Girls Aloud and Mika are set to headline Brighton and Hove Pride.
The reunited girl group – comprising Cheryl Tweedy, Kimberley Walsh, Nadine Coyle, and Nicola Roberts – will be playing one festival this year, the LGBTQ+ extravaganza, in the seaside resort in England.
The FABULOSO two-day community fundraiser event at Preston Park, Brighton takes place on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 August, with the ‘Sound of the Underground’ hitmakers topping the bill on the first day and the ‘Grace Kelly’ hitmaker the second.
‘Pose’ icon Billy Porter, ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ hitmaker Sophie Ellis-Bextor, 90s and noughties favourites S Club, ‘Out of Reach’ hitmaker Gabrielle and more will perform across the weekend.
Managing Director Paul Kemp said: “Pride is always an amazing weekend of celebration and inclusiveness of our city and this year is going to be incredibly momentous with the fantastic Girls Aloud and Mika headlining our 2 day FABULOSO community fundraiser. With over 150 LGBTQ+ artists across the weekend, we are beyond thrilled to welcome a fantastic and diverse line-up to Brighton and Hove Pride for 2024 and, with Love, Protest, Unity and JOY at the core of our community parade, we invite everyone to celebrate your true colours.”
Girls Aloud’s festival slot will follow their headline tour this May and June.
Cheryl revealed the group had been discussing reunion plans for some time, but put the idea on ice when late band member Sarah Harding – who died in September 2021 – was diagnosed with breast cancer.
She said in a statement in November: “We all started talking about the possibility of doing something to celebrate Girls Aloud’s 20-year anniversary a few years ago.
“The anniversary seemed like an obvious thing that we would celebrate. But when Sarah fell ill all priorities changed.
“She passed away a year before the anniversary and it just didn’t feel right, it felt too soon.”
The group plan to use the tour to “celebrate” their late friend.
Cheryl added: “But now, I think there is an energy that does makes it feel right. It’s the right time to celebrate Sarah, it’s the right time to celebrate the band and the right time to celebrate the fact we can still do this 21 years later. That’s a big honour in lots of ways.”
Head to Brighton-Pride.org for more information.