Manchester Village Pride CIC has announced the first ten acts taking to the main stage over the Summer Bank Holiday Weekend, alongside a landmark commitment to fair pay, marking the first UK union of its kind for a Pride event.
Treating wristband holders to a wide range of pop hits and queer performances, the first wave of acts includes the iconic Girls Aloud star Nadine Coyle; RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner, Danny Beard; noughties R&B and hip hop collective, Booty Luv & Big Brovaz; award-winning singer Alison Jiear; Russell Small (Freemasons) and vocalist Katherine Ellis; powerhouse singer Michelle Lawson; Newcastle’s drag cabaret comedian Gladys Duffy; and three of Manchester’s best-loved drag performers, KY Kelly, Misty Chance, and Shania Pain.
Today’s reveal is the first of many announcements as the new organising team curates a line-up that reflects its core promise: rebuilding Pride for the community.
Central to this promise is a guarantee that all artists performing at Manchester Village Pride will receive fair pay and that professional industry standards will be upheld. This commitment was formalised last week through a partnership with Equity, establishing a historic precedent for Pride events across the UK.
Carl Austin-Behan, founding board member and spokesperson for Manchester Village Pride CIC, said: “Our Village party is returning thanks to the incredible support of our LGBTQ+ community, especially those who have already purchased wristbands to help get us up and running. We cannot wait to see these ten icons take to the main stage, and we are just getting started!
“The important difference this year is that we are putting on Pride for the community, with grassroots values at its heart. That means paying artists properly and being completely transparent about where the money goes. No one at the organising level is taking a salary this year; funds from wristband sales go straight into event logistics, artist pay, and our five amazing charity partners.
“To deliver a well-run event that does Manchester proud, we need the community to invest in this vision by securing their wristbands. Now is the time to come together, get your tickets, and get ready for an unforgettable, community-owned weekend at Manchester Village Pride.”