Pride Park Stars

THIS year Preston Park is hosting a stellar line-up of music and DJ talent on Saturday, August 1 to mark the 25th anniversary.

Below Duncan Hall profiles some of the big names showing their support this year.

Main stage

The Human League

SHEFFIELD’S synth pioneers began as a dark industrial outfit, before they split after second album Travelogue.

While Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh went off to form Heaven 17, frontman Phil Oakey hurriedly recruited two girls he allegedly spotted at a nightclub to fulfil the obligations of a European tour.

The resulting trio of Oakey, Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley went into the studio to record the now classic Dare album – home to dancefloor fillers Love Action, The Sound Of The Crowd, Open Your Heart and the number one Don’t You Want Me.

The band have remained a touring and recording unit, releasing a further six albums, and hits including (Keep Feeling) Fascination, Human, Mirror Man and Tell Me When.

Ella Henderson

CHART-TOPPING former X Factor finalist Ella Henderson is heading out on her first headline tour in the autumn, but got road-fit supporting Take That on their arena jaunt earlier this year.

When Henderson was voted off the TV talent show in 2012 Dermot O’Leary described it as one of the biggest shocks the results show had ever had.

But Simon Cowell refused to give up on her, signing Henderson up to his SyCo label. His faith was proved right, as her first single Ghost shot to the top of the charts in June 2014, followed by her platinum-selling debut album Chapter One in October.

Hercules And Love Affair

COLORADO DJ Andy Butler’s dance project has seen him collaborate with Mercury Music Prize-winning Anthony Hegarty, Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke and cult favourites John Grant and Krystle Warren.

The outfit now has three albums to its name, the most recent being 2014’s The Feast Of The Broken Heart.

Bright Light Bright Light

ALLEGEDLY taking his name from a Gremlins quote, Welsh electro-popper Rod Thomas has two albums to his name, the most recent being last year’s Life Is Easy.

He claims to have found his sound after spending two weeks with US producer Boom Bip in 2009, and more recently collaborated with Sir Elton John on single I Wish We Were Leaving.

Foxes

GRAMMY Award-winner Foxes broke a world record by playing seven shows in seven different locations across the country in the space of 12 hours.

Her Citroen-sponsored record attempt saw her travel from her hometown of Southampton to London taking in Guildford, Reading, Oxford, High Wycombe and Brighton’s Concorde 2.

The electropop singer is currently working on the follow-up to her 2014 debut Glorious.

Tulisa

WITH all the tabloid furore recently, and her stint as a judge on The X Factor, it’s easy to forget that Tulisa made her name as one-third of the Camden-based pop phenomenon N-Dubz.

When the band went on “indefinite hiatus” Tulisa focused on her television career, as well as releasing her debut album The Female Boss in 2012. Earlier this year she released Living Without You, the first single from the projected follow-up.

Christopher Haul

SOUTH Wales born pop-rock singer-songwriter Christopher Haul started out as part of boy band Eli Prime, before working as a fashion show presenter and focusing on his own music.

His new solo EP is set for release at the end of the summer.

Ms Dynamite

THE former Mercury Music Prize-winner last appeared on the Brighton Pride main stage in 2013.

Thirteen years on from her career-making debut album A Little Deeper she’s still making music, most recently guesting on Katy B’s club smash Lights On, and working with David Guetta.

Mary Lambert

THE week she releases her debut album Heart On My Sleeve, Mary Lambert makes her Brighton premiere. She’s probably best known for performing alongside Madonna at the Grammys, while Queen Latifah married 33 same-sex couples.

Blooms

FORMER Brighton resident Louise Cunanne is coming back to the live stage, having DJed at Pride in the past. Her solo tracks Skin, If I and Fall have been achieving critical acclaim.

Kelli-Leigh

THE South London voice behind Second City’s number one hit I Wanna Feel and Duke Dumont’s I Got U performs under her own name – having sung backing vocals for the likes of Adele, Jessie J and Rita Ora.

Carnival Collective

IT’s debateable whether a true city festival can exist without a turn from Brighton’s own supergroup of 30 or more musicians.

Making their Pride debut in their 20th anniversary year Carnival Collective combines drum and bass, Brazilian drums, reggae, swing and funk with an enthusiasm and energy it’s impossible to ignore.

Look out for DJ sets from Kelly Lloyd, Missy B, Claire Fuller, Little Rob, Peter Castle, DJ Trick and Tasty Tim to keep the atmosphere going between acts.

Wild Fruit Big Top

The Freemasons

ANOTHER major Brighton-based dance act, The Freemasons – made up of Russell Small and James Wiltshire - took their name from the tavern in Western Road.

They have scored UK top 20 hits collaborating with Bailey Tzuke, Amanda Wilson, Siedah Garrett and Sophie Ellis-Bextor on the floor-filler Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer).

Latest album, Shakedown 3 was released last September.

Seamus Haji

HARD to believe but it’s more than ten years since Seamus Haji’s biggest hit, a remake of Last Night A DJ Saved My Life.

But he hasn’t rested on his laurels – remixing the likes of Rihanna, Calvin Harris, Mariah Carey, Jessie J, Ke$ha and Hurts in the ensuing years, as well as hosting his own Big Love show on hometown radio station Juice 107.2.

