Event: Burning Bright with Shelagh Mumby
Where: Sweet@The Welly, The Blue Room Theatre, The Duke of Wellington, 70 Upper Gloucester Road, Brighton
When: March 24 & 25
Time: 4.15pm
Cost: £7/£5
Approx running time: 1 hour
To book tickets online, click here:
Spotahome used the latest available data to rank major countries and cities across Europe on a scale of ten for overall equality and individual equality categories including LGBT+ friendliness, income inequality, immigrant acceptance, the gender pay gap, wheelchair access, quality of life and political issues.
The UK scored highly for LGBT+ acceptance (8.55). Norway was the only country out of those analysed to score higher (8.80). Belgium (8.07), France (7.95) and Portugal (7.71) make up the remaining top five.
Countries in Europe with the lowest levels of LGBT+ acceptance were, Russia (0.12), Turkey (0.48), Belarus (0.96), Macedonia FYR (1.33) and Latvia (1.45), which made up the bottom five.
Public opinion in the UK has shifted hugely on same-sex relationships over the past decade, which could be why we’re seeing such positive LGBT+ scores today.
According to the British Social Attitudes survey, the number of people in favour of same-sex partnerships has almost quadrupled since 1983.
The Office for National Statistics also reports younger generations are more comfortable with being openly gay. People aged between 16-24 are more than five times likely than those aged over 65 to identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual.
The UK ranked 13th out of 36 major European countries, when the results of all the categories were combined.
Melissa Lyras, Brand and Communications Manager at Spotahome said of the findings: “Many of our customers are looking to move to different cities across Europe, so our research into LGBT+ acceptance should help people decide which areas will best suit their personal needs and values.
“While it’s hopeful to see strides being taken in some countries to ensure everyone is accepted, it’s evident there is still much work to do. LGBT+ acceptance has hindered overall equality scores for many of the countries analysed and has highlighted this as a key area for improvement”.
Helsinki topped the Best Cities list for LGBT+ acceptance, with Bristol the highest UK city, coming in at number 4. Other UK cities featured on the list include Leeds (9), Edinburgh (10), Birmingham (12), Manchester (26) and London (32). Dublin came in at number 20 while Brighton did not feature in the top 33.
To view the full data for each city and country, click here:
Rock out to the pure dance-pop of Pixie Lott, as the British songstress takes the stage on Saturday August 4 to make it All About Tonight.
A firm favourite in the charts since the release of her debut album Turn It Up in 2009 – which spawned five top-twenty mega-hits, including number ones Mama Do and Boys and Girls – Pixie has spent the time since honing her poptastic, fairy dust-sprinkled musical style. With her second album Young Foolish Happy and her self-titled third album, Lott’s sound matured into the sassy R&B of ‘Nasty’. At the age of only 24, she packed all of this pop power into a greatest hits compilation Platinum Pixie: Hits.
LoveBN1Fest ticket holders have yet another reason to celebrate, with news that pop newcomer Raye has been added to the main-stage bill for Sunday, August 5 at theLoveBN1Fest .
The 20-year-old South Londoner already has plenty of experience under her belt. Since releasing the first of her two EPs four years ago, Raye’s feet have barely touched the ground. She provided knock-out vocals on Jonas Blue’s house mega-hit 2016 By Your Side and Jax Jones’ single You Don’t Know Me the same year, has collaborated with mega-rapper Nas, supported Years & Years, and Jess Glynne on her arena tour – and was short-listed for BBC Music Sound of… 2017 award, coming in at third place.
More artist will be announced for both days of the Pride Festival every day this week.
♦ For tickets for Love BN1Fest on Sunday, August 5, click here:
♦ For third release tickets for Brighton & Hove Pride Festival, Saturday, August 4, available March 28 at 9am, click here:
In just 28 days, the appeal attracted 424 backers who picked up rewards including original artwork donated by artists Fabrica has presented over the last 22 years. Many also donated money without selecting a reward, and the charity raised an additional £10,000 through a sponsored writing and drawing event it hosted in February.
High profile supporters of the campaign have included Martin Parr and Caroline Lucas MP for Brighton Pavilion.
Fabrica, has been the heart of the arts communities in Brighton & Hove for 22 years. They ran the appeal in light of losing a £20,000 regular grant from Brighton & Hove City Council last year. Despite cost reduction measures Fabrica faced a gap in its finances that it needed to fill by the end of March 2018.
