Come As You Are Weekender at The Refuge
Friday 27th – Monday 30th August
It’s back! The Refuge’s annual celebration of music, love and inclusivity, kicking off with live performances, DJs and events from Friday afternoon right til the early hours of Monday. There’s a long list of performers including the enigmatic House of Ghetto, The Family Gorgeous and tonnes of world-class DJs. DOn’t forget to order yourself a banging Sunday Roast too.
Legendary ‘Come As You Are’ Weekender returns to The Refuge this August
Something for Everyone at Ducie Street Warehouse
Thursday 26th – Monday 30th August
Featuring a plethora of performers, artists, characters, and world-renowned DJs, it’s going to be a biggie down at Ducie Street Warehouse this August Bank Holiday. There’s a Drag Brunch hosted by the Sink the Pink DJs on Saturday, ‘The House of 1,000 Moiras’ – a Schitt’s Creek / Moira Rose party and an afternoon takeover by Gina Breeze. The weekend will also feature Junglehussi, Pumping Velvet, Jase Jeffery, plus special dance performances, and a brand-new street food concept from Head Chef Andrew Green.
Manchester Pride at Escape to Freight Island
Wednesday 25th – Monday 30th August
Escape to Freight Island will be hosting a massive LGBTQ+ takeover with a range of music and live performances – a “six day explosion of queer power!” Wednesday sees things kick off with world disco and electro jams from High Hoops, before welcoming House of Ghetto and a screening of the iconic documentary Paris Is Burning (1990). Thursday sees Club Orchestra, while Friday welcomes Rebecca Never Becky on the decks. Over the weekend there’s So Flute, Katbrownsugar, Amuse Bouche and a new show – Performance is Power, directed by the queer cabaret collective Creatures of Catharsis with House of Ghetto and The Glue. Finally on Monday, Homoelectic will be hosting a ‘Homopicnic’.
A “six-day explosion of queer power” – Manchester Pride at Escape to Freight Island
Nite School Pride Party at Stage & Radio
Friday 27th August
Kicking off Pride festivities with a massive party on Friday at Stage & Radio – set across both floors with Nite School friends and residents and Love Dose upstairs on the bar.
Pride Weekend at The Pen & Pencil
Friday 27th – Sunday 29th August
There’s a packed weekend of festivities over at The Pen & Pencil this Bank Holiday, with their very own Pride Cocktail – 10% of sales of which will go to MermaidsUK – plus a load of DJs and of course – Bottomless Brunch. P&P’s Bottomless Brunch is special – it also includes BOTTOMLESS FOOD – so that’s one to book, and Sunday will also see Midnight Riot take to the decks until late.
Poptastic 25 Year Pride Party Reunion @ Night People
Saturday 28th August
Poptastic turns 25 this year, which is strange because I’m positive I went to their 20th Birthday party around 15 years ago? Anyway, they’ll be celebrating in style (as usual) with a massive doo at Night People, just on the cusp of the Gay Village on Princess Street. Cheap drinks, great tunes and best of all – Cheeky Vimtos are back baby!
Square One presents: Pride Weekend with High Hoops & Midland
Saturday 28th August
Once a random little car park on the edge of the Mancunian Way, this spot has been transformed into one of the city’s best clubbing destinations, and this pride they’ll be welcoming the brilliant High Hoops with a massive outdoor party right into the evening. It’ll also feature Midland, NIKS, DJ City, Michael Upson (Love Muscle) and Supernature Disco. Raising money for Rainbow Noir and Albert Kennedy charities.
The Most Depressing Pride of your Life
Saturday 28th August
A ‘break-up disco’ down at YES on the Bank Holiday Saturday now, where you’re encouraged to come and purge your old relationships on their dance floor with the help of Love Songs and Power Ballads. They’ll be focussing on the Heartache, Trauma and Pain of the saddest songs ever written – so if that’s your bag – get on down. Tickets are only £6 and it’s on til 3am.
Homoelectric Bank Holiday Showdown at Hidden
Saturday 28th August
Homoelectric hosts it annual August Bank Holiday showdown at Hidden with resident DJs; Luke Unabomber, Gina Breeze, Jamie Bull, Will Tramp and Lukas, plus a few very special guests. Homoelectric will also be hosting a special Homopicnic over at Escape to Freight Island on Monday 30th August, so if you’re too late for this one – get involved down there.
Federation – Queen of Clubs
Saturday 28th August
“Federation the Queen of Clubs, first of her name, uniter of dance, jewel of the north and cream of clubbing, commands you to attend her Manchester Court. Come bend the knee once again and swear your fealty on the dance floor.” Expect rainbow fuelled lasers, spectacular stage shows, regal entertainers and LOADS more, plus Federation DJs Nik Denton, Marc Leaf and Stuart Robinson.
RuPaul Bottomless Brunch & Bearded Brutes Exhibition
Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th August
It’s a busy week down at Great Northern, with their long list of venues all pretty much doing something special for the Bank Holiday. There’s a RuPaul Bottomless Brunch at Impossible, the Deansgate Mews Festival and a new art exhibition – Bearded Brutes by Mark Leeming – which is hoping to raise money for the fantastic George House Trust.
Essential @ Albert Hall
Sunday 29th August
The iconic club and night will be getting re-born this Pride Weekend but this year it’ll be at Albert Hall. This will be a biggie and promises to be “the biggest gay clubbing event Manchester has ever seen!”
Kaluki Summer Sound System
Sunday 29th August
As part of a nine week residency in the basement of Victoria Warehouse, the Kaluki lot have decided to go back to their roots with ‘red hot’ talent and surprise performances from some of the worlds most in demand DJs. This Sunday night Bank Holiday banger includes AJ Christou, Joseph Edmund, Kreed and plenty more – playing til 4am.
Bollox Queer Pride 2021
Sunday 29th August
Queer Alt Manchester Icons Bollox bring Manchester’s Pride weekend to a roaring climax with seven savagely proud hours of DJs, performance and queer unity spread across all three floors of The Deaf Institute.
Joshua Brooks presents Jodie Harsh Pride After Party
Sunday 29th August
Jodie Harsh is probably super-busy this weekend, but she’ll be finding time to host a massive party over at Joshua Brooks on Sunday – popping a massive cherry on top of what is sure to be a big, messy weekend. Get there from 7pm.
Queer Latifah presents .. All hail the queers!
Monday 30th August
You don’t need to go into the city centre this Bank Holiday weekend to enjoy some alternative Pride vibes – Whalley Range will do just fine. Queer Latifah are hosting a special event on Monday 30th, with the help of resident DJ’s Mix-Stress and Deb Jump , and a very special guest Kath McDermott.
