Your one-stop guide to the cream of the queer festival crop around the country this summer...
As the summer quickly approaches and we’re able to wilfully shed a few clothes, at least one of many outdoor events are sure to tickle your fancy. Besides the upcoming and exciting pride season – celebrated in style all around the country – there are a flurry of queer/queer-friendly festivals and events happening all summer long. So don’t waste time, mark your calendar, book your tickets, and get outside!
Stonewall’s Brighton Equality Walk
May 6 (Bank holiday Sunday)
Why? For all those evenings spent drunk in a pub or watching Xtube, do your arse a favour and put on your walking shoes. We all know Stonewall does amazing work, especially as far as tackling homophobic bullying in schools, not to mention all the lobbying done for the Equality Act – and here’s your chance to meet some socially minded, genuinely friendly boys and girls who care about more than pop and partying. Stonewall’s major fundraiser also gives you an excuse to head out to summer gay haven that is Brighton. What’s not to love? This year’s walk will be joined by Coronation Street‘s Anthony Cotton, Amy Lamé and Mr Gay UK, Mark Carter.
Tickets/Registration? Only £10
www.equalitywalk.org.uk/
Queer Up North
May 7-27
Why? Because Manchester’s infamous queer event covering all queer arts and culture, you can’t afford to miss it. With music, theare, comedy, cabaret, and clubbing events, there’s truly something for everyone. Among the events are comedy night Laugh Out Loud, a discussion with American author Edmund White (who wrote The Farewell Symphony, which in my opinion, is one of the best gay books ever), colourful club night Shinky Shonky, and the unmissable Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes.
Tickets/Registration? Varies
www.queerupnorth.com/
Glastonbury
June 22-24
Why? Because Glastonbury is the largest performing arts festival in the world, and while its known for pop and indie acts, there’s dance, comedy, theatre, circus, and cabaret. It seems to be dominated by straights, but why shouldn’t the gays participate? Oh yes…mud. But if you can manage to get your hands dirty, it’ll be worth it. Although the complete lineup hasn’t been released, among those confirmed to be performing should make any music fan drool: Arctic Monkeys, Arcade Fire, Bjork, Kaiser Chiefs, Killers, Mika, Shirley Bassey and more ..and complete list is revealed June 1st. ...and this year the queens fight back as the world's first travelling homo club, NYC DownLow shall be there and not just running a club, they'll also be hosting a series of events including a Horse Meat Disco Vogue Ball, Tranny Olympics, Gay Bingo and a recreation of the Stonewall Riots. With a 15k sound system and an all night license at Glastonbury, The NYC DownLow, associated with the Horse Meat Disco, is guaranteed to be one of this year’s festival highlights.
Tickets/Registration? Standard tickets have now sold out. There will however be a further sale of coach and ticket packages online through www.seetickets.com/g2007 on Thursday 26th April at 9.00am, when a final reconciliation of all coach requests and cancellations has been completed.
www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk
Bestival
September 7-9
Robin Hill Country Park on the Isle of Wight
Why? Having only seen the Isle of Wight from afar, I've heard fabulous things..and besides Bestival, there's also a rumour of the best antique markets around. Bestival itself has won praise for its non commercial feel - so if you're a hippy, you may feel right at home. Meet like-minded folk, munch fantastic foodstuffs and experience a myriad of musical genres and extraordinary performances. Plus boutique camping, kids area, farmers market, fancy dress and much more. The line-up? Beastie Boys, The Chemical Brothers, Primal Scream, Gregory Isaacs, The Levellers, The Orb, Billy Bragg, The Maccabees, Dub Pistols, Calvin Harris and The Shakes
Tickets? Weekend Tickets - £115
www.bestival.net/
Also see The Isle of Wight Festival (June 8-June 10)
Get Loaded in the Park
August 26
Clapham Common, London
Why? London's definitive indie-dance festival takes over Claphma Common (sorry, cruisers!) on Bank holiday Sunday – so there’s an extra day to recover! If you’re a fan of some bitchen’ rock n’roll or if you’re an electrofreak- you’ll wanna be here. Get Loaded boasts it’s the UK's most groundbreaking inner-city events and apparently “rejuvenated Pete Doherty's Babyshambles last summer”. Hmmm, ok! Anyway, the lineup looks pretty fierce as The Streets, Dirty Pretty Things, Dizzee Rascal, and 2 Many DJs are gonna perform. And when you’re done rock ‘n rolling- you could even swing through The Two Brewers! Or maybe not.
Tickets? £39.50
www.getloadedinthepark.com
V
August 18-19
Hylands Park, Chelmsford, and Weston Park, Staffs
Why? Gay.com favorites Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, and Pink headline the Virgin group’s annual music fest. Disco darling Sophie Ellis Bextor will also be performing with an array of fab acts like the Foo Fighters, Snow Patrol, Killers, Kasabian, Kooks, The Fratellis, Mika, Babyshambles, Jarvis Cocker, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Beverly Knight.
Tickets?£130 weekend, £63.50 per day.
www.vfestival.com
Pride season round-up, coming soon…
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