CLUB F.O.D. and Reading Pride have released the line-up for this year’s Community Hub at the Love Unites Festival on Saturday, September 2.
Club F.O.D, as well as offering a number of services aimed at reducing social isolation, is hosting a full bill of performers, including drag, karaoke, DJs, bingo, and music.
Based in a rainbow-lined marquee at the entrance of Reading Pride Love Unites Festival, the hub made its debut at the event last year following years of dedicated LGBTQ+ events at The Blagrave Arms by the charity, showcasing performers and providing community support.
DJ F’unkle
From noon, the Club F.O.D. hub will see resident disc jockey DJ F’Unkle laying down some tracks to keep attendees entertained as they make their way into the festival.
The Club F.O.D. Gaymeshow with Lady M
From 12.35pm, Lady M will take charge with the Club F.O.D. Gaymeshow, bringing laughter and levity with fun and games.
Lady M has made a big impact with their recent fortnightly drag residency at the Blagrave Arms, and has worked to raise money for a number of LGBTQ+ and mainstream charities.
Jamie’s Karaoke
Co-founder of Reading Pride is returning, bringing music and merriment to the stage with his karaoke show from 1.20pm.
As Sue Panover, Jamie was affectionately known as the grandmother of Reading drag, and won last year’s Selwyn Jones award, named in honour of his late husband, for tireless contribution to the LGBTQ+ community.
Songbooks for the show can be viewed in advance, and the song request app can be downloaded via: jamieskaraoke.co.uk.
Wilma Fingadoo
Wilma Fingadoo, a mainstay in Reading’s classic drag scene and constant contributor to its community and culture, is making an appearance at the hub from 2.25pm.
Wilma brings whip-smart, silver-tongued shade to the stage with cheekiness and charm, honed over her years on the scene and hosting regular drag bingo in the Blagrave Arms and around Reading.
She is also taking up hosting duties on the main stage elsewhere at the festival.
Miss Tina
Safe space and support advocate Miss Tina is set to perform from 3.10pm, bringing vicious verve and velvet vocals to her stage show.
She is also one of the hub’s two hosts through the course of the day.
Lady M and Drag Bingo
Drag phenomenon Lady M will return to the stage from 3.35pm, and everyone’s favourite mixture of dabbers and drag is coming to the Club F.O.D. stage from 4.15pm.
Drag bingo will be bringing full houses and double-entendre in a staple of the British night out, with Lady M hosting, following their recent addition to the drag scene in Reading.
Yuvi
Following his appearance at last year’s festival, Yuvi is also set to return with live music from 4.55pm.
Yuvi’s voice and energy make him one of the unmissable live acts set to grace the stage at this year’s event.
Dr Bev
Headlining the hub this year is Dr Bev, everybody’s drag aunty and international performer, from 5.40pm.
After co-founding the first ever Cardiff Pride, Dr Bev brings Welsh warmth and wiley wit, cultivated through more than three decades of performance and activism in the LGBTQ+ community.
Club F.O.D. CEO Jamie Wake, says “For a significant number of the LGBT+ community, an individual’s first pride literally can change their life: it’s empowering and exhilarating to discover that there are people just like you. Club F.O.D is merely removing barriers, so no one needs to be out”.
Club F.O.D trustee Brendan Nagle adds: “The games and bingo work really well alongside the interactions with the FOD Squad in bringing people together.
“We were contacted after last year’s event by someone who had recently come out and were anxious about coming to pride.
“They said that if it wasn’t for the games and the way they brought people together, they wouldn’t have met other people that day- it also meant they had company to explore the rest of the event but still have somewhere safe to come back to if they felt overwhelmed.”
Full details and line-ups for this year’s Reading Pride Love Unites Festival are available via: ReadingPride.co.uk
