Pop superstars Steps to headline Manchester Pride Big Weekend at G-A-Y

By Hannah Hulme

Pop sensation Steps are the headline act for Manchester Pride’s Big Weekend in August.

Fresh from their reunion tour the Claire, ‘H’, Faye, Lee and Lisa will perform at the Gaydar Main Arena on Bloom Street at the UK’s leading pride event.

Organisers have expressed their delight at the band’s involvement in the event.

Manchester Pride chair, Vicken Couligian, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Steps to Manchester Pride.  It’s a massive coup and the whole Village will be bouncing with the news.”

Manchester Pride is an award-winning festival for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

This year the festival will take place 17 - 27 August, with the Big Weekend running from 24 - 27 August 2012.

Mr Couligan said the headliners could be a real boost for the festival and charity which raises funds for LGBT groups and charities in Greater Manchester.

This will be the second year that G-A-Y host Manchester Pride. Last year’s acts included the Sugababes and Alexandra Burke.  

G-A-Y owner, Jeremy Joseph, added: “We were determined to top that and when it comes to Pride, there is only one act that can - the ultimate party pop sensations Steps.

“It will be a Tragedy if you miss them, so start learning the dance routine because you'll be expected to join in.”

Formed in 1997, Steps have sold 20 million records, and achieved 14 consecutive top five singles.

The group reformed in May 2011 for a four-part documentary series on Sky Living titled Steps: The Reunion. 

Series 2 of the Steps Reunion titled "Steps: On the Road Again" aired in April 2012, following the band as they embarked on their sell-out 22-date UK tour.

Fans have taken to twitter to express their excitement at the announcement. Manchester LGBT community member, Dan, said: “Steps headlining Manchester Pride! Once again it's left to us northerners to show the rest of the UK how to throw a gay pride event.”

Tickets for the event are available at the advanced price of £20 from manchesterpride.com or by calling 0871 230 3450.

For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook.