#QLive Drop Dead Gorgeous: interview with Republica & Kenelis

We were very lucky to catch up with Saffron Sprackling, lead singer of legendary band Republica,
 
and Mel Sanson, Q Alternative Stage organiser and front person, as well as lead singer for Brighton rock band Kenelis right before they rocked the stage at Brighton Pride. 

Planet London (PL): What's been the vibe for you at Brighton Pride today and what have you enjoyed so far?
Saffron Sprackling (SS): Well it's been such an amazing day. To be here with Mel Sanson and Vicky from Kenelis who are co-ordinating the Q Stage, and seeing their dream realised... with the crowd being amazing, going crazy for all the bands, especially Lucy Spraggan earlier in the day, it's going to be fantastic to see Kenelis perform and then go on stage oursevles.

Mel Sanson (MS): Joan of Arc played a Guns N Roses cover ealier, that I managed to catch in between working, and that was amazing as well.

PL: Will you be partying after the Park?
Both: Hell yeah! 

PL: What's been your favourite performance today then? 
MS: I can't really pick a favourite, it wouldn't be fair!
SS: Lucy Spraggan!


PL: Why did you introduce the Q Stage and why is it important for Brighton Pride?
MS: I just think it's important to have alternative music in the park, not just the main stage, main stream singers with backing vocals. Brighton Pride want to make the event more like a festival... I was previously involved with the women's live performance stage but this year I thought, "Why limit it to women?"

So the Q Stage is about live music, it doesn't matter what your gender or sexuality is, it's about playing live music at Pride. 

PL: If you could be in a girl band of your choice who would you choose to join you?
SS: I'd be in TLC because that's my favourite girl band of all time. If I could make my own... then Courtney Love, Mel Sanson, PJ Harvey, Shirley Manson, Gwen Stefani... 
PL: Can we join?

PL: What music is your guilty pleasure?
MS: Example. I like it. Not cool for a rocker but I like it. 
SS: Supertramp and the BeeGees. 

PL: Tell us a secret about yourself...
Both: There really aren't any. Everything's out there already.

PL: Is there any song out there you wish you had written?
SS: Waterfall by TLC. But there's so many really, like Read my Mind by Gordon Lightfoot. Beatles songs. 
MS: Drop Dead Gorgeous.

PL: Who would be your ultimate person to cover your songs? 
SS: Kenelis!
MS: Republica!


By Naomi & Katie

#QLive Interview: A little catch up with Lucy Spraggan...

We caught up on the latest with Brighton local and Brighton Pride Q Alternative Stage performer Lucy Spraggan backstage...

Planet London (PL): What's been the vibe for Brighton Pride for you today? What have you enjoyed? Will you be after-partying?
Lucy Spraggan (LS): I really like that it's a local event...I will definitely be partying later, not sure where yet, but I'll be out.

PL: Who's your favourite lesbian artist
LS: I'm a big believer in not defining singers by their sexuality, whether they are gay or straight... I am proud to be gay but I don't want to single ourselves out. My favourite artist is Dolly Parton. A big ol' gay icon!

PL: What's been your best moment of the summer so far?
LS: I think it's going to happen this week. [Editor's note - we'll let you know if we find out].

PL: How many tattoos have you got?
LS: I've got one that's 2 days old - I went and sat for four and a half hours for that... I don't know now many there are... a lot!
PL: What's your favourite one?
LS: Probably this one of Steve [points to a very close resembling portrait of her beloved French Bull Terrier Steve, on her right arm]. Or this one which I got the day after I wrote Tea and Toast [it's tiny a mug of tea on her heel. Olly Murs is still tattoed on her foot alongside a few Lucy did herself. Rock and Roll.]

PL: What song that someone else wrote do you wish you could have written?
LS: I always think Fields of Gold by Sting.
PL: Who would you like to cover one of your songs
LS: Dolly Parton [we're spotting a theme here] but anyone really, it's always a compliment when people cover my songs.
PL: Imagine her doing Tea and Toast - that would be pretty fantastic
LS: It really would.

