AFTER announcing Girls Aloud’s Nadine Coyle as this year’s headline act, Reading Pride has announced the remainder of its main stage acts.
This year’s Love Unites 2022 festival and parade will see a performance by the Reading Rock Choir, which is recognised as the first in the UK to require no audition and no requirement to read music.
The choir covers contemporary and pop music and is open to anybody with any level of musical experience.
As well as the Rock Choir, there’ll be a performance from Natalie Gray, a singer-songwriter originally from Reading. She has been feared on Damian Harrison’s Don’t Walk Away, as well as Joel Corry and Billy Da Kid’s Get What You Give.
Natalie recently released her own 80s-inspired synth-pop, supported by BBC Introducing, and finished a UK tour raising funds for Women’s Aid.
London-based four-piece girl band Ring the Alarm is also set to bring their brand of pop-tinged R&B and choreography to the stage.
Carter the Bandit will also make an appearance, as he continues to push for more LGBTQ+ acceptance in the rap and hip-hop scenes.
He’ll be joined by Bentley Jones, who has remix credits with Madonna, Britney Spears, Kygo, Whitney Houston, Demi Lovato, Taylor Swift, and Lady Gaga.
His latest album, The Unexamined Life, was debuted at 2020’s Global Pride Festival, and looks at sexuality, gender, and the discrimination he has faced in the music industry in a mix of house, hip-hop, and 80s synth.
Ghana Music Awards nominee Danny Lampo will bring afrobeats and dancehall to the event, fresh from his Nollywood Entertainment and Leadership Award last year.
Manchester’s Janathan will also be in attendance, having been praised for his k-pop and house-influenced dance music by the likes of Katy Perry, Little Mix, PSY.
They’ll be joined by Leadly, an independent pop musician with flavours of Kim Petras and Carly Rae Jepsen, and Sam Solace.
The main stage will be hosted by Mr Leather UK 2017, Jamie Wake, who has supported the LGBTQ+ community in Reading for more than 15 years.He will be joined in hosting duties by Reading’s own Pride favourite Wilma Fingadoo, internationally-celebrated drag performer Dr. Bev, and Drag Idol winner Son of a Tutu.
This year’s Pride Parade and Love Unites Festival will take place in Kings Meadow on Saturday, September 3.
