Sheila McWattie Arts PREVIEW: ‘SheilaFest’ The organisers of the Women’s Performance Tent at Brighton Pride, will be organising a Pride Eve night of live music and laughs celebrating the life of Sheila McWattie. Sheila, the much loved Brighton based journalist, community activist and passionate supporter of the Brighton Women’s Centre, died By Besi • 1 min read
Food & Drink Lunch Positive feed LGBT choirs visiting the city Lunch Positive, the HIV charity, provided the catering for the successful Hand in Hand choral event staged at Brighton Dome over the weekend of June 13-14. The event which brought together LGBT choirs from all over the UK and Ireland was jointly organised by Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus and the Rainbow By Gary Hart • 3 min read
Arts Grrr! the night away at Latest Music Bar tonight “Grrr! the south’s biggest men only dance night returns to headline the Brighton Bear Weekender (BBWE). The Latest Music Bar in Manchester Street, will provide two floors of mayhem, with music from DJ Rob C (Hoist, Eagle, RVT, Energy Bears) playing the best in Anthems and commercial dance. By Besi • 1 min read
Arts Lorraine Bowen to open the golden envelope at the Handbags Fresh from her appearances on Britain’s Got Talent, zany comedienne and writer of funny ditties Lorraine Bowen will be walking the red carpet at the Golden Handbag Awards on Sunday (21) at the Metropole Hilton. By Besi • 1 min read
Arts Aneesa Chaudhry brings Jazz to the Golden Handbag Awards Jazz chanteuse Aneesa Chaudhry will be opening this years Golden Handbag Show on Sunday, June 21 at the Brighton Metropole Hilton. Aneesa, who is musical director of the Brighton based Rainbow Chorus, has built up an international reputation as a jazz performer appearing at festival all over the wor By Besi • 2 min read
Arts Perfect Pitch Award for Musical Theatre Writing Theatre Royal Stratford East and Perfect Pitch will be partnering together to present the 2015/16 Perfect Pitch Award for Musical Theatre Writing. BOTH companies, known for developing new musical theatre, are collaborating on the project, which will see a new, British writing team awarded with £12,0 By Gary Hart • 2 min read
Arts Film festival fundraser at Royal Vauxhall Tavern The Whatever DIY Film Festival (WDIYFF) is holding a benefit evening at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern on Tuesday, June 16. WDIYFF is a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers who aim to showcase the best queer and DIY film from the LGBTQ community. This year organisers want to make the festival as By Gary Hart • 2 min read
Arts LGBT choirs from all over the country gather today in Brighton Choirs from all over the UK and Ireland have been gathering in Brighton today for the start of the Hand in Hand LGBT Choir Festival. The choirs include the internationally renowned London Gay Men’s Chorus, Actually Gay Men’s Chorus, Deep C Divas, Diversity Choir, Gay Abandon, Manchester Lesbian and By Graham Robson • 1 min read
In The South Win a pair of tickets to see Kylie and Grace Jones at Hyde Park Gscene have 10 pairs of tickets to give away to see pop princess Kylie Minogue and Grace Jones at Barclaycard presents British Summer Time in Hyde Park on Sunday, June 21. Prepare for an unforgettable day of floor-filler hits from the universally-adored Kylie Minogue, who is one of the top pop enter By Gary Hart • 2 min read
Cabaret PREVIEW: Knees up for Nepal – A fundraising benefit The Brighton based arts and heritage organisation Strike a Light will be hosting a benefit gig to help support Nepal earthquake victims on Friday, June 19 at The Latest Music Bar. Band, performers, organisers and venue are volunteering their time to perform at this event, fundraising to support thos By Gary Hart • 2 min read
Arts PREVIEW: ‘Break the Chains’ European Tour comes to Brighton US-based internationally touring queer activist musicians, Evan Greer (Riot-Folk) and Taina Asili will be coming to Brighton with the Break the Chains European Tour on Sunday, June 21. Touring, queer, activist musicians Evan Greer (Boston) and Taina Asili (New York) are bringing their high-energy so By Besi • 3 min read
