#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

EXCLUSIVE Lucy Spraggan Interview @ Pride in London

After an epic pheasant-plucking quest, we finally had the chance to catch up with fan favourite and Ultimate Planet Community Award winner Lucy Spraggan in person at this year's Pride in London - and she did not disappoint!

Lucy performed an acoustic set at the Women's Stage to massive applause and revelry - flying in from Egypt early on the morning of Pride and pulling off a massive crowd-pleasing 20 minute set. 

With the ability to weave authentic stories and uptempo folk-hip-hop guitar, it's no wonder the girls go wild for this down to earth Sheffield-born lass.

Planet London (PL): How are you?
Lucy Spraggan (LS): Very well thanks (A bit tired)... just back from holiday

PL: Adventurous Travels?
LS: Well yes, it was interesting, there was an incident where we were staying with 15 armed police officers and a machine gun...
PL: There's a song in there somewhere...

PL: How are Pride events different from any other that you perform at?
LS: I think they are always a bit more mad and a bit more fun... it's not that gay people are more fun. But gay people are more fun.


PL: What are you working on at the moment? We saw you released a sneak peak of a new track earlier in the year
LS: Yes, that was Papercuts, one of the new songs. I'm doing new songs for the second album, and I'm straying out of the box a little bit - doing some things people wouldn't expect, I hope
PL: We are looking forward to that

PL: What's been your favourite experience on stage so far?
LS: Playing all the big festivals like V and T in the Park has been really special because they're the things you don't really ever think you'll get to play and where you are playing them it's amazing. 
PL: and you are packing the tents out at those festivals as well 
LS: It's a bit mad, yes!

PL: What is your favourite karaoke song?
LS: 'English Man in New York' (Sting) or Goldie Looking Chain 'Guns Don't Kill' which I can do without even looking at the screen!

PL: Who'd be your ideal duet?
LS: Dolly Parton


PL: What's your favourite sound?
LS: My dog Steve makes this noise. When I say "Sing me the song of your people" he meows like a cat [Lucy's impression was pretty close to it!]

PL: Would you rather be a frisbee or a space hopper?
LS: Spacehopper. Always. 

Um, can anybody tell me the drinks in (Last Night) #BeerFear?

PL: What's your favourite drink?
LS: It changes from day to day but at the moment it's.... 
[Editor's note: At this point we got distracted by how many songs there are in Last Night (Beer Fear). We didn't know - but Lucy this this list just for you:
Vodka
Tequila
Brandy
Bells Fine Whisky
Baileys
Rose
Sailor Jerry's
Flamin' Sambuca]

PL: What is your best or worse beer fear moment?
LS: I woke up, and the back of my head had been glued together with a glue stitch and I couldn't remember how. All I had was a picture on my phone of me and a reindeer. That's a true story.

PL: What biscuit best describes your personality?
LS: I'm gonna have to say my favourite - chocolate digestive with caramel inside. Because it's full of calories. And so am I. 

PL: What's your favourite monster munch flavour?
LS: Everyone knows it's got to be pickled onion.

Watch out for those duck sized horses!

PL: Would you rather be attacked by a horse sized duck or a dozen duck sized horses?
LS: Obviously a horse sized duck.
PL: But it could eat you in one go. You could run away from the horses.
LS: Or climb up away from them. Or ride them. 
[Editor's note: inconclusive.]

More photos of Lucy from Pride in London

By Katie

Interview: Lucy Spraggan talks to us about fans, life and the future

Beer Fear, Boobs & Pride 

Following a short-lived appearance on X-Factor, something which she is clear to acknowledge was a spring board to all that's happened in her career throughout 2013, Lucy Spraggan has rocketed onto the pop music scene. No stranger to writing, gigging, recording, with her quirky, extremely likeable, original acoustic-folk-hip-hop style, it's fantastic to see this young musician take off in a scene that has been dominated by boys with their guitars for the last few years. 

And she's stayed as humble as she came across in those early X-Factor audition days, still stating she's just a girl who likes to play her guitar.

She lists her influences amongst the likes of Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift, Judy Garland, Petula Clark, Offspring, Limp Bizkit and Kirsty McColl - an ecclectic mix of styles that reflect her songs - beautiful lyrically told stories, that often pierce deep down or express humour of situations her fans will surely be familiar with.

Lucy says that she appreciates her loyal fans, and that "Its really nice to be able to hear from the young gay people around the world and when they say that I inspire them it's amazing." There aren't many young, out gay singers in the charts, so Lucy is carrying the flag. 

