On Saturday 4th September the 2010 Cardiff Wales Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Mardi Gras event will take place at Cooper’s Field, Cardiff. Over 40,000 people are expected to attend the event, coming together to celebrate diversity and help to combat hate crime.
Over 40 performers and musicians will be performing throughout the day, with main stage acts including former Coronation Street star Adam Rickett, 2007 X Factor Finalists Same Difference, 2009 X Factor star Lloyd Daniels, G2L, South Wales Gay Mens Chorus and Sean Rumsey. There will also be a appearances from Starman, made famous by Sky TV’s Pineapple Dance Studio and progressive metal band Blue Gillespie, featuring frontman Gareth David-Lloyd, known to many as Torchwood’s Ianto.
Gareth and his band performed at 2009’s Mardi Gras, and he commented “Mardi Gras is not just about declaring to the world that the LGBT community exists. It’s about promoting and celebrating the diversity and richness of this community. I hope that we all take this opportunity to build friendships with and beyond our own sexual identities and drive the message that our cultural and sexual diversity is something that we should all be proud of. And have fun!”
In addition to the main stage, the Gaydar Dance Arena will be open throughout the day and The Admiral Cabaret Garden will showcase some of the best variety and cabaret around, featuring top drag acts Miss Penny, Tina Sparkle, Miss Kitty and others alongside amazing local talent Donna Marie, Laura Rimron and David Longden.
Justin Beddows, Communications Manager for Admiral, said, “We are delighted to be sponsoring the Cabaret Garden at this year’s Mardi Gras. It’s always such a brilliant event, and many members of our staff look forward to it. The Mardi Gras committee does a fantastic job of organising the event and it always surpasses my expectations.”
As usual there will be a market area, fairground, bars and catering while 2010 also sees the introduction of the Health and Wellbeing Zone supported by the Big Lottery Fund as well as a new Youth Zone and the Unite Family Play Area.
This year the event will take place in a fenced-off area, with no alcohol to be brought onto the site, for everyone’s safety and to ensure that the Mardi Gras remains open and accessible to all. It is free to attend the main event but donations are welcomed as they help to meet the costs of staging the event.
For the first time this year, in the run up to the main event, Chapter Arts Centre will be hosting a series of festival events including a presentation by Deborah Withers of her recent book “Adventures in Kate Bush and Theory” and Gary Coyle presenting his solo performance “At Sea”.
Cardiff Wales Mardi Gras is organised solely by a volunteer committee. To find out more about the events, or to get involved, please visit www.cardiffmardigras.co.uk.
