Forget about the calm before the storm, the first night of offered what many deemed to be the party after the Putting the earlier remnants of Storm Lilian well and truly to rest, Manchester’s lit up with a congregation of celebration as revellers flocked into the city early to enjoy what is now one of the country’s biggest celebrations. Friday is usually a tamer start to proceedings for most people who choose to conserve their energy for Saturday’s parade and the rest of the weekend’s festivities, but this year the temptation of seeing , Banksie, Gok Wan and The Greatest Showman star Keala Settle proved to be too much of a temptation to ignore. Speaking about this year's festival, Manchester Pride CEO told a crowd at an opening event: "Manchester Pride is not just an event that takes place once a year, it’s not something we only see as we’re dancing around the Gay Village having a wonderful time, Pride exists all year round.
" Weeks before this year's Pride, it was reported that a number of acts on the line-up had dropped out due to Pride’s main sponsorship Booking.com, which has been alleged to have listings on its website located within the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Addressing the situation, he said: "There’s been quite a lot of noise as we run up to Pride this year, and there is always a lot of noise as we run up to Pride every year - we are proud, passionate people who have an idea of how Pride should be, what Pride should be, and how Pride can be better.
"We can always be better, we can always do more, what we do not do is target our further marginalised communities, harass them and bully them so that the platform that we thought hard for, for the last five years, is removed from them performing. That is not what we stand for at Pride, and this is a time to come together, Manchester Pride." Back in the Village and with a little bit of late evening sunshine rearing its head, the spirit of the Trans Filth and Joy section on the main Village Stage, curated to celebrate trans and non-binary performers, eased crowds into the first night of Manchester Pride - a fitting reminder to people that it is possible to party and protest at the same time.
Following the section, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Banskie brought the glamour with their curated runway fashion show in the Indoor Arena, with what they described as ‘the biggest show of my career'. Over on the Alan Turing Stage, in Sackville Gardens, Lady Bushra hosted a line-up of local musicians and drag performers like OneDa and Violet Blonde, whilst bringing her own slice of comedy and wit to proceedings before Keala Settle wowed crowds with the poignant (yet now-bonafide karaoke anthem) This Is Me. On the main Festival Stage, Gok Wan promised to take revellers to church with a high-energetic set which featured the likes of Ian Van Dahl's Castles in the Sky, Rui Da Silva's Touch Me and Smalltown Boy by Bronski Beat - and there was even an impromptu guest appearance from Danny Beard.
Acknowledging the special moment on stage, Gok recalled memories of clubbing in Manchester and the Hacienda before remarking he wanted the crowd to represent for LGBTQ+ people around the world. “We’re going to film this for our siblings around the world, and say this is how you do it in Manchester,” he explained. Ending on a poignant note with a remix of George Michael’s Freedom, he said: “we are all one family.
” Following up, headliner Jessie J took to the stage in a dark blue number as she opened with the attitude-packed Do It Like A Dude. Informing the crowd of her show rules which involved enjoying yourself, taking pictures (but being kind with the angles), and being nice to your neighbours, she continued the impressive set with the likes of Laserlight and Burnin' Up as well as fan favourites Price Tag and Bang, Bang..
