A POPULAR North East LGBTQ+ festival returns virtually this Saturday, with more than 30 acts performing across the day.
Northern Pride Online 2.1 – sponsored by Barclays – takes place on 24 July, with hosts Gok Wan and Miss Rory, headliner Jodie Harsh and a line up of the region’s best musicians, singers, drag acts, dancers and more.
And with restrictions easing in England earlier this week, Pride fans can make the most of the festival with friends at a wide number of venues which are streaming the event this weekend.
Performances kick off from 12 noon, with Baron Lavey, Bonnie and the Bonnettes, Bridget Hamilton, Faith McDermott, Ivy, Izaak Gledhill, Jackson Soul, Jesse Salaman and Toi Toi Guy, Michael T. Ogilve, Miss Ivy Rose and Pia Pressure taking to the stage.
Then, from 2pm, fans can enjoy DNR Acoustic Mayhem, Jon Luke McKie, Lucy Phurr, Ladies of Midnight Blue, Mandla Rae, Pebble Dash, Penni T, Sophia Flannagan, St. Buryan and The Velvet Snatch.
4pm will see performances from Choriza May, Frida Sapphic, Ibiza Soul, Kay Greyson, Love Dances by Adam Russell Dance ft. Cameron Sharp and Ethan Briscoe, Plastiq and Tabby Lamb.
And Layla Sphynx, Lucy Davis and Zen Blythe will take centre stage from 6pm, joining DJ Jodie Harsh as she closes the show, with Central Park offering an exclusive live DJ set from Michael Maddison as part of their after party.
Other venues screening the event at Newcastle’s Times Square include Rusty’s and Blonde Barrel, along with Switch, Bobby’s and The Bank at Scotswood Road, NE1’s Screen on the Green at Old Eldon Square, Tiny at Middlesbrough’s Albert Road, and Can Can Bar at South Shields’ Ocean Road.
The performances will also be streamed at St Oswald’s Hospice, Teesside University and in staff areas at IKEA Gateshead.
And Pride supporters will be able to see behind the scenes interviews with backstage hosts Dami Fawehimni and MYXM, who will be speaking to performers and organisations including Be Trans Support and Community and Barnardos from the Green Room and on the road.
Ste Dunn, Director of Northern Pride, is delighted with the finished result.
“Northern Pride Online 2.1 has been many months in the making and we are so excited for everyone to see what we have been working on all this time,” he said.
“We have a packed line up showcasing a huge range of talent, including musicians, dancers, spoken word poetry, drag acts and more and it’s sure to be a fantastic show from start to finish.
“We’re thrilled to have so many venues on board to stream the event so the community can get together and enjoy the show with their friends and loved ones and there’s also the option to tune in from the comfort of their own home via our YouTube and Facebook channels.”
The event has been filmed at a specially built studio and is being produced by award winning entertainment production company ISG, which supplied a full 360 production service, including stage, sound and a full video recording media suite.
For more information, search northernprideuk on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube or Instagram, or visit www.northern-pride.com