Arts Pride in London anounce biggest ever Pride Arts Festival Pride in London, the annual festival championing the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT+) community in London has announced its biggest ever Pride in London Arts Festival, which will launch with a special Q&A Screening of the award-winning film Pride, starring Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunt By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Arts Final line-up confirmed for LGBT Choirs Gala Concert The line-up for the Gala Concert of LGBT Choirs during the Hand in Hand, LGBT Choir Festival, has now been finalised! As well as the hosts, Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus and The Rainbow Chorus, the evening will see performances by: Actually Gay Men’s Chorus, Deep C Divas, Diversity Choir, Gay Abandon, L By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Henry Waddington Arts Top opera stars to raise money for Mencap Top singers in British Opera will be appearing at the Brighton Centre on December 19 to raise money for Brighton Mencap. The Brighton Centre will play host to this spectacular one-off evening celebrating the grand tradition of opera as a universal language with the power to make us laugh, cry and be By Besi • 3 min read
Heather Peace Arts Karen Harding and Heather Peace join Manchester Pride line-up Vocalists Karen Harding and Heather Peace have been confirmed to appear at the Manchester Big Weekend line-up starting Friday, August 28 to Monday, August 31. They will be joining Texas, noughties favourites Atomic Kitten, attitude-packed vocal trio, Stooshe and Big Weekend favourite, Lucy Spraggan, By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Arts PREVIEW: ‘Masquerade’ featuring Miss Jason A Pride performance from Actually Gay Men’s Chorus! The build up to Pride 2015 sees a welcome return and pairing, as cabaret star and current holder of Golden Handbag, Favourite Entertainer, Miss Jason joins forces once again with Actually Gay Men’s Chorus, in what is becoming a bit of a Pride tradi By Besi • 1 min read
B*Witched Arts Home is where the Pride is! Five of the North East’s leading housing providers are proving there’s no place like home by sponsoring one of the region’s largest events. Gentoo, South Tyneside Homes, Places for People, Gateshead Housing Company and Riverside are all backing Newcastle Pride 2015. The LGBT festival, which returns By Besi • 2 min read
Arts Ukuleles tune-up to Paddle Round the Pier Get on board the Ukulele Stage at The Paddle Round the Pier Beach Festival on July 4 & 5. Nicola Bloom of Ucanukulele presents the Paddle Ukulele Stage for the fourth year running and promises to showcase a strum-tastic range of four-stringed talent over the weekend. By Besi • 2 min read
Arts REVIEW: Take That in Dublin Jason Orange followed Robbie Williams in September last year and left the band, leaving Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald to go it alone. The show began with support from X Factor contestant and ‘Ghost’ singer Ella Henderson, who wowed the crowd with her powerful vocals. Ella gave an impressi By Alice Blezard • 2 min read
Arts PREVIEW: Ladies’ Rock – UK Tour! Direct from Australia, LADIES’ ROCK is “one of the most exciting musical experiences to hit UK theatres in many years.” Featuring one of the finest female talents in the world today – Sydney’s premier singer/songwriter, Nicki Gillis – this stage show features some of Britain’s top musicians in a two By Contributor • 3 min read
Arts REVIEW: Spiegeltent: Soweto Spiritual Singers Soweto Spiritual Singers are a young vocal ensemble, performing both acappella and with instrumental accompaniment showcasing African Spiritual, Folk and Traditional Music and Dance. Their music is a shout of Joy, a towering onslaught of exuberance with earthy rhythms, rich harmonies to uplift the s By Eric Page • 2 min read
Rainbow Chorus LGBTQ+ News Local poet captivates audience at Brighton and Hove IDAHOBiT Brighton and Hove marked IDAHOBiT day this evening with an event in New Steine Gardens attended by more than 150 people. THE format from previous years IDAHOBiT events in Brighton and Hove of speeches from politicians and local LGBT organisations was replaced this year with performances from The Rai By Besi • 4 min read
Arts PREVIEW: Traumfrau’s Jardin du Discotheque Celebrate Traumfrau’s summer party – Tropicana style! Expect a sweaty dance floor, garden dancing, outrageous drag on stage, food, art, performance and DJs. Jardin du Discotheque is right in the middle of town – swimwear is optional. By Besi • 1 min read
Arts PREVIEW: Top Hat in Eastbourne Top Hat is this summer’s must see musical at the Congress Theatre in Eastbourne. With music and lyrics by Irving Berlin and based on the RKO motion picture, West End hit Top Hat, winner of three Olivier Awards, for Best New Musical, Best Choreography, Best Costume Design and winner of the Evening St By Besi • 2 min read
