UK BLACK Pride (UKBP) returns this weekend, and to mark its continued growth, the celebration moves to a larger location at east London’s Haggerston Park.
Some of the performers have been named already, including MNEK, Aaron Carty’s Beyoncé Experience, Toya Delazy, N’Chyz, NEO 10Y and Deanz & Charmer. DJs include Gold Mokwe Francis Smitty, BBZ, Gloria and Biggie C, while this year’s hosts are Jordan Charles, Nina Rose, Rikki Beadle-Blair, Travis Alabanza, UKBP’s Anick Soni and Moud Goba.
Having taken up residence in south London in previous years, Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, co-founder and executive director of UK Black Pride, thanked all who had enabled them to call Lambeth home.
“We’ve had a really good run in Lambeth and are grateful to the local council, public services like police, Transport for London, ambulance services and, of course, the residents who helped make our annual celebrations so successful. We’re excited to work with Hackney Council, the mayor of Hackney and local residents and businesses to bring UK Black Pride to east London this summer.”
There are a number of events marking this year’s UK Black Pride. The Voice list a few that have caught our attention:
BEYOND ‘There’s always a black issue, dear’, X VFD X UKBP
Come and support this rst London community screening of the award-winning BEYOND ‘There’s always a black issue, dear’. It’s described as: “Often copied, never bettered.
Living out loud in Thatcher’s Britain. Unapologetically black. Proudly LGBT+. A cultural scene reunites to tell it how it was.”
The film is a celebration of daring to be different and, in particular, the influence black LGBT+ culture had upon fashion, fine art, dance, music and language, much of which has been appropriated by the cultural mainstream.
DATE: July 4
LOCATION: VFD, 66 Stoke New- ington Road, London, N16 7XB TIME: 7pm – 10.30pm CONTACT: www.facebook.com/ [2] BeyondTheresalwaysablackissueDear
PRICE: £5 donation on the door/pay and reserve a seat in advance
UK Black Pride After Party
The 13th annual UK Black Pride festivities continue into the eveniing for the After Party at Village Underground. Join the of cial UK party to continue the good vibes and twerk into the night.
Featuring black and brown DJs and performers from all your favourite queer club nights, UK Black Pride belongs to the community; it’s ours. Let’s stand up, dance and bring all the beautiful representations of what it means to be black and LGBT+ together for a night.
DATE: July 7
LOCATION: Village Under- ground, 54 Holywell Lane, Lon- don, EC2A 3PQ
TIME: 8pm – 2am
CONTACT: 020 7422 7505
PRICE: Tickets £5, returned to UK Black Pride to offset costs incurred to keep the main event free. On the door: £10
Bangaz And Brunch
On the day of UK Black Pride, The Hoxton and Ryan Lanji (founder of Hungama) invite all queer people of colour (QPOC) and other marginalised members of the community to have brunch and get ready before the festival kick-off. Enjoy free brunch and bevs, and those who want to serve a look can have their hair and make up done, too. DJs from the best QPOC nights, including Pxssy Palace and Hungama, will spin tracks to get you in the mood.
DATE: July 7
LOCATION: The Hoxton, Shoreditch, 81 Great Eastern Street, London, EC2A 3HU TIME: 10am – 12pm
CONTACT: 020 7550 1000
PRICE: Free
Our Yard
Inspired by those that came before, Goldsnap, BBZ, Pxssy Palace and VIBRATE were founded to create more spaces to party and create community. They are now teaming with UK Black Pride to celebrate our communities, as of cial Pride in London has failed to meet the needs of queer womxn, trans and non-binary folk of colour. So tun’ up in protest, pride and joy in OUR YARD.
DATE: July 6
LOCATION: Village Under- ground, 54 Holywell Lane, Lon- don, EC2A 3PQ
TIME: 10pm
PRICE: £7-£20
BattyMama #7: Sxmmer Sxzzle
Whine Down South has a sex-and body-positive, mixed- media performance night, at a Croydon Pride Festival special. ShakeYourBattyForMama in black leather, celebrating black lust and sharing black love, games, films and art. Perfor- mances from Coco Deville, Sha- kona Fire, Safo NP and more. DJs incliude Biggie C, Krystal Lake & DJ Kaspa.
DATE: July 12
LOCATION: The Front Room, 37 - 39 Saint George’s Walk, Croy- don, CR0 1YL
TIME: 9pm - 3am
CONTACT: 020 3662 8757
PRICE: Free with ticket before 11pm. £5 after that.
AZ Mag Live: Official UKBP Pre-Party
AZ Mag links up with UKBP for the of cial pre-party to kick start your Pride weekend. Live performances from Tinyman, spiritual singer-songwriter-producer; Atlantis Gandhi, powerful poet; Tanaka and much more. Hosted by Tee Ali, with an afterparty brought to you by DJ Miller and DJ Rai.
DATE: July 4
LOCATION: Ace Hotel, 100 Shoreditch High St, Hackney, London E1 6JQ
TIME: 8pm – 1am
CONTACT: 020 7613 9800
PRICE: Contact venue
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