The first wave of acts performing at Nottinghamshire Pride have been revealed by organisers. The annual event will be taking place on Saturday July 29.
In celebration of the city’s LGBTQ+ community, a line-up of dazzling acts will be gracing the stage located in Heathcoat Street, Hockley, promising an eclectic roster of exciting performances. The diverse mix features up-and-coming Nottingham band Girlband and singer-songwriter Rob Green.
The line-up also includes singer Bexx, drag group Notts Hosts, singer-songwriter Tash Bird, queer and trans musical artist Yay Maria, drag performer Kitty Tray and performer Ashley Song. Charity Shop Sue will be returning for another year and visitors will also be able to enjoy performances from Twisted Pole as well as drag queen royalty Liv and the winners of Nottingham’s Drag Pageant.
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There’ll also be performances from ITV ’s The Voice star LYVIA, the Lace City Chorus and Michaela Weeks’ Britney Spears tribute act, as well as speeches from local MP for Nottingham East Nadia Whittome, trans activist Tania Stevenson and Nottingham against Transphobia.
Craig Martin, co-chair of Nottinghamshire Pride, said: “We’re really passionate about celebrating the many talented performers from across Nottinghamshire’s LGBTQ+ community. Each year we try to ensure we have a line-up that reflects the community’s rich diversity, and this year is no exception.
“From fantastic drag acts to some of the city’s top up-and-coming musicians, tribute acts to hard-hitting speeches, we’ll have something for everyone at this year’s Nottinghamshire Pride, with even more fantastic acts still to be revealed.”
This year’s Pride event has the theme of ‘Together’, recognising the journey of the LGBTQ+ community in Nottinghamshire, including its past, present and future. The day’s march will kick off from Lister Gate at 11am before making its way through the city and ending at Broad Street in Hockley, which has been central to the celebrations for many years.
The Nottinghamshire Pride event is just one of the many ways the Nottinghamshire Pride charity supports the city’s LGBTQ+ community. This year also saw the charity take part in the city’s celebrations of Holocaust Memorial Day. Marking a first for the city, during the event the charity stood alongside religious leaders to remember the many LGBTQ+ people that were persecuted by the Nazis.
The charity also provides ongoing support to the many employee LGBTQ+ networks within Nottingham as well as support for schools and their LGBTQ+ students. Leigh Ellis, co-chair of Nottinghamshire Pride, added: “We have always seen Notts Pride as a platform for LGBTQ+ visibility and our theme for this year’s Pride celebrations, Together, reflects that.
"It’s about celebrating the power of standing together with our trans and non-binary siblings at a time when they face increased hatred and negative portrayals from politicians and the media. We work year-round to do this, with the Pride event marking just one of many support initiatives we provide as a charity.
“We also work closely with city schools, supporting their pride celebrations and awareness, and offer a helping hand to community networks, allowing them to be key pillars of the local community, while providing help for those that need it.
“It’s why we march, and is why our Pride celebrations are such an important part of what we do. We hope to see lots of people from across the city join us on July 29 to celebrate the city’s LGBTQ+ community during what is set to be the most colourful and vibrant day of the year.”
Nottinghamshire Pride is a solely non-profit event, and since its inception in 1997, it has relied on the many volunteers who give up their time each year as march stewards, donation collectors and for general event support.
To find out more visit nottspride.co.uk and to donate to the Just Giving page to support the work the charity does go to nottspride.co.uk/fundraising/