Director Liz Whitehead, one of the original founders of Fabrica in 1996, said: “We have been completely bowled over by the response to the campaign. It’s been truly brilliant to see how much support we have in the city and beyond. Instead of thinking about which areas of the programme we might have to cut, we are now giving thought to what impact we can make with the additional money we raised!
“We feel that our campaign has raised Fabrica’s profile in the city and that people who may not have visited before will come to the gallery. I believe it has also highlighted the positive work we do with some of the city’s most vulnerable people, to reduce social isolation and improve people’s wellbeing.”
Artist Jane Fordham, who together with poet Jackie Wills organised the drawing event – named the Draw-A-Thon and Writers’ Relay event – said: “We’re so delighted with the success of the sponsored event. It’s been a fantastic way to mobilise Brighton’s artistic community in raising funds for Fabrica, which has supported local artists for many years”.
The success of the appeal means that the charity will not have to close its doors or cut its programme. Fabrica has said that it will direct the additional funds raised towards its exhibition programme, its artist development work and community activities such as Chomp, a free creative lunch club for families managing on a low-income.
Fabrica’s next exhibition, Life Model II by Brighton Festival Guest Director David Shrigley, runs from April 14 until May 27, 2018.
Whether it’s in London, Dublin, Southampton, Portsmouth or Sydney blooming Australia, Lee Harris is the man to put a definite spring in your step. Or should that be Steps?
Hello – how are you? “I’m great, thanks! Work’s very busy and life’s very good and exciting for 2018, plus last year was good for productions including my own Get Together and Freaky People on Queen House Music.”
Where can we hear you DJing in 2018? “NYE is all about Beyond at Fire, I’ll be playing alongside the fab Steve Pitron and Tony English amongst the Fire faithful! I have a great new residency with Daddi in Dublin along with London hotspots, Village and Comptons. Down South Mondays at Hampshire Boulevard in Portsmouth and Wednesdays at The Edge in Southampton are going very well and I’ll be going to Mardi Gras in Sydney in 2018 too! I also produce my own podcast, HouseNation UK, Lee Harris, available to you lovely people on iTunes and Spotify…”
What are you playing these days? “As I always say I don’t have a type – one party I could be playing disco, the next full on 130bpm tribal house. I’m very flexible, as many will know, ha ha ha!”
Fave song of all time? “The Animals House Of The Rising Sun, I could listen to it again and again. I’ve only just learnt it’s about a brothel!”
Ultimate NYE gig and best ever gig? “I really enjoying my gigs with Orange Nation playing for We, Beyond and Matinee so Circuit Festival in Barcelona or Madrid Pride would be my ideal. Hopefully I’ll be ticking off Sydney in 2018 too!”
Tune you wish you’d never played? “So, so many, but they’re usually ones that aren’t mastered and always sound great when you buy them from Beatport. When drunk usually.”
Guilty pleasure? “I love my 90s’ pop groups: S Club, Steps, I could go on. Yep, sorry.
New Year’s resolution? To maybe calm down a bit and spend more time indoors with my boyfriend.”
Describe yourself in three words… “Crazy, honest and Aquarius.”
Lee Harris’ Current Top Five:
♦ Lee Harris – Freaky People – Queen House
♦ Xpansions – Move Your Body (Freejak Remix) – Resurgence Music
♦ Pagano – Music Is Moving – Kism
♦ Esteban Lopez & Pedro Pons – Children – White
♦ MK – 17 – Area 10
Second Fringe outing for Steve who during An Indecent Act has a range of lurid and sordid stories from his 48 years in showbiz to relate.
He has written a dozen shows for young audiences, four cabaret productions, and two television scripts for Disney Europe – one of these was filmed in five languages including Serbo Croatian! Plus, regrettably, a direct commission from Germany as they loved his sense of humour – you have been warned!
Five weeks performing at festivals in Japan, three weeks at Italian festivals, and a week at the International Arts Carnival in Hong Kong. An audience of 12 million on a BBC Christmas ‘special’ with Paul Daniels, and a children’s programme with Richard Stilgoe.
Steve’s cabaret performances, however, are NOT children’s productions – sex, drugs (no audience participation!) and a little live music – parental guidance advised!
So, kids, lie about your age and get an education! Raconteurism with rancour and a large brandy!
Event: An Indecent Act performed by Steve Lee
Where: Sweet Werks, The Werks, 15-17 Middle Street BN1 1AL Venue 18
When: May 11-13
Time: 7.30pm so it does not ruin your entire evening
Why? Who can live on an old age pension when one has so much bile to share?
Cost: £7/£6
To book tickets online, click here:
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