Pride Toronto (PT) has confirmed that 1990s R&B icons En Vogue will headline the Blockorama 15 stage this year.
PT’s arts and culture manager, TK, says the funky divas of Motown will perform June 30, Pride Sunday.
“We wanted something amazing to celebrate 15 years, our longest-running festival showcase,” he says. “It’s gonna be so hot and so much fun.”
Since En Vogue’s 1990 debut, the stylish and sassy trio has had several smash hits, including “Hold On,” “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It),” “Giving Him Something He Can Feel,” “Free Your Mind” and “Whatta Man,” featuring Salt-n-Pepa.
Everyone has a favourite En Vogue song, TK says: “Everyone will be dancing. I’m so excited.”
Blockorama is an all-day dance party celebrating black queer pride, traditionally held on the Sunday of Pride weekend. Of the many free parties held in the Church-Wellesley Village during Pride, Blockorama is consistently one of the most diverse. In addition to drag queens and hip-hop artists, partygoers can expect dance troupes, DJs and burlesque.
Diana King, a powerhouse best known for “I Say a Little Prayer” and “Shy Guy,” will also appear on the Blockorama stage this year. King will headline the new Yonge and Dundas stage at the end of the Pride parade.
Last month, PT announced that the parade will be extra long this year, beginning at its usual starting point, at Church and Bloor streets, and ending at Yonge and Dundas streets – where performers will get the party started.
King, a Jamaican recording artist, came out last year in a country where homosexuality is still a crime.
“She’s an out lesbian reggae and R&B recording artist in Jamaica. How amazing is that?” says TK.
The LGBT Academy of Recording Arts honoured King with the Vanguard Award for her bravery at the eighth annual OutMusic Awards last year.
PT has already announced some of its other headline performers: Mia Martina, Anjulie, My Name Is Kay, Reverse and the House of Xtravaganza will all perform on the main TD-Wellesley Stage.
An all-rock lineup is booked for the Friday night kickoff party, featuring Light Fires, Carole Pope, Diamond Rings and The Cliks.
Blockorama 15: Legacy.Legendary.Love.
Sun, June 30
TD Wellesley Stage: Wellesley Street, just east of Yonge
En Vogue headlines at 8:34pm
Click here for the full schedule
Yonge-Dundas Square: A WorldPride celebration in the heart of downtown Toronto
Sun, June 30
Yonge-Dundas Square
Diana King headlines at 8:30pm
(King also makes an appearance on the Blockorama 15 stage at 6pm)
Click here for the full schedule
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