Bristol Pride has confirmed the chart-topping Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears as the music headliner for this summer. The annual event - which this year will include a two-week festival programme and Pride Day - celebrates the LGBT+ community.
Last year saw the full return of Bristol Pride for the first time since 2019 after previous years were adapted due to Covid restrictions, including the return of the Pride Day Parade and music event in The Downs. Pride Day's 2022 event - which was the organisation's biggest year - was headlined by Carly Rae Jepsen and saw 40,000 people head to The Downs while the Parade March was attended by 20,000 people.
Bristol Pride revealed the announcement on Twitter. "We are SO excited to reveal that Scissor Sisters' frontman and Discopop legend @Jakeshears is our Bristol Pride 2023 Headliner. We can't wait to dance with you," the organisation said.
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Scissor Sisters first formed in the early 2000s in the gay nightlife scene of New York and had a hugely successful career with four studio albums. Jake Shears, who appeared on ITV's The Masked Singer in 2020, is best known as the frontman of the pop rock outfit, which had chart-topping songs like 'I Don't Feel like Dancin'', 'Filthy/Gorgeous', and their Grammy-nominated rendition of Pink Floyd's 'Comfortably Numb'. He will headline Pride Day on July 8, 2023.
On Twitter, the 44-year-old singer said: "I'll be headlining at @BristolPride on July 8. Join me in the celebration! Visit https://bristolpride.co.uk for more info and supporter wristbands."
Bristol Pride Festival takes place from June 24 until July 9 with a huge programme of events around the city. Pride Day will start in the usual fashion with the parade through the city centre with the music event, headlined by Shears, set to follow shortly after at The Downs.
Bristol Pride is set to release more information in due course, but wristbands for the Pride event are on sale now.
How to get tickets
Bristol Pride Day is free to enter and avoids high ticket prices to ensure the event is as accessible as possible. This year, attendees of the event at The Downs will be asked for a £4 donation at the gate to support the future of Bristol Pride and ensure its return in subsequent years.
The organisation offers Supporter Wristbands which not only help to safeguard Bristol Pride, but offers access rewards on the day such as free bus travel, discounted food and drink, and a dedicated access lane to beat the queues. The Official Afterparty at Bristol's O2 Academy (July 8) will be ticketed at £10 per person, which is an 18+ event.
With four different wristband tiers, the Pride Day supporter wristbands start from £7 and stretch up to £40 for the all-access day and night wristband. There is also the addition of a £20 option this year, now offering guaranteed anytime fast track entry to Pride Day via a dedicated fast track gate lane and entry to The Official Afterparty.
More information on the different wristbands can be found on the Bristol Pride website.
Bristol Pride Festival is June 24 - July 9, with Pride Day on Saturday, July 8, 2023. More information: https://bristolpride.co.uk/
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