Festival organisers LCR Pride Foundation will commemorate the Stonewall uprising at this year’s event and highlight recent homophobic attacks in Liverpool. Tony McDonough reports
Pride in Liverpool attracted more than 50,000 people in 2018 – the city’s “best-ever” Pride event.
Now the LCR Pride Foundation, organisers of Pride in Liverpool 2019, are aiming to make this year’s event an even bigger success as it commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising in New York.
In 1969 member’s of New York’s gay community took part in a number of spontaneous demonstrations against a police raid at the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighbourhood of Manhattan.
This year Pride in Liverpool is also focusing on the recent homophobic attacks in Liverpool, and are urging the city’s LGBT+ community, allies and supporters to take part on Saturday, July 27, and deliver the message that it has never been more important to “come together and shout down hatred”.
Keeping the true meaning of the annual Pride festival in mind, the complete Pride in Liverpool line up has been revealed, including the new ‘Showcase Stage’ programmed in partnership with LIMF academy, and more acts for the Barclays Stage.
Electropop singer-songwriter and DJ, Little Boots, and Finnish-born X-Factor Dance Like Nobody’s Watching singer, Saara Aalto will be joined on the Barclays Stage by Damn Good Liar singer, Emily Burns, Liverpool sass punk icons, Queen Zee and singer and songwriter, Adam Lyons.
There will also be performances by the first and only UK ambassador of Rupaul’s Drag Race, The Vivienne, dance company KORRUPT and drag queen Minnie Cooper, as well as DJ sets from a host of local LGBT+ venues.
The new Showcase Stage will be a platform for emerging talent and will feature performances from LIMF Academy alumni who will be announced in coming weeks.
Joining LIMF Academy’s acts will be up-and-coming Manchester singer, Jess Kemp, Welsh singer Fyval, Geordie songstress, Channy and homegrown musician, 17-year-old Adam Jay. The stage will also be opened by 18-year-old Josef Hollywood, a radio presenter and DJ from Liverpool.
John Bird, LCR Pride Foundation co-founder, said: “Collaboration is key to everything that we are aiming for through the organisation, so we are really proud to be working with LIMF Academy to be providing a platform for new and exciting talent.”
Pride in Liverpool attendees who prefer to be closer to the action are now also able to buy wristbands for the festival’s new Guest Lounge, positioned right next to the Barclays Stage
Guest Lounge tickets cost £22 and come with access to an exclusive area close to the stage, a private bar, dedicated toilet facilities and seating with cover, in case the unpredictable British weather takes a rainy turn. Tickets can be purchased via TicketQuarter here.
John added: “There are just over three weeks to go until Pride in Liverpool and we cannot wait to see it all come to life. Our city’s annual Pride festival is always a riot of fun, colour, love and celebration.
“But this year, in light of the anniversary of the Stonewall uprising and recent homophobic attacks that have taken place in our own city, it has never been more important to remember the true reason that we celebrate and to come together and shout down hatred.”
Festival goers are also invited to March with Pride along the traditional route from St George’s Hall, finishing at Moorfields. Individuals, groups and companies can register to march online by clicking here.
The fun will continue with Pride Sundae on Sunday 28 July, with more activities taking place at a soon-to-be revealed city centre location.