Bristol Pride announces headliner and full stage line up

The Human League headline this year's Bristol Pride festival as organisers announce their biggest line up for the 15th Anniversary.

Bristol Pride have announced that The Human League will be headlining the Mainstage at this year's festival which takes place on Saturday 13 July as the award winning festival returns to The Downs this summer.

With an incredible 44 years in the business, synthpop legends and hit makers, The Human League, will close the Main Stage ‘in style’ as they perform at Bristol Pride ahead of their Generations Tour across Europe later this year. Their legacy continues with new album releases and influence on other artists being sampled and covered by acts including Pet Shop Boys, Ladytron, George Michael and LCD Soundsystem. To date, the Brit Award winning band have released 9 studio albums as well as EPs, remixes and greatest hits, earning 6 top 20 albums,13 top 20 singles in the UK and have sold more than 20 million records including hit singles: Together in Electric Dreams, Mirror Man, (Keep Feeling) Fascination, Tell Me When, Human, Love Action and Don’t You Want Me - the biggest selling single of 1981. 

Alongside The Human League, the LGBT+ Charity have released the rest of the Main Stage line up including dance star Georgia, 90s legend Rozalla, MantarayBryn, synth band CatBear, Basement Jaxx singer and Ronnie Scott’s resident Vula Malinga, Sing Out Bristol, Swedish pop royalty Charlotte Perrelli and BBC Project Ikon winner Dylan and The Moon. Bringing euphoric pop to the stage Claire Richards from Steps also joins the festival this year along with global icons and electro band Ladytron.

Organisers also reveal a new stage name with the Uplift Stage aiming to showcase the diversity of music and performance in Bristol. Teaming up with local event makers, Punka and Brizzle Boyz, acts on the stage include music performances from Bled, Luna Kali Kerensa and Bristol legends, The Menstrual Cramps. Whilst acts like Laddie Gaga, Kurt Sovain, Oliver Assets, House of Xanarchy, Fluxx Wyldly and Small Willy Nelson show just how exciting Bristol’s performance and cabaret scene is.

Bristol Pride marks its 15th Anniversary in 2024 and continues to grow and win awards, including Best Event in the Bristol Pride Life Awards (2020, 2022 & 2023) and this year the team won ‘Best Pride Organisation’ in the national Gaydio Awards. Pride continues to grow partnerships and events across the city, more than 46,000 are expected to attend events across the 2 weeks and Pride Day this year. Last year the team welcomed a record breaking 25,000 people to the Parade March through the city centre that kick starts Pride Day.

Today sees the latest wave of acts released, with organisers having already announced the Cabaret Stage line up with stage headliners Heidi n Closet and Pixie Polite from RuPaul’s Drag Race along with over 20 other Drag Kings, Queens and everything between performing on the day. The event on The Downs will also be home to bustling Community Area, home to over 60 community, social and support groups, dedicated Youth and Family Areas and 5 performance stages including circus tent, and dance performance stage. Pride Night will see the events continue with the Official Bristol Pride afterparty at the O2 Academy Bristol which will be headlined by Glastonbury performers and party starters the Confidence Man DJs.

Daryn Carter MBE, Director of Programming and Partnerships, said:

“We are all so incredibly excited to announce The Human League as headliners for the festival this year. They are absolute legends and I'm so proud to have them join us for our biggest ever line up for the festival as we mark our 15th Anniversary. Pride is as important now as it has ever been and we’ve got an amazing two weeks of events planned to help bring the community together to stand strong, to raise our collective voices and of course to make space to celebrate and share our collective resilience and joy.”

Bristol Pride Day remains a donation entry festival, ensuring that it remains financially accessible for everyone who wants to attend Pride, however, Supporter Wristbands for this year’s festival are already available online and are on sale from £9. Not only do they support Pride happening and help enable future events, they offer great rewards including free bus travel all day on Pride Day via First Bus and Pride’s dedicated shuttle service to The Downs, 50p off bar prices at the festival, dedicated quick access entry to the festival and discounts or freebies with the onsite food traders.

For more information about Bristol Pride, how you can support the Festival, and all the latest news and events visit bristolpride.co.uk and sign up to the mailing list.