Manchester’s known for a lot of things. It birthed Joy Division, the industrial revolution and also holds the UK’s most successful annual Pride event. Stretching over a month, Manchester Pride is a festival celebrating its LGBT culture, enlisting the help of local talents and establishments, culminating to the Big Weekend which runs from 22-25 August. There’s a whole programme of events which can be found here, but here’s our top three picks:
ART: Cockadoodle: The Erogenous Art of Maurice Vellekoop
Maurice Vellekoop is a Canadian artist who draws from suppressed fantasies, outputting a unique, erotic style that will be exhibited for almost a month. The visitor will witness his contribution to illustration, underground comics, and also mainstream work for the likes of Vogue and Rolling Stone. This will mark his first European solo exhibition. See preview.
Thu 14 Aug – Sat 13 Sep, Twenty Twenty Two, 20 Dale Street, Manchester, M1 1EZ, Tel: 0161 237 9360, FREE, www.twentytwentytwo.co.uk
DANCE: Drunk At Vogue: The Boat Party & The Love Party
Dubbing themselves ‘The House of Popular Disco’, Drunk At Vogue’s testimonials include “one of the best nights in Manchester”, from a publication known as the Guardian. Offering a handpicked selection of disco, pop, house and disco, their only intention is to get your hips shakin’ and your limbs flailin’. The boat party will cruise down the River Irwell, ending up at the Kraak Gallery for an evening of undisclosed debauchery.
Sat 23 Aug, River Irwell/Kraak Gallery, 11 Stevenson Square, Manchester, M1 1DB, 3-8pm (boat party)/10.30pm-late (love party), Prices vary, www.skiddle.com
WATCH: The Parade
Wrapping up the month’s events the only way that is appropriate, The Parade will hit the streets of Manchester to dazzle audiences of all ages and forms with its boisterous spectacle. You can follow it as it runs from Liverpool Road through to its home, the Gay Village. In celebration of the year of equal marriage, this year’s theme is love, so go and show some of yours, eh?
Sat 23 Aug, Various locations, 1pm, FREE, www.manchesterpride.com
- Words:
- Edwina Chan
- Published on:
- Wed 6 Aug 2014
