performances from Heather Peace, Claire Mooney, Sarah Adams, Jen Brister, Canine Feline, Rosie Lugosi, Secondhand Wings, Valentino King, Horse, Miss Diva and Th!nk P!nk.

Jackie Crozier, festival director, added: “This year’s Womens Stage is set to be a real highlight. I’m sure everyone will enjoy it.”

Drag kings and queens will be battling it out at Sackville Gardens on Friday — the opening night of the Big Weekend celebrations — for the honour of leading the Manchester Pride Parade the following day.

Tickets for Manchester Pride’s four-day Big Weekend, which runs from Friday to Monday are £17.50. Visit www.manchesterpride.com for more information.



Flesh-back in time...

FLESH — the Hacienda’s legendary gay night — is returning for one night only.

The spectacular disco is coming to Manchester’s The Factory on Sunday from 10pm.

The event will raise funds for the Albert Kennedy Trust and The Peter Tatchell Human Rights Fund.

The one-off night will feature original Flesh DJs Dave Kendrick, Paulette Kath McD and Guy Williams.

Paul said: “It’s a good time to look back and celebrate our lives, but need to look to the future and what comes next.

“For me this isn’t about nostalgia — it’s necessary.”

Tickets are £15 from www.ticketweb.co.uk.