York Pride on Knavesmire, Velma Celli and Mostly Autumn back home, Hacienda and Hook, plus Fringe comedy, fill CHARLES HUTCHINSON’S weekend
Naughty but haughty: Velma Celli's night of Bassey, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga
Friday night is...cabaret night
The Velma Celli Show, The Basement, City Screen, York, tonight, 8pm
VELMA Celli, Ian Stroughair’s naughty but haughty drag act, makes her monthly return home to York with her musical theatre comedy revue.
Cue classic show tunes, stand-up comedy, jazz standards and even singalongs. “Expect everything from Gaga and Cher to Bassey, Britney and Beyoncé and every diva in between,” says Velma. “Queen music is always in the house, so air guitars at the ready, my darlings!
“You will leave in hysterics, bouncing down the street, intoxicated and in love.”
SUMMER SHOW: Mostly Autumn at The Crescent
York band of the weekend
Mostly Autumn, The Crescent, York, tonight, 7.30pm
YORK classic rock band Mostly Autumn showcase their latest prog-infused album, White Rainbow. In the thoughts of Bryan Josh, Olivia Sparnenn-Josh and co will be late member Liam Davison, to whom the album is dedicated.
Comedy double bill of the weekend
Alun Cochrane and Tom Taylor, The Basement, City Screen, York, Sunday, 7.30pm
THE Burning Duck Comedy Club’s season of Edinburgh Fringe previews presents Mirfield comedian Alun Cochrane: Work In Progress and Harrogate wit Tom Taylor in Tom Taylor Is The Indie Feel-Good Hit Of The Summer
Cochrane has been doing solo stand-up shows at the Fringe since 2004, as well as appearing on Room 101, Mock The Week and Have I Got News For You. Sitting Room Comedy Club host Taylor stars in his debut stand-up show after his storytelling, character comedy Fringe hit The Charlie Montague Mysteries.
JOINING THE PARTY: Little Miss Sunshine cast members, from the Grand Opera House, York, will be making an appearance at York Pride
Most colourful event of the weekend
York Pride, Saturday; parade through York from 11.45am, then York Racecourse, from 1pm
THE BBC’s wonderfully Welsh-voiced weatherman Owyn Wyn Evans will be the main stage host for York Pride, alongside Mamma Bear and Kira Live.
The headline act at this LGBT+ celebration will be Bradford singer and musical theatre star Gareth Gates; other acts heading for Knavesmire are Rozalla; Eva Iglesias; Bang Bang Romeo; Bohemian Rhapsody...With A Twist! (a tribute to Freddie Mercury); A Tribute To Abba; Eric Spike; DJ Rory Hoy and State of the Arts Academy, performing Rent.
Mamma Bear will host the Official AfterParty at Mansion, Micklegate, from 6pm until very late, with tributes to P!nk and Kylie.
HOOKED! Peter Hook delighted to be part of Hacienda Classical success story. Picture: Jody Hartley
Joy Division/New Order legend’s coastal concert of the weekend
Hacienda Classical, featuring Peter Hook, Scarborough Open Air Theatre, Saturday, 7.30pm
HAÇIENDA Classical returns for a fourth year with the Manchester Camerata Orchestra and a new and updated soundtrack to open Scarborough OAT’s 2019 season.
In this clubbing meets classical show, curated byDJ Graeme Park, executive producer Peter Hook and musical director Tim Crooks, Eighties and Nineties’ clubland anthems are re-interpreted by a classically-trained orchestra.
“I was very sceptical about the whole idea,” says Hook. “The idea of putting an orchestra with Graeme Park’s mixes, I just couldn’t see it working at all, but I’m delighted to be proven so wrong now we’re a few years down the line.”
Techno pioneers 808 State support; Hacienda co-founder and former Joy Division and New Order bassist Hook delivers a DJ set.
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