PL: If you could be in any girlband for the day, who would be the other members?
LS: Liza Tarbuck, The Vicar of Dibley and... Rylan!
PL: every girl band should have a Rylan.

PL: How do you take your tea?
LS: I used to take it black no sugar. I drank so much I can't drink it any more.

PL: What do you eat on your toast?
LS: Everything! Bananas are good. Everything goes on toast.

PL: What music is your guilty pleasure?
LS: Really shameless EDM - European Dance Music. And dancing to it.

PL: and finally... tell us a secret about yourself
LS: I'm pretty open, it's all out there already. I've got a stranger's name tattooed on my bum.
PL: I think you may have shared that secret with a few million TV viewers already.
LS: See it's all out there.

By Katie & Naomi

Brighton Pride is even bigger this year as Preston Park extends to 10pm #FreedomToLive

Brighton Pride is going even bigger this year with extended park hours and a pedestrianised Kemp Town street party. 

Get your tickets now!

The theme for this year's parade, which begins at 11am along the sea front up to Preston Park, is #FreedomToLive.


As always the Preston park event is the flagship of Brighton Pride, and this year there are a few changes to the programme, compared to last year, including the inclusion of the Q Alternative Stage featuring Republica and Lucy Spraggan.

Confirmed for the main stage are: the ever handsome boy band Blue, Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt, the poptastic Neon Jungle, disco legend Martha Wash and the divine singer songwriter Heather Peace. 

Full map available at
www.brighton-pride.org/brighton_pride_map_2014.php

Alongside these great music acts, there are a number of party & community tents in the park including The Wild Fruit Dance Tent, Legends Cabaret tent, Girls Dance big tent, Calabash Tent, Men's Area / Bears Tent, Funfair, the Literature tent, Community Village with over 20 community stalls along side Lunch Positive cafe, Mind Out and the new Access tent delivered by the Community safety forum, all combining to deliver a proud day out like no other.  

All the information about the Village Party is available here. With a massive area around St James Street closed off to cars, what safer, more affordable way is there to enjoy Brighton Pride after the parade?

For the first time ever, Brighton and Hove Council have allowed the Pride Village Party to extend to the seafront road. Marine Parade will be closed to traffic for the event, creating a larger Pride Village Party for everyone to enjoy.

The Pride Village Party* takes place from 6pm on Saturday 2nd August and extends until 12.30am after the Preston Park festival.

Pledge bands or residents access bands will be required for entry to secure zone during village party hours and to purchase alcohol in venues and outlets on Saturday 2nd August 4pm - 12.30am and Sunday 3rd August 2pm - 8pm.

*No Alcohol can be brought into the secure zone during Village party hours.

Our advice - get your tickets in advance to get the quickest entry into the Park.

Read our review of last year & check out our photos to help plan your own personal schedule

FOLLOWING THE RAINBOW BRICK ROAD: Heather Peace unveils Europe’s first rainbow crossing in Brighton for LGBT Pride Month

(reposted from Planet Brighton)

Madeira Drive in Brighton was given a bold makeover this morning as street artwork representing Europe’s first official ‘rainbow crossing’ was unveiled to celebrate the release of We Can Change, a new song celebrating LGBT Pride month and championing equal rights by actress, musician and local resident, Heather Peace.

Created by local artists overnight, the rainbow stretches across the road at the artists’ quarter of Madeira Drive and is expected to attract hundreds of people keen to follow the rainbow brick road for the first time in Europe.*




Over the last few years, rainbow crossings have become synonymous around the world as a celebration of diversity. The first crossing was launched in West Hollywood in 2012 by artist Martin Duvander, who said that they were a milestone for the LGBT movement: “The sheer impact and the enormous visibility of the global message they send are truly immeasurable.” Since then, official crossings have been unveiled in cities including Sydney, Melbourne and Tel Aviv, while unofficial DIY crossings have popped up in places like Moscow, Paris, Shanghai and Cambodia as marks of protest and solidarity for LGBT people.



