GARY'S ALTERNATIVE MANCHESTER PRIDE GUIDE 2019
There’s so much amazing film stuff going on at Superbia Weekend we’ve had to summarise it all up in it’s own article…CLICK HERE! But here’s everything else that’s going on outside of the wristbanded Manchester Pride zones to give you a more alternative experience this Bank Holiday Weekend in Manchester. As always the city’s queer promoters, artists and events people have turned it out!
THURSDAY
Join Drag SOS’s TV family the Family Gorgeous at Manchester Museum for an afternoon of these uber talented iconic queens reinterpreting the Museum's Natural History collection through a queer eye, in a series of performances and conversations. Performance times: 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.
Beatnikz Republic are teaming up with Queer the Room for a collaboration beer launch party on Thursday 22nd August… possibly Call Me By Your Name inspired Peach Iced Tea Pale Ale has been brewed in collaboration with The Queer Brewing Project for all you hops loving queens…and the money raised from the evening will go to the LGBT Foundation.
FRIDAY
Got the Friday off? Head to Manchester Central Library for a day of stories that made Pride possible with insights into remarkable queer history and a celebration of a still hidden queer past. As well as announcements over the library tannoy from Anna Phylactic.
Though it doesn’t have the same queer hedonistic vibe as when it happens in their Vauxhall home Horse Meat Disco is always a sold bet for a night out at Pride and they bring their Pride Party to The Refuge for the Friday of Pride. Not a disco sister? Then perhaps Pop Curious’s party celebrating mental health queen Britney is for you? Head to Mint Lounge for that one.
It doesn’t get more alt and queer than Alt Queer…and it’s FREE and it’s a big political party! Yes please! The party looks set to take Band on the Wall by storm as Alt Queer teams up with Brooklyn brewery and Stonewall for a huge celebration with live performances from 8 piece brass band Galivantes, the iconic Pride angel Marilyn Misandry, drag and burlesque performer Ivy Profemme, Husk and more.
SATURDAY
The parade is always the purest form of what Pride is supposed to be…free and fun and inclusive, even if the political message has been watered down and replaced by more and more brands. More fetish! More groups like Rainbow Noir! More angry queers please!
The evening will no doubt end at one of the long established huge alt queer clubnights like Homoelectric at Hidden or High Hoops at The White Hotel who have guests on the Saturday including Peach, Kiss Me Again and Supernature (although these nights are now sold out and you need to have got your tickets and be organised bitches) or if you like your men hairy then DILF does exactly what it says on the tin and is taking over Joshua Brooks (and it just sold out too!). New promoters Nite School are also throwing a free Pride party in the basement Stage & Radio.
On the way to these shenanigan is Love Party – Queer Pride Party 2019 at Star & Garter which starts at 3pm and ends at 2am so you could pop in for a few hours or stay the whole day! We’re really proud to be part of this fundraiser charity party who are giving all profits to Mermaids and a queer migrants lobbying charity. The lineup is amazing - Kiss Me Again, Dave Haslam, Drunk At Vogue, RebeccaNeverBecky, Good Afternoon, Grace Oni Smith and Beau Blonde’s band BeauGrace LIVE, Make A Scene doing a Judy Garland Tribute with Vivienne Lynsey, Banskie, Miss Laurie and Marilyn Misandry all hosting plus a mini vogue ball and indoor Pride parade! Phew!
The venue is huge and it’s on all day so tickets can still be bought here: Buy Tickets or on the door.
SUNDAY
For those of you awake at 1pm Queer the Room and RebeccaNeverBecky’s Mix-stress join forces at Common for a brunch/bingo mashup - the amazingly named Abomination Bingo: Big Birthday Bingo Bank hol Brunch Bonanza!
For the rest of us…choose between a massive hangover or a second wind. Choose between Bollox Queer Pride 2019 at The Deaf Institute featuring Rainbow Noir, Fatty Acid and Sonic Yootha or Kiss Me Again Pride Party! at Soup Kitchen with guest DJ LOFT and profit being donated with the LGBT Foundation.
There’s also Gay Garage from Eastend Londoners Savage at Gorilla if you are a queer who wants to go back in time to the days of UK Garage… plus a second day of partying from High Hoops at The White Hotel featuring guest DJ Wes Baggaley.
Film fans can enjoy a double bill of modern queer classics as Above the Line show Call Me By Your Name and God’s Own Country back-to-back at YES!
MONDAY
The city’s best trans artists including Miss Laurie, Husk, Juno Birch and Dorian Wilde bring their talents to Manchester Pride’s Trans Pride Stage in The Village (day tickets are only £6 for the Monday and this is a pretty great lineup, non?). The Candlelit Vigil on Sackville Gardens is where the wristband embargo is lifted and is there at the end of the weekend to remember those we've lost on the journey to getting to where we are today.
We hope you have the best Pride. Love yourself and each other.