Manchester Pride Monday 2016

Pride entered it’s final day with some great acts and the culmination of the week, the Candlelight Vigil in Sackville Park, Chris Park was there. Play the video to hear our interview with Heather Peace at Pride.

Eli Cripps
The Voice contestant gave Manchester Pride a set which was just the right mix of covers including Madcon’s Beggin as well as some sneak peaks from her forthcoming album, Mars.
Before going on stage Eli sat down with Canal St Online for an exclusive chat.

How excited are you to play Pride?
Very excited, this is the first time that I’ve been to Pride so it’s a whole new experience, I went to the parade on Saturday which was very lively. I really enjoyed it.

Tell me about your year
This year I’ve been on The Voice at the start of the year. That was a really interesting experience, it was really good and I was lucky enough to be on two teams, I started off on Boy George’s team and then went onto Will.I.Am’s. It was an incredible experience,

I took time out from working on my album to go on The Voice and it wasn’t something that I’d planned to do but one email kind of led to it and before I knew it I was on the show.

So for the rest of the year I’ve been working on the rest of my album and getting regular live gigs. The album is out later this year, it will be out in autumn so sometime before December. The plan is to do simultaneous touring when the first releases come out and then also after that. It’s a 10 track album.

Is there anyone here you’d like to collaborate with?
I saw Heather Small doing her soundcheck and it sounded amazing. I’m really looking forward to her performance. She gave me a really warm smile which was really nice.

What’s the plan after tonight’s performance? Pizza in bed or a night in the village?
Bed? Bed is for sissies. No I’m definitely staying out and watching everyone else. There are a couple of people performing after me then Heather is after that so I’m going to stick around and take it Pride.

Sean Miley Moore
2015 X Factor contestant brought a whole load of glamour to the main stage. With a very dramatic entrance he was joined by Danny Beard for a storming duet. However it was the performance of The Show Must Go On that held everyone’s attention, this song he has definitely claimed for his own and he has a fantastic voice which never seemed to let him down even when dancing in huge heels.

Lucy Spraggan
Manchester Pride favourite Lucy Spraggan never disappoints and her huge fanbase were out in full force to cheer like crazy for her. She is so warm and down to earth that it is impossible not to love her unique and quirkly performance from the now legendary Tea and Toast and Beer Fear to a preview of some of her new material, Spraggan is consistently good. The stories that go with the songs are almost as entertaining as the songs themselves.

For an exclusive interview with Lucy, please visit our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/canalstreetonline

Heather Small
So as the action at the main stage hurtled to the end who better to close the show than M People’s Heather Small? She gave such a brilliant, hit packed set that it showed that things were in safe hands. She literally powered through all the songs you’d expect.

One Night In Heaven, Search For The Hero and Moving On Up but it was for the encore that the moment was truly special as she sung her massive hit, Proud, which was a fitting close to a wonderful main stage arena.

Candlelight Vigil
One tradition and poignant aspect of Pride is the Candlelight Vigil where everyone comes together to remember those who are no longer with us. It was an incredibly emotional experience as everyone stood shoulder to shoulder and listened to speeches from Pride Trustees and the Lord Mayor of Manchester before raising their candles for a moment of reflection.

Sean Miley Moore took to the stage again to sing The Show Must Go On which was an incredibly fitting end.

For some the party carried on way into the early hours but with the real world knocking at the door, many others went back home or to the hotel all secure in the knowledge that it’s been a fantastic weekend and that it’s only 52 weeks until the next one.

By Chris Park for Canal St Online.

Published: 31-Aug-2016: (3874)