Photographer: Michelle Robek

Says Heather Peace: “I knew there could be no better place in Europe to create a Rainbow Crossing than in my home town of Brighton. We Can Change, is my big gay anthem. It’s an empowering tribute to equality and I wanted the crossing to be a beautiful symbol to represent that during LGBT Pride month. It’s a gift from me to anyone that embraces diversity.”

Julieanne Gilburt and street artist Cassette Lord led the creation of the crossing artwork alongside a team of artists from the JAG Gallery and the Modern Gallery on Madeira Street. She said: “We’ve loved creating the rainbow crossing. It’s a beautiful message and a perfect addition to the artists’ quarter on Madeira Street. We hope everyone will come down and enjoy it.”

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion said: “This is a great tribute to that spirit of diversity and inclusiveness embraced by our city. Brighton is such a creative, colourful place and the new rainbow crossing wonderfully reflects that. It’s a lovely and fitting addition in the run up to Pride 2014.”

Brighton & Hove City Council’s LGBT champion, Councillor Phelim Mac Cafferty, said: “We love the idea of this artwork and fully support it as a celebration of our city’s lead on equalities issues. I’m proud that once again we are on the global stage for our continued stance against prejudice.”


Photographer: Michelle Robek

Heather Peace is an actress, musician and gay icon who has appeared in the top ten of the Independent On Sunday’s Pink List twice, graced the cover of DIVA Magazine more times than any other artist and headlined Sydney Mardi Gras’ Fair Day. She’s also a patron for Diversity Role Models, Manchester Pride and a supporter of The Peter Tatchell Foundation, The Albert Kennedy Trust, Womankind and Stonewall. She will perform at various Pride events this summer, including Brighton Pride before embarking on her own UK tour in October.

* Please note: Government traffic regulations mean that the ‘rainbow crossing’ artwork cannot be considered as an official pedestrian crossing.

While residents and visitors are invited to come and admire this lovely artwork, for very obvious safety reasons people should not treat it as a crossing point where pedestrians have any form of priority over vehicles.

Pride Before the Fall - What's on offer for women in this summer's Pride events?

***UPDATED***
We take a look at what's specifically aimed at women at this year's Pride events. This article will be updated as we get more information from each local Pride event.

Brighton Pride - the Women's Performance Tent - 3 August
Date: Saturday 3rd August
Details: www.wptbrighton.com, @WPTbrighton
Tickets: from £9 http://www.wptbrighton.com/tickets.cfm
Line up: Lucy Spraggan, Horse, Paloma Faith DJ set
Plus: Alison Moyet, Stooshe, Miss Dynamite on the main stage

An amazing line up for the WPT which is part of the bigger party in Preston Park following the Brighton Pride parade.

What the WPT team have to say:

“Lucy Spraggan and Horse McDonald are both out and proud lesbians who are not only exceptional successful musicians, but fantastic role models for the LGBTQ community. We couldn’t more proud to be hosting them on our stage this year and can’t wait to announce the rest of our top class live acts!”

Brighton Pride - official women's weekender 2-4 August

http://www.brightonpridelesbianparties.com/#!events/c1g0x 

Official women's party opener - Free Terrace Party - Friday 2 August

Details: at Above Audio, 9.30pm - 3am

Enjoy a dance among the palm trees specially installed lighting system on the terrace, or head into the elegant retro grandeur of the bar itself, while our professionally-trained mixologists serve up award winning drinks, and Brighton's favourite lesbian DJs treat your ears with a vast range of top tunes.

Official post pride all-nighter - 3 August in association with Candy Bar and Gaydar Girls

Details: at Concorde 2, 10.00pm - 6.30am. £5 early bird.

