More big name acts are taking to the stage for one of the UK’s leading LGBT events.
Nineties songstress Sonia and chart-topping boyband 5ive are among those being added to the line-up for Newcastle Pride 2016.
The popular event, now in its ninth successive year, returns in June with two months of live music and activities promoting the theme, be yourself, change the world, #be proud.
Among the many highlights will be a series of performances at Newcastle’s Town Moor from Friday July 15, including appearances by M People frontwoman Heather Small, actress Heather Peace and reality TV favourite Jake Quickenden, which were announced earlier this month.
Event organisers, Northern Pride, have now confirmed eight additional acts who will be joining the line-up for the main stage weekend, including heartthrobs 5ive who are set to headline on Saturday, July 16.
The popular boyband, now made up of original members Ritchie Neville, Scott Robinson and Sean Conlon, enjoyed international success in the 90s and early 2000s, climbing the charts with hits such as Got The Feelin’, Everybody Get Up, Keep on Movin’ and Let’s Dance.
After selling more than 20 million records worldwide and filling their trophy cabinets with multiple awards, including accolades from the Brits and MTV, the band split in 2001 before reuniting for ITV2 reality series The Big Reunion in 2013.
Now back in demand across the UK, 5ive will be joined for Newcastle Pride by singing sensation Sonia, who has enjoyed 11 top 30 singles throughout her almost 30 year career, including debut track You’ll never Stop Me Loving You, which reached number one in the UK in 1989.
Other acts just announced for the event include clubland favourite Tina Cousins, Scottish singer Carol Laula, NE Girls, X Factor finalist Keira Weathers, Britain’s Got Talent star Calum Scott and Lorraine Crosby, a former contestant on BBC show, The Voice, who is perhaps best known as the female vocalist on Meatloaf’s I’d Do Anything For Love.
They will join a host of stars including Hazell Dean, former Brother Beyond star, Nathan Moore, boyband The Ambition and South Shields singing sensation, Cortney Dixon, who will all take to the Town Moor stage from July 15 to July 17, with Heather Small headlining on Sunday.
Mark Nichols, Chair of Northern Pride, said: “We’re really pleased with the line-up for Pride this year and, with the addition of these new acts, we’re confident it is one of the best we’ve ever had.
“Hopefully music lovers from across the UK will turn out for the entire weekend, especially with 5ive getting everyone dancing on Saturday and Heather Small bringing the Town Moor to a fitting close on Sunday.”
Newcastle Pride, one of the largest free events of its kind in the UK, attracted a record 71,000 visitors in 2015, with an additional 480,000 listening live around the world on Pride Radio.
This year, to cope with increased demand, Northern Pride are extending the festival to include more satellite events at venues around Newcastle from June until the end of July.
Full listings for these events and the weekend performances at Newcastle Town Moor can be found by visiting www.northern-pride.com or by searching northernprideuk on Facebook and Twitter.
The festival itself is free to attend, however a number of Gold Circle and VIP tickets are available for those who want to guarantee prime viewing spots for the main weekend.
These are priced from £12 per person and are on sale now at www.northern-pride.com/shop/tickets. Some of the satellite events may also incur a charge and these will be detailed where appropriate.