Ariana Grande to headline Manchester Pride Live as full line-up revealed

American superstar Ariana Grande is to headline the 2019 Manchester Pride festival – her first appearance in the city since her huge One Love Manchester benefit concert in June 2017.

Grammy and Brit Award winning Ariana will headline the LGBT+ charity’s new event Manchester Pride Live at Mayfield depot this August Bank Holiday Weekend.

The singer will join a stellar line-up including British synth-pop band Years and Years and 80s trio Bananarama as she performs a selection of songs from her Sweetener World Tour at the new live element of the Manchester Pride Festival.

It is set to be an emotional return to the city for honorary Manc Ariana, who had teased in December that she was planning a “special show” in Manchester as part of her world tour underway in 2019.

It is two years since 22 people died in a terrorist bombing as fans were leaving Ariana’s Manchester Arena concert.  Two weeks after the attack that shocked the world, Ariana returned to Manchester with an all-star musical cast to stage the One Love Manchester charity show, which helped raise millions for the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund which assisted victims, their families and all those affected by the atrocity.

Ariana had revealed when announcing her 2019 tour that she would be returning to Manchester this year, but could not state the date at that time because she was planning something special.

She said at the time: “Manchester is not on this initial list because we are planning a special show.  We need a bit more time getting things together before we can announce that date but we are of course coming and we love you.”

It’s certainly huge news for Manchester Pride – in a year of big change for the festival which has had to move the main music stages out of the Gay Village for the first time in 2019 due to the ongoing developments in the district.

Also announced on the Pride line-up today are Chelcee Grimes, Becky Hill, Liberty X, Louisa, Youngr, Pixie Lott, Four of Diamonds and transgender German singer songwriter Kim Petras, all to perform over the weekend.

DJs and dance music based performers will include Basement Jaxx, Nicky Siano: Hallelujah Disco, Gok Wan, Rhythm of the 90s, We Love Pop, Jodie Harsh, Hercules and Love Affair, K-Klass Live and Faithless as part of Manchester Pride Live which this year is headline sponsored by Manchester-based e-commerce giants boohoo and boohooMAN.

Northern favourites Bongo’s Bingo will also be hosting a stage take over with their incredible rave bingo on the Sunday.

The event, which will take place throughout the Mayfield site opposite Piccadilly train station, will feature a number of performance spaces including a huge 9,000 capacity outdoor performance space The Yard, the cavernous indoor Depot will play host to DJs and dance acts and The Sorting Room will host a street food market, bars, and another stage area hosting pop-up performances.  Plus the platforms of the station will be home to a funfair.

There are three ticket options for Manchester Pride Live. The Rainbow Pass from Saturday (£34.50), Sunday (£38.50) or Weekend (£64.50) also provides unlimited weekend access to The Gay Village Party.

These tickets provide access to each of Manchester Pride Live performance areas, pop up performances and fairground.

For those that don’t want to attend Manchester Pride Live, the Gay Village Party will be the heart of the Manchester Pride Festival with the ultimate street party. With community performances in Sackville Gardens, plus markets and parties across the village’s venues, it will continue to be home to the hub of the festival’s LGBT+ celebration.

The stage in Sackville Gardens will host performances by Liberty X, Saara Aalto and Lucy Spraggan. It will also host the Trans Pride event and family Pride activity on Saturday after the parade.

Manchester Pride chief executive Mark Fletcher said: “This year marks a big change for the festival as it continues to evolve. Previously we had one event running over the weekend and this year we have two, each with a distinct offering.

“At Manchester Pride Live we’re truly honoured to be welcoming Ariana back to the city to help us celebrate LGBT+ life.  My team and I have worked hard to create a diverse lineup of performers who will join her in helping us continue to make a difference to the lives of LGBT+ people and celebrate the unity that exists in our brilliant city.”

Tickets to the Gay Village Party provide unlimited day (£10) or weekend access (£15) plus a family ticket for  2 adults and 2 children on Saturday and Sunday only is available for £20.00.

The Gay Village Party tickets are subsidised by Manchester Pride, and contribute towards the cost of delivering a safe, controlled community pride celebration. The tickets DO NOT provide access to Manchester Pride Live.

The Manchester Pride Festival will take place over August bank holiday weekend from Friday 23 August to Monday 26 August.  It will include Manchester Pride Live, the Gay Village Party, The Manchester Pride Parade, The Superbia Weekend, Youth Pride MCR and The Candlelit Vigil.

The full Manchester Pride 2019 line-up:

Saturday 24th August

Years & Years
Kim Petras
Louisa
Lady Leshurr
Youngr
Gok Wan
Basement Jaxx [dj set]
HEDKANDI 20th Anniversary Tour
Freemasons w/ Katherine Ellis
Jodie Harsh
K-Klass Live
Sink the Pink Djs
Rhythm of the 90s

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Sunday 25th

AG
Bananarama
Nicky Siano’s Hallelujah Disco
Becky Hill
Four of Diamonds
Chelcee Grimes
Faithless [DJ Set]
Hercules and Love Affair
Bongos Bingo
We Love Pop

TICKETS

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