Leeds Pride Gearing up for a Great Gay Day

Leeds Pride

Leeds Pride Gearing up for a Great Gay Day

Final touches have been made for this year’s Leeds Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Pride Festival. In 5 short years Leeds Pride has grown to be one of the largest and certainly the most colourful events in the City bringing 23,000 people to Leeds’ streets and an estimated £1.25 million into the city’s economy.

Tom Doyle, Leeds Pride Chair said, ‘Pride is a celebration of the diversity of Leeds LGBT communities and a statement of solidarity with and by our families, friend and allies; it’s a great day out for everyone.’

Headlining this year’s star studded Millennium Square main stage is Adam Rickitt, wooing the white rose crowd with the debut of his totally reworked version of his 1990s smash hit, Breathe Again. Other headliners confirmed include, Miss Scarlette Fever, and The Bang Bang Club. It’s not only the international acts that get a look in; local Gay venues have lent their top cabaret talent for the day so expect to see top draw entertainment from the likes of Blayds Bar, Queens Court and The Viaduct Showbar. “Star from the Bars” include Bears Aloud, Anna Glypta and Chel Sea.

Leeds Pride 2010 falls on August 1st which as every tyke knows is Yorkshire Day and showing true Yorkshire thrift, the main stage will feature a section named ‘Glaston-likely’, with performances from tribute acts to some of the world’s greatest stars, including Robbie, Erasure, Cheryl, and the marvellous Dame Shirley Bassey.

Following the 3 hour entertainment extravaganza, the centre piece of Leeds Pride – a massive parade through the city centre - begins at 3pm, featuring mechanised and walking floats from local groups and businesses. Yorkshire MESMAC, a local LGBT charity, celebrating 20 years of service has the honour of being the leading float this year, together with members from its LGBT youth groups from across the Yorkshire Region. Expect to join thousands of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans people, our friends, families and allies as the vast parade takes to the street and makes its way to Lower Briggate and The Calls where the crowds will be met with even more entertainment in one of the country’s best and friendliest Gay scenes. As you would expect from a city as rich in diversity as Leeds there’s loads going on in the specially pedestrianised area from top live acts, DJs, laser shows to fine art, face painting, funfairs and food from around the world including Thai, Japanese and West Indian.

Two outdoor stages, hosted by Blayds and The Viaduct will bring a rainbow of live acts ranging from the fabulous Kelly Llorenna, to the hilarious Birmingham Copy Katz.

Queen’s Court and Bar Fibre will be hosting their infamous Leeds Pride Courtyard Party, ‘Meat in the Street’ with four of the country’s top DJs keeping the throng happy throughout the day and night.

Lower Briggate will host an alfresco DJ stand featuring the cream of talent from local venues and is being broadcast live to over 84 counties courtesy of Dance Gaytion Radio.

The New Penny will be keeping their end up, and their punters, to the early hours with their unique disco classics and cheesy pop. Over at The Bridge the marvellous Danny Cher Bailey will be doing what only he can do with 12 inches of plastic to the delight of one and all.

Joining us for the first time this year The Rock Bar are going to create their very own Ibiza style party with Paul Murray, ex Amnesia Ibiza DJ, spinning a dirty disco house set. The Hogshead will be joining in the fun as an official supporter of Leeds LGBT Pride with some surprising special happenings.

The official Leeds after party is being hosted by Mission 2 and will see two of Yorkshire’s biggest Gay nights, Back Door Disco and Homo going head to head until the wee small hours.

The running for the main stage is

Stars from the Bars
1. Gay Abandon
2. Marleena and the Crumpets
3. Otiks Getaway
4. Viaduct act
5. Viaduct staff
6. Queens Court act

Glastonlikey Section
7. Robbie Live
8. Tia Maria
9. Erased
10. Cheryl Hole
11. Bears Aloud
12. Dame Shirley Bassey Experience

Headliners
13. Laura Steel
14. Inju5tice
15. Tameka (Control)
16. Bang Bang Club
17. Scarlette Fever
18. Liz McClarnon
19. Adam Rickitt