With less than two weeks until this year’s annual Ilkley Pride, organisers say that this year’s line up is shaping up to be even more impressive than last year with a number of popular acts performing again alongside acts new to Ilkley Pride.
The stallholders are preparing and volunteers eagerly awaiting the final briefing email, but as you’d expect, it’s the huge variety of performing acts that will be the sparkling stars of the show at the King’s Hall and Winter Garden.
This year’s celebration will start in the afternoon with a performance from the incredible drag artist Bernie De Bra, famous for their sensational vocal performances on ITV’s ‘Britain’s Got Talent’.
There’s only one act that could follow Bernie De Bra’s spellbinding vocal performance and that’s pride veteran, The Bleeding Obvious. The Bleeding Obvious is a one-woman queer musical cabaret singing original songs which are sometimes funny, occasionally poignant and frequently involve her experiences on the LGBTQ+ spectrum. She's performed to a packed off-West End theatre at Pride In London, a run at Edinburgh Fringe, London LGBT+ Pride Picnic in Victoria Park, L Fest Lesbian Festival, Trans Pride Brighton, Norwich Arts Centre, more Prides than you can shake a rainbow flag at and a sold-out show at Cadogan Hall London with Europe's longest-running LGBTQ+ choir The Pink Singers. Her shows frequently draw comparisons with Victoria Wood, Tim Minchin, The Divine Comedy and Fascinating Aïda. BBC Radio Leeds described her as “Brilliant” and Metro UK called her performance “Breath-taking” so this certainly isn’t a performance to miss.
Local dance school, Joze School of Dance, will be performing again at Ilkley Pride this year after raising the roof with their energetic dance routines at last years event. Other local performers include bands ‘The Sheds’ and ‘The Finishers’, both firm favourites within the local music scene. Local theatre legend, Dan Hatton, will be performing again at this years event. Dan grew up in the area before moving to London to study at the prestigious performing arts academy, Urdang.
Well known local drag comedian and performer Miss Syren will be performing during the evening. Miss Syren is known for angelic vocals as well as a strong sense of humour. Ilkley Pride 2023 will end with a performance from Soul and Motown extraordinaire Janet Jaye. Janet started her singing career in the same way as many of the greatest soul performers before her – singing gospel songs in her local church. Developing her passion for the soul repertoire over the years, Janet has become known for a performance that fully immerses her crowd. As a result, Janet has acquired an enviable reputation as one of the country’s best-loved Motown singers.
Ilkley Pride 2023 takes place at Ilkley’s King’s Hall and Winter Garden on Saturday July 1st. Tickets are on sale now from The Grove Bookshop and Ilkleypride.co.uk
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