Popular Waterloo Road actress and 80’s punk singer Toyah join a packed programme of community events.
Newly-married Manchester Pride Patron Heather Peace is to top the bill of the annual Sackville Gardens Women’s Stage. The much-loved actress and musician, best known for her roles in BBC dramas Waterloo Road and Lip Service, is just one of many highlights of an exciting weekend schedule focused on local community groups and their supporters.
Heather recently returned to her first love of music with the release of her debut album Fairytales in 2012. With two sold-out tours of the UK, a tour across Australia, including a headline slot at Sydney Mardi Gras, and radio play on Radio 2 and Smooth FM, Heather’s music career is going from strength to strength and her exciting live show will thrill new and existing fans.
Manbears take over the Sackville Gardens stage on Friday night to showcase a variety of up-and-coming talent, including vocalist David Jonson, singer and musician Kim Brunt, and Scottish boyband Rewind, and Arch Ensemble’s crowd-pleasing Proms in the Park return for another year.
Sunday sees UK transgender festival Sparkle host a day of music and entertainment, followed by 80’s punk singer Toyah and Kelly Wilde headlining the Pride Favourites stage.
Heather Peace said “Manchester is where my music career began with a little Jazz residence on Canal Street, and it’s always brilliant to be back performing there. We’ll have a ball Manchester, can’t wait to see you!”
Manchester Pride Deputy Chief Executive Darren Adams added “It’s always a pleasure to welcome Heather back to the Big Weekend, and we are grateful for her support and commitment to the UK’s leading LGBT Pride festival. We’re delighted that Sackville Gardens remains a relaxed space where local groups and their friends can celebrate the diversity of Manchester’s LGBT community.
“Alongside this thrilling selection of up-and-coming talent from across the North West and beyond, we’ll be streaming our Main Arena headliners to the Sackville Gardens screens. As always, the George House Trust Candlelit Vigil in the gardens provides a poignant finish to this year’s festival.”
Advance Big Weekend tickets are still available at a price of £21 from manchesterpride.com/tickets and selected outlets.