In the main room we will be playing pop, commercial dance right through to some harder stuff in the later hours of the night. The event features a full female DJ line up including
Sandra Davenport, Amy B / Missy B / Becky Perry / Cheeks Du Rhythm / Caz Coronel / Izzy Trixx plus more to be announced

The BPGGW Secret Garden Event - Sunday 4 August - free entry

Details: St James Street; 3pm - 11pm

Closing Party - Sunday 4 August

Details: at 9.30pm - 3.00am. Tickets from £3

One fantastic blowout at the fabulous seafront venue Wah Kiki where we have put together an awesome line up of lesbian DJs to rock you in to the early hours of Monday morning.

Brighton Pride - OPP v One Love - Sat 3 August

Details: Life, 160 Kings Road Arches, Brighton BN1 1NB

8pm-5am £7 in advance, £10 on door
http://www.tickettailor.com/checkout/view-event/id/9680/chk/a57f

For one night only OPP The baddest London lez party is teaming up with One Love and bringing its bass heavy riddims down to Brighton Pride for the biggest girl gathering by the sea!

One Love famous for sell-out super club parties in London will take one room and fill it with house, dance & pop whilst the mother of the East End club scene OPP will be banging Old-Skool RnB, Hip Hop & electro-techno-disco.

 Lined up on the decks is the crème de la crème on the DJ circuit with DJ Lady Lola, Michelle Manetti, Lil Jo & Piccadilly Boy who are set to tear the roof off the huge seafront venue LIFE.

With the best production, the coolest club brands, supercharged sound system & state of the art lighting, 2 dance rooms, three bars and a huge outside terrace on the seafront you will know you have arrived at the best girls after party this pride.

With support from our mates at Smirnoff it will undoubtedly be the place to be this Pride.

London Community Pride 23 - 29 June

Events aimed specifically at women:

23 June: An Audience with Martina Navratilova (hosted by Claire Balding) - Tickets from £65 http://londoncommunitypride.org/festival/whats-on/2013/audience-martina-navratilova/

29 June 2pm -  8pm: Women's Area post-Pride March: Carlisle Street (by Candy Bar)

Line up:

2-3pm - DJ Caz Coronel
 -------Lara A King-------
 3.05-3.30pm - Rita Payne
 -------Lara A King-------
 3.25-3.40pm - Woman E
 --------Jonny Wilde-------
 3.50-4.10pm - Psycho Delia
 ----------Lara A King---------
 4.15-4.30pm - N’Chyx
 ---------Lara A King--------
 4.35- 4.50pm - Lyrically Challenged
 4.50-5.00pm - Rosie Wilby
 ----------Adam All---------
 5.10-5.30pm - The Cut Outs
 -------Adam All & Jonny Wilde------
 5.30-6.15pm - DJ AMYb
 6.15- 7.00pm - DJ Alpha
 7.00-8.00pm - DJ Lady Lola

29 June: Big Gay Bash Official after party

DJs: Popstarz: Tommy Turntables, El Conchitas. Sink the Pink. Joshyou Are. James Phillips and One Love. DJ Lady Lola, Lil' Jo and MDMX.

29 June: Pride Party fundraiser for ELOP

Lost Girl UK and The Glass Bar are hosting a Pride Party raising money for ELOP charity Tickets will be £10.

29 June 6pm - 4am (The Green Carnation): The ultimate girls party this Pride in Soho  Tickets from £7. http://www.tickettailor.com/checkout/view-event/id/8969/chk/923c

Three of London's biggest brands on the UK lesbian scene (Code, Girls Club Together and Girl Action) have come together for one almighty dance off at the Green Carnation as the girls take over the whole building. With 3 floors. Basement down and dirty with Sipz-C Dj and Denise the Menace with RnB and Hip Hop, main floor sees Izzy Trixx, DJ Alpha and DJ Kacey, or take a walk upstairs and hear 80's90's mash up. 

29 June 7pm - 11pm (The Whippet, Holborn): Bitter Women (real ale lovers)