Prok And Fitch

BRIGHTON’S DJ duo Prok And Fitch are making a long overdue return to Pride’s Wild Fruit Dance Tent, having last played in 2009.

The pair have produced global house anthems on their own Floorplay label, and worked with the likes of Todd Terry, Roger Sanchez, Ben Westbeech and Moby.

Kid Massive

DANISH EDM star Kid Massive, aka Benjamin Pedersen, has enjoyed international club hits with the tracks Get Busy, Touch Me (In The Morning), Pride (A Deeper Love) and Good Girlfriend.

Mikalis

BRIGHTON’S own Mikalis has DJ-ed at city club nights Wild Fruit, Sunday Sundae and Rebel, as well as playing Ministry Of Sound and the SW4 Festival as part of the Kidology brand.

Also at the Wild Fruit Dance Tent:

Chris Pullin

Kate Wildblood & Queen Josephine

Wayne G

Maze & Masters

Women’s Dance Tent

Ruby Rose

ORANGE Is The New Black star Ruby Rose will be making her debut Brighton visit when she headlines both the Women’s Dance Tent and Concorde 2’s Koochy afterparty at Concorde 2 (see page 33).

Her video Break Free – apparently shot in a day - has earned almost ten million views on YouTube exploring issues of gender fluidity and stereotypes.

“I love the UK,” she told Pride. “When I’m DJing I jump about a lot and I’m pretty goofy but the music is always good. The love at Pride events is palpable and I always want to connect to my brothers and sisters.”

Also on at the Women’s Dance Tent:

SummerDaze

Sami Kubu

Michelle Manetti

DJ Kelly Lloyd

DJ Claire Fuller

Sandra D

DJ King K

Missy B

DJ Alpha

DJ Lady Lola

Legends Cabaret Tent 2015

BRIGHTON’S own Lola Lasagne hosts a line-up of international divas and the city’s finest cabaret.

Starting at 2pm look out for the following cabaret names under canvas:

Sally Vate

Gabriella Parrish

Mrs Moore

Kara Van Park

Myra Dubois

Davina Sparkle

Drag With No Name

Miss Jason & Maisie Trollette

Lady Imelda

Baga Chipz

Rose Garden & Dolly Diamond

Cassidy Connors

Dave Lynn

Mary Mac

Crystal D’Canter & Kelly Mild

Sandra

La Voix & her Va Va Voom Boys

Radio Reverb Alternative Music Stage

BRIGHTON’S band scene is a big part of what makes the city so special, and for the first year community radio station is hosting its own stage of alternative music.

On the bill is a mix of electronica, ska, punk, house, rockabilly, jazz and rock, hosted by Radio Reverb’s DJs:

Daskinsey 4

Academy of Sun

Echo & The Beats

David Noakes

Ye Nuns

DJ Lonesome M – Frockabilly

Kenelis

Sea Bed

Frankie Furlow

And the winners of the RadioReverb Soundscapes Open Mic Night at The Marlborough.

Libraries Literature Live In The Park

FOLLOWING its debut appearance last Pride, Literature Live returns.

A collaboration between Brighton And Hove Libraries, Queer In Brighton and Have A Word, the literary tent will feature The Long Weekend author Clare Lydon introducing Catherine Hall, Stevan Alcock, Carol Robson, Alison Childs and Rosie Wakeley, John Gordon, PJ Samuels, Donovan Morris, Edd ‘MC Chewy’ Muruako and D’relle Khan, before Have A Word takes over at 5pm.

Sheila McWattie Women’s Tent

ANNABEL Pribelszki is hosting this year’s women’s tent line-up – featuring the best from the women’s music and entertainment scene.

This year’s tent takes its name from Hove community activist Sheila who died suddenly earlier this year.

Look out for music from Colour Me Wednesday, Holloway, We R Bob, Amber Muir and performance tent co-founder Nicky Mitchell, while laughs and music come courtesy of Rosie Wilby, Qukelele, Laura And The Bass and Anny Knight.

Men’s Zone

THE Bear tent returns to Pride 2015, with a line-up headed by electro and progressive house DJ Chris Brogan.

Also on the bill – alongside a bar and hog roast - are:

DJ Grant Knowles

DJ Lil Alex

Josh The Barber

Chris Barker

Fat Tony

Chris Brogan

Alan X

Paul Heron

Paul Coals

Trans* Tent

CITY poet Alice Denny curates a series of live performances throughout the day.

Family Diversity Area

A CHANCE to chill out, try arts and craft activities, jump on the bouncy castle or play giant games, with face-painting, kids karaoke and a disco in the alcohol-free zone. Plus Potty Pete The Pirate.

For maps and stage times pick up a copy of the Pride25 souvenir map for a minimum donation of £1 - with all proceeds going to the Rainbow Fund. Maps will be available from the official Pride merchandise stalls and Pride Welcome Centre onsite.

Tickets for the Pride Party In The Park cost £21 in advance, or £25 on the gate. Family tickets available for £42. Visit www.brighton-pride.org/tickets