please login to add to this item

X Factor finalists to feature in Pride festivities

Blackpool Pride announces line-up

Tuesday, 14 April 2009

With just six weeks to go before the event kicks off, Blackpool Pride has announced that two X Factor finalists will headline the festivities this year: Laura White and Austin Drage.

Laura's controversial week five departure from the show made headline news and even reached the House of Commons as she was hotly tipped to win the show. Rumours of tactical voting by Louis Walsh were rife! But unperturbed, Laura has since been touring the country and is currently recording her debut album. It seems only fitting that one of the biggest, rising stars in the North West performs at Blackpool’s biggest Pride to date.

Joining Laura will be Austin Drage, another singer tipped to win the competition last year and described by Simon Cowell as "just what the competition needed". Austin had already become a fan favourite when he appeared in E4's "Boys Will Be Girls", when he and two other male singers posed as a new girl band The Honeytraps. Following from the X Factor, Austin has been performing across the UK and is now pursuing a solo career.

Also appearing on stage, as previously announced, will be Eurovision entrants Scooch, 80’s legends Toyah Wilcox and Hazell Dean and opening the show, Jo O’Meara from S Club 7, plus many more artists.

Mark Hurtse, Vice Chair and organiser of the main stage entertainment said "With an all-star celebrity line up this year, I am sure it is going to be our best show ever running throughout the day. With stars from X Factor, Britain's Got Talent, some of our favourite Club/Dance Artists, and of course Eurovision, I am sure there will be something for everyone in this years show!"

Blackpool Pride will take place on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th May 2009. Having previously been held on North Pier, this year sees the festival move to Dickson Road, right in the heart of what is fast becoming known as “Blackpool’s Gay Village”. A special enclosure will be created between Wilkinsons and Funny Girls for the day on Saturday 16th May, to include a huge main stage, market stalls, information stands and mini-funfair. Organisers have been working with Blackpool Borough Council, Lancashire Police and business owners in the area to ensure that Blackpool Pride 2009 is a success and promises to be an event not to be missed. Entry to the enclosed area will be strictly by purchase of a wristband and these can be bought at www.prideblackpool.com.

The parade will take place this year on Sunday 17th May, along the promenade, working its way from the St Chads Headland to North Pier. The parade theme is "Carnival" and it will be led by a samba band, followed by floats and displays.

The closing ceremony on Sunday evening will feature the vocal talents of Daniel Fox and the Manchester Lesbian & Gay Chorus. This will be a time to reflect and remember those who have been lost in the community, and there'll be fireworks from the rooftop of the Flamingos Nightclub.

Mark Seargent, Chair and founder of Blackpool Pride added “It is an immensely exciting prospect that our event, in celebration of our rich and diverse LGBT community, will take centre stage in Blackpool on May 16th and 17th. I could only have dreamt that an event like this would be possible. This is a new chapter for one of the most prominent features of Blackpool’s programme of regeneration."

With an anticipated 10,000 people attending, Blackpool Pride 2009 will be the biggest and best to date. It promises to be an event not to be missed, and will not only be an event that the whole town can be proud of but an event that should help put Blackpool back on the map.

For more details and to purchase wristbands for this year's event, visit www.prideblackpool.com