It's great to see her keeping a strong connection to the LGBT scene, playing numerous Pride events this summer, she says "it's great to be playing Pride on bigger stages than I have done before. I’ve played Manchester Pride since 2009 so it's always been really important to me." 

And the fans appreciate that Lucy is out there gigging and performing. Some show their appreciation more than others, and Lucy describes her best reaction from a fan at the V Festival, when an audience member flashed the singer mid-song - "and they were great tits!" she reports.

As well as the live performances, it's been a successful year in the studio too - Lucy's favourite moment of the year was getting signed to Columbia Records (Beyonce's label Lucy's always proud to state). The first single from the forthcoming album Join the Club, Lighthouse, charted in July, and the popular Last Night the song that introduced Lucy to the ears of many eager fans, is being released next week. Lucy is "really looking forward" to the album release. [And so are we!]


Happily the new album is followed by a tour, of venues around the country, with the highlight being what will be Lucy's biggest gig to date at the Shepherd's Bush Empire on October 30. For that, Lucy says she "Can’t bloody wait!". [Ditto].


For more...

• Keep up to date via the very active Facebook page, on there you will find links to the music videos, and the weekly album update, and dates of all the upcoming gigs and album signings
• Lucy's new album Join the Club is out on Monday 7 October, and you can pre-order from Itunes it here
• Lucy's next single Last Night (Beer Fear) is out on Monday 30 September, view the music video

By Katie

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) 

 

L Fest: The Lesbian Music, Arts & Comedy Festival

Venue: Uttoxeter Race Course (new bigger, better venue for 2013)
Date: Friday 19th - Sunday 22nd July

L-Fest, the brain child of Cindy Edwards, is everything you could want out of a Lesbian Festival and more. An annual event that draws together women from all over the country offering excellent value for money, it is not to be missed.

What's On*
It's a full action-packed weekend with a wonderfully varied schedule: 

• Live Music stage (this year you can see BETTY of L Word Theme tine fame) + The hottest DJs from around the country including some of your favourite London nights
• Workshops on every topic you can think of (yoga, drama, singing, writing)
• Authors - performance poets and novelists read their work ( Clare Summerskill, Jackie Kay and VG Lee)
• Comedy - roars of laughter from the Big Top Stage
• Cinema - with special screenings of lesbian themed movies including Jill Bennett's Second Shot
• Activities and games - from rock climbing to rounders
• The retreat (massages, pampering & relaxation)
• Free camping for ticket holders, or upgrade to a Yurt, campervan or caravan

There is also a family areas, market stalls and the L Fest Solo Club for singles to  make new friends. Literally something for everyone.

*the full schedule for 2013 is listed on a separate blog post here: http://planetlondonfeatures.blogspot.com/2013/04/l-fest-2013-line-up-released.html 

L Fest is also an amazing success due to the hard work of the team behind the Festival. A happy crew of volunteers make sure everything that needs to happen beforehand and during the Festival Dates does so to ensure a top notch time for L Festers. 
 

The L Fest Team have worked very hard to find an accessible and multi-purpose venue that will fit everything that L Fest is renowned for offering and more - there is capacity at this new venue for 19,000 (L Fest 2012 entertained 1,000 women). Meet the team as they introduce the change of Venue to us:
Map of the site:

How to get involved

Weekend Tickets are available from £99 here. Camping is free but for an additional charge there are 76 electric hook up pitches. Day tickets will be available from £50. Children (under 16) and dogs are free!

By Katie

World Aids Day & G-A-Y - another successful year

It felt a little bit like the Red Ribbon campaign sadly lost its visibility this year, especially with images like this:


Spot the difference

But thanks to great initiatives like the mass HIV Testing Station at G-A-Y, this year 745 men and women took a test and got their results on the day. For each test, £10 is donated by Jeremy Joseph to the Elton John AIDS Foundation - which means it's a no brainer to go down and get tested if its not already part of your sexual health routine. Over £9,000 is expected to be raised by the end of the campaign.

This is the second year the campaign has run, I hope it becomes an annual event and bigger and better next year.

Coupled with an amazing line up at G-A-Y that brought the best of gay together - Rylan Clark and Lucy Spraggan in an unbeatable double bill, what a 1st December for Jeremy Joseph and G-A-Y/Heaven. I've always been very impressed that they get one of the first PAs of the X Factor Finalists as they exit the show week on week and this year has been even better matchedthan ever, as there has been a wealth of gay acts on the show - perhaps next year a new show will pop up 'Gays' got talent?!