As the borough’s inaugural Pride in Gateshead festival draws to a close, the LGBTQ+ community and its allies are gearing up for a spectacular free summer concert, a culmination of a month-long celebration of diversity and inclusion.
Throughout August, members and supporters of the LGBTQ+ community have immersed themselves in a vibrant program of film screenings, picnics, parties, and workshops organized by Out North East, the festival’s organizer.
The grand finale, the Pride on Tyne concert, scheduled for Sunday, August 25, has secured the backing of Lumo, a North East-based train operator, as the main stage sponsor.
The concert promises an electrifying lineup of performers, including Sonia, Alex Party, Soraya Vivian, Homoparody, Future is Queer, Gloria Love, Tipsy Divas, and DJ Michael Maddison. Adding to the excitement, this year’s Mr. Gay World finalists will make a special appearance, further amplifying the event’s significance.
Gateshead College, a festival sponsor, will also showcase the talents of its performing arts students, Fayth, Savannah, and Scarlett, providing a platform for emerging artists to shine.
Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director at Lumo, expressed the company’s enthusiasm for supporting the event, stating, “We are thrilled to be supporting some of the most exciting events for our communities, customers, and colleagues taking place in Gateshead this summer.”
Gilbert emphasized the importance of diversity and inclusion to Lumo, both as a modern employer and as a provider of sustainable travel with its one-class electric train service connecting Newcastle with Edinburgh and London.
“We’re proud to support Pride in Gateshead,” Gilbert said. “From our mini-Metro Centre train takeover throughout August to being the headline partner for the free concert Pride on Tyne at Baltic Square, our Lumo team is excited to be helping enable opportunities for everyone to join in the fun.”
Peter Darrant, Chair of Out North East, expressed his gratitude for Lumo’s support throughout the month and their generous offer to be the main stage sponsor for the Pride on Tyne concert.
“They are an amazing community partner because they approach everything with a real willingness to help in any way they can,” Darrant said. “This is the first Pride in Gateshead festival, and it’s been more successful than even we imagined – thanks in no small part to the support we’ve received from Lumo, the Council, and various other organizations and partners.”
While the concert is free, tickets are required and can be downloaded by visiting www.outnortheast.org.uk.
As the curtain falls on the inaugural Pride in Gateshead festival, the Pride on Tyne concert promises to be a resounding celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, fostering unity, acceptance, and joy through the power of music and performance.
