Jake Shears, Natasha Bedingfield and Lisa Scott-Lee are among the stars billed to perform at this year’s Manchester Pride Festival.

Taking place on August bank holiday weekend (25 – 28 August), the four-day festival “is a diverse, inclusive, queer-led and queer-run celebration of LGBTQ+ life and love in Manchester’s world-famous Gay Village,” according to a press release. 

Leading the line-up of music as part of this year’s Gay Village Party is Scissor Sisters star Jake, who will release his second solo album ‘Last Man Dancing’ this summer, with Pocketful of Sunshine hitmaker Natasha and Steps star Lisa also appearing. 

Other performers include Kelly Llorenna from N-Trance (Set You Free), Jodie Harsh, Misty Chance and Friends, Lucky Roy Singh, Queen Bayard, La Discothèque Orchestra, Manchester Residents Blasha and Allatt (Meat Free/Frixxxion), Kim Lana, Mix-Stress and Friends, SWAGGA, Monopoly Phonic, Kele Le Roc, and Tom Aspaul.

Meanwhile, ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race UK’ winner Danny Beard and past contestants Cheddar Gorgeous, Black Peppa and Dakota Schiffer are also booked. 

Mark Fletcher, CEO of Manchester Pride, says: “We have worked closely with our communities to offer a line-up that is for the community, by the community. 

“As a world leading city and an organisation that is spearheading the global Pride movement, our aim is to provide a platform which elevates and showcases local queer performers alongside renowned international LGBTQ+ talent, with a little support from our allies. This is Manchester and this is how our communities want us to celebrate our Pride. ”

“We are so proud to announce that our line-up consists of 96% queer performers, 54 per cent female performers, 51 per cent people of colour, and over 42 per cent trans and non-binary performers.”

Tickets for the Gay Village Party are on sale now.