One of the UK’s largest free LGBT events is inviting North East music fans to be the Same Old Brand New You with the first announcement of its weekend line-up.
Chart-topping boyband A1 and X Factor star Sam Bailey are among the first acts set to perform at this summer’s Newcastle Pride 2017 festival, sponsored by business improvement district NE1.
And the popular festival, now in its 10th year, will return with a host of entertainment from June through to August, including the main weekend of live music at Newcastle’s Town Moor from 21 – 23 July.
A1, featuring original members Ben Adams, Christian Ingebrigtsen and Mark Read will be headlining Newcastle Pride’s Manchester Airport Main Stage on July 22, with 2013 X Factor winner Sam taking top spot the following day (July 23).
Internationally successful pop group A1 scored several number one hits across the globe, including two UK No. 1s within nine weeks, with a cover of a-ha’s Take On Me, followed by the self-penned Same Old Brand New You.
The trio had eight UK Top Ten hits, three successful albums and were awarded a prestigious BRIT award for British Breakthrough Act in 2001.
They will be joined by a host of top stars across the weekend including British singer-songwriter and I’m Gonna Get You star Angie Brown, Diva from Down Under – Kelly Wilde and Steps tribute band Steptastic.
LGBT community choir Northern Proud Voices and London cabaret star Danni Dee and The Broadway Dancers – who are best known for their performances at Newcastle cabaret club, Boulevard – will also be taking to the stage.
The Manchester Airport Main Stage, hosted by Boulevard’s Miss Rory, will also see the UK’s number one male high energy – or Hi-NRG – recording artist Jason Prince perform, along with Lee Lambert from X Factor 2013, Czech five-piece girl group Pink Angels and Newcastle Drag Idol 2017 winner, Dragon & The Whale.
On both Saturday and Sunday (July 22 and 23), festival-goers will be welcomed by representatives from Pride Radio, with a host of additional activities and themed entertainment zones in operation throughout the weekend.
This includes the Eazy Street Cabaret Tent, the Powerhouse Dance Tent, the Tesco Bank Family Zone and theSteve Paske Heath Zone sponsored by Arnold Clarke, which will run alongside a number of market stalls on both days.
Mark Nichols, Chair of Northern Pride, which organises Newcastle Pride, said: “The Manchester Airport Main Stage programme is one of the most popular aspects of Newcastle Pride and this year we’ve gone all out to offer an amazing array of acts across both days.
“With A1 and Sam Bailey leading the line-up, we hope that people will really make a weekend of it and enjoy everything the festival, and the North East as a whole, has to offer
“And that’s not all, as we have a second announcement – with even more amazing acts – coming soon.”
Patrick Alexander, Head of Marketing at Manchester Airport, said: “We are delighted to learn who will be performing at this year’s event and everyone from the UK’s third biggest airport cannot wait to get involved.
“With our holiday to San Francisco to be won before May 28 and excellent acts lined-up for the Pride weekend, it’s set to be a memorable summer for Newcastle Pride’s 10th birthday year.”
Newcastle Pride, organised annually by LGBT charity, Northern Pride, attracted more than 73,000 visitors and contributed more than £10.1m to the economy in 2016, and this year, as well as the Main Stage weekend at the Town Moor, the festival will also feature an extended range of satellite events at venues around Newcastle.
Full listings for all of these events, including a LGBTQ+ Youth Prom and Black Tie Ball, can be found by visitingwww.northern-pride.com or by searching northernprideuk on Facebook and Twitter.
The festival itself is free to attend, however a number of Gold Circle and VIP tickets are available for those who want to guarantee prime viewing spots for the performances on July 22 and 23.
Some of the satellite events may also incur an additional charge.