Jake Shears to headline open-air orchestra concert on Liverpool’s waterfront as part of Pride in Liverpool celebrations.
Critically-acclaimed LGBT+ icon Jake Shears has been revealed as the headline act of Pride Classical, which will see a world-class 32-piece orchestra take to the stage to perform the best Pride anthems of the last 50 years for thousands of people at Liverpool’s Pier Head on Friday, 26 July – the eve of Pride in Liverpool.
Jake Shears, the lead singer of the Grammy-nominated and Brit Award-winning Scissor Sisters, is best known for hits like “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’” and “Take Your Mama”. Since embarking on a solo career, he has released two albums, co-written music for the musical Tammy Faye alongside Elton John, starred in Kinky Boots on Broadway, and played the legendary Emcee in Cabaret in the West End. He last performed in Liverpool as part of the Eurovision Village last year.
Shears is set to be joined by actor and musician Ashford Campbell, who has enjoyed success on the West End with roles in Dreamgirls, 9 to 5 the Musical and The Drifters Girl. In 2011, Ashford was part of boyband The Risk who were in the 2011 live shows of The X Factor.
Shears and Campbell join an already star-studded line up alongside RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 4 Winner Danny Beard and West End sensation Alison Jiear. Pride Classical is an amazing spectacle that adds an important fundraiser and additional day to the Pride in Liverpool festival.
The event, which kickstarts Pride in Liverpool celebrations, comes in collaboration between Liverpool City Region’s LGBT+ charity LCR Pride Foundation and multi award-winning orchestral production company, Carrot Productions. In 2023, Pride Classical performed to sell-out crowds in Blackpool and Manchester.
Final-release tickets for Pride Classical begin today (July 2) priced at £30 plus booking fee. Tickets and VIP packages are available via prideinliverpool.co.uk. All proceeds from ticket sales for Pride Classical will go towards funding Pride in Liverpool on the following day, Saturday, 27 July, and ensure that the community-led festival remains free for all to attend.
Pride Classical star Jake Shears said: “I’m delighted to be returning to Liverpool for what will be a memorable night of love, joy and unity. Pride Classical is the perfect way to start your Pride in Liverpool weekend and I can’t wait to see everyone.”
Andi Herring, CEO of LCR Pride Foundation, said: “Jake Shears and Ashford Campbell are the icing on the cake for what is already a spectacular line-up. We’re pulling out all the stops to make this a show that people talk about for years to come and all importantly ensuring we can keep Pride in Liverpool free and accessible.”
Further announcements about Pride in Liverpool are to follow in coming weeks.
More information can be found at prideinliverpool.co.uk