Pride Classical, the organisation dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ+ history and culture through the power of music, is returning with My Pride Song, a celebration of Pride and allyship in partnership with St Johns Shopping Centre, as part of Pride in Liverpool, which takes place 26 and 27 July.
My Pride Song is once again calling upon LGBTQ+ community members and allies to contribute a video message with the story behind their choice, the importance of the song, and why the music of Pride means so much to them.
This year’s contributors will join prominent LGBTQ+ community members and allies including actress Annie Wallace (Hollyoaks), actor Anthony Crank (Coronation Street), presenter, author, television producer, and activist Dame Joanna Lumley, winner of season 4 of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Danny Beard, actress Hollie-Jay Bowes (Waterloo Road), actress Jane Hazelgrove (Coronation Street), comedian Jason Manford, renowned actress and activist Julie Hesmondhalgh, actor Neil Ashton (It’s a Sin, Brassic) and actor Sam Retford (Ackley Bridge), plus many more.
Neil Ashton of It’s a Sin and Brassic said of his contribution: “My Pride song is I Like the Way You Move by the Body Rockers because it reminds me of Brighton Pride in 2003. It was such an amazing day, they closed off the full street and it was really sunny.
“There were hundreds of people packed into the street and this track came on and everyone was dancing and smiling and I remember catching eyes with someone cute and having a dance with them. It just summed up what Pride was about for me; it was everyone together, it was community, everyone was happy and it was amazing.”
If you would like to be a vital part of the My Pride Song movement, and share your own message or story, then all you have to do is submit a portrait video to the official Pride Classical website, or even visit St Johns Shopping Centre at St George’s Place in Liverpool in the run up to Pride to record it live and watch all of the other submissions on the interactive screen. The videos contributed will be showcased across Pride Classical and Pride in Liverpool’s social channels.
My Pride Song was born out of and inspired by Pride Classical, a show that celebrates the music and history of the LGBTQ+ community via brand new arrangements of beloved songs by iconic artists, performed by a full professional orchestra of LGBTQ+ musicians and allies.
It premiered at the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom and Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, across the opening weekend of Pride Month in 2023, and is now back to take Pride in Liverpool by storm with a world-class 32-piece orchestra performing at Liverpool Waterfront adding an additional day to the festival.
Produced by Carrot Productions, Pride Classical is delivered by Liverpool City Region’s LGBTQ+ charity LCR Pride Foundation and will see an ensemble of star LGBTQ+ artists and an orchestra take to the stage to perform the best Pride anthems of the last 50 years. The ticketed event, which has never been performed on a Pride stage, is part of efforts keeping the the Pride march and festival free.
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 4 Winner and Liverpool-born drag artist Danny Beard is set to host the spectacle. Blending their hilarious Scouse wit with superstar talent and a powerhouse voice, Danny adds an extra layer of class – and camp – to the event.
Danny is joined by headline act and Scissor Sisters’ frontman Jake Shears alongside West End stars Alison Jiear and Ashford Campbell for an unforgettable night at Liverpool’s iconic Waterfront site on Friday, July 26.
Ben Hudson, Pride Classical co-creator, said: “We created Pride Classical because we care about Pride, music, and the queer community. We believe the songs chosen represent some of the most memorable moments of our shared history, but we can only fill two hours, so we couldn’t include every song and every story. So we created My Pride Song to showcase the songs and stories that matter most to YOU!”
Follow @prideclassical for more updates on My Pride Song
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