READING’S Pride parade and Love Unites Festival organisers have announced who will be hosting this year’s event when it returns in September.
Pride will see the return of four formidable fan-favourites, taking to the main stage to bring the day’s acts and performers to attendees.
Reading Pride’s most diligent drag doyenne and engrossing enfant terrible, Wilma Fingadoo is back once again, bringing her classic, claws-out comedy, and effusive ebullience to the role of host.
Wilma has performed at the event since early in its history, and was among the highlights of last year’s Pride when she closed the main stage.
Martha D’Arthur, winner of Drag Idol UK in 2013, will join her after she cemented herself as a global drag sensation in her role as the inaugural host of the International Drag Festival in 2015.
Son of a Tutu is also set to host, bringing their wit, style, and charisma to the stage following a number of assured performances in Reading in recent years.
Cardiff-based Dr Bev is also returning, bringing their engaging eccentricity and boundary-pushing boldness.
The hosts will be bringing a whole range of performances to the audience, from choirs to captivating drag performances, and a diverse range of music spanning pop, reggae, and grime.
Claire Richards, who rose to fame in the late 1990s while performing with Steps, will be performing the headline slot on the main stage at this year’s Pride.
She will also be joined by Nicolette Street, returning hot on the heels of her performance at last year’s Love Unites Festival.
Reading Pride has also revealed its line-up for the Pride aLive stage, featuring a mixture of artists from the local music scene who are either friends, allies, supporters of, or identify as, LGBT+.
And there is a mixture of genres and styles, including individual artists and bands, ensuring there is music for everybody.
Reading Pride has teamed up with Readipop to bring Dream Sellers, groove rockers Cities In Dust, Wokingham-based country poppers Country Chicks, folk guitarist Ellis Ballard, Hillbilly Ramones tribute band Country Moans, and indie folk artist Colours and Fires to the Pride aLive stage.
Big Jay is hosting a hand-picked roster of performers over on the Pride Xtra stage, including drag and cabaret.
The other stage is the Club F.O.D. community hub, which will see dynamic range of performers featuring drag, comedy, karaoke, bingo, and music.
The route for the Pride parade was also announced last week, as well as the return of B Radio’s live broadcast during the march.
Organisers are still yet to announce the final line-up of the main stage, and are still seeking volunteers for both the festival and on the Pride Xtra stage.
Volunteers are needed for helping to marshal the parade, which means walking and chatting with those taking part, as well as helping with general tasks, upkeep during the festival, and for clean-up on the following day.
Full details about the parade, Love Unites Festival, and how to volunteer are available via: readingpride.co.uk
Reading Pride’s Love Unites Festival takes place in Kings Meadow from noon on Saturday, September 2, following the Pride march through town from 10.45am.
