Pride in Liverpool programme unveiled
This year's theme is 'Be Heard', aimed at pushing LGBT+ voices to the forefront
A first-of-its-kind open-air orchestra concert will kick-off Pride in Liverpool, when the festival returns later this month.
Details of the 2024 programme have been released ahead of the festival on the 26, 27, and 28 July.
'Pride Classical' will see Scissor Sister frontman Jake Shears will light-up the main stage alongside a 32-piece orchestra, drag legend Danny Beard and West End stars Alison Jiear and Ashford Campbell.
'March in Pride' will return on the Saturday, with it expected to the biggest yet.
It will start at 10:30am at St George's Plateau, with thousands to make their way through the city centre and onto the Pier Head.
Registrations for the march will close on Wednesday 17 July.
For the free festival on the Saturday, Katrina, formerly of Katrina and the Waves, will be the headline act at the Pride in Liverpool Main Stage.
Other performers will include Brenda Labeau, DJ Dan Walker, Filla Crack, Kelly Llorenna, Kelly Wilde, Lee Mobley, Linda Gold’s Funnyboyz, Lolly, MD Productions, Natalie Abel, and Urban Cookie Collective.
The festival site at Pier Head will also have a marketplace of LGBT+ merchandise and products, food & drink and family activities.
This year a dedicated Young People and Family zone has been added alongside a CommunityEXPO of local services and organisations.
This year also sees accessibility take the centre stage with British Sign Language (BSL) on all stages and accessible viewing areas at the march and main stage.
A new initiative called 'Pride Spotlight' will put a focus on artists on a pop-up stage on the Royal Albert Dock.
They will include Lady Sian, Róis (What She Said, HomoBloc), Sarah (Chibuku Shake Shake & cofounder of the Eves’Drop Collective), WMNKND (Sonic Yootha) and Gogo Dancers (House of La Porta).
Merseyside Fire and Rescue will also host the ‘British Firefighter Challenge’ on Water Street across the Saturday and Sunday.
A Pride in Liverpool fringe event will also be held at the Pride Quarter, with the Cheeky Girls headlining.
LCR Pride Foundation CEO Andi Herring said:
“LGBT+ rights in the UK have gotten worse, or even ignored and removed in the last few years.
“This year’s theme ‘Be Heard’ is all about reversing some of the backtracking and pushing LGBT+ voices to the forefront.
“With the result of the recent General Election It’s never been more important to be loud, proud and unapologetically our authentic selves and use this to influence change.
“We are pulling out all the stops for this year’s Pride in Liverpool to ensure that our community is rightfully celebrated, but more importantly, heard.
“Pride is a protest as much as it is a celebration and I am so proud that we are able to bring together both of these elements, as well as collaboration, at this year’s Pride In Liverpool. We look forward to welcoming tens of thousands across the weekend.”