Champagne and Showtunes Mark the Start of Pride

Prepare to pop your cork as one of the UK’s most popular festivals returns with a bang - and a whole host of jazz hands. Newcastle Pride, now officially the second largest free LGBT festival in the UK, is returning later this month, with three days of live music and family friendly entertainment spread across two landmark sites. The event, now in its seventh year, will start with a sparkle on Friday July 18, when visitors gather for an evening of Champagne and Showtunes at the city’s Town Moor. The open-air concert, which runs from 7pm until 9.15pm, will be headlined by top singing stars Jo Boyne, Andy Booth, Vicky Swift and Richard Aldham, collectively known as The Echo-fonics. Jo, who is originally from Newcastle, has toured extensively with Loose Women star and singer Jayne McDonald and now performs regularly with Opera North. She’ll be joined for this special Newcastle Pride concert by singer and stage star Andy Booth, musical theatre gradate Vicky Swift and Leeds-based performer Richard Aldham, who has already fronted amateur productions of a wide range of shows, including Oklahoma, Carousel, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and South Pacific. Together they’ll be recreating classic tracks from a string of West End and Broadway hits and are encouraging music lovers to turn up and sing along. Jo said: “The songs we’ll be singing are all very well known, even by those who aren’t regular theatre-goers and we hope It will create an amazing atmosphere, where people can sing along and really stir up that community spirit.”  Immediately before Champagne and Showtunes (6pm)  the Town Moor will play host to the third annual 5K run organised by LGBT group Northern Frontrunners.  More live music will also be on offer at Newcastle’s Times Square, with acts including Steps star Faye Tozer, model and musician Dee Stokes and Drag Idol 2014 winner October DeWinter, performing between 6.30pm and 10.30pm. This all forms part of the first day of activities being held as part of Newcastle Pride 2014, which will also feature high profile performances by stars including Shayne Ward, Sinitta and the Vengaboys between Friday July 18 and Sunday July 30. Mark Nichols, Chair of Northern Pride, which organises the annual event, said: “The stars of The Echo-fonics are all individually talented and come together to create a magic sound that really transports you to the West End or Broadway. “Champagne and Showtunes will be a fitting and sparkling star to this year’s Newcastle Pride festival and I can’t wait to get things underway.” For more information about Newcastle Pride, including full listings, visit www.northern-pride.com or follow @northernprideuk on Twitter.