“We all have much to be proud of this year in Wisconsin,” explains Scott Gunkel, president of Milwaukee PrideFest. First and foremost was the arrival of same-sex marriage in our state. If that eventuality hasn’t fully registered yet for everyone, it surely will for many PrideFest opening day attendees, who will visit a wedding expo featuring numerous local planners, florists, dressmakers, caterers, photographers, DJs and more. In addition, PrideFest, which boasts nearly 30,000 attendees each year, offers a Walker’s Point parade, volleyball tournament, improved trans-inclusive accommodations, drag entertainment, dance teams and a dance pavilion with a capacity of 6,000 hosted by Trixie Mattel and Trannika Rex.
Milwaukee PrideFest has come a long way, reflecting the tremendous strides made by the LGBTQ community as a whole since its Juneau Park origins. It’s the only such festival in North America held at a permanent venue, Henry Maier Festival Park, a great place to eat, drink and be merry/marry/merry! “We create a space where everyone can embrace and celebrate their best selves, surrounded by friends, family and fun,” PrideFest Co-producer Kate Sherry adds. “Being surrounded by all that positive energy is the best feeling in the world.”
Helping to sustain that energy is a varied lineup of talent. Here are a few highlights:
· Alex Newell will be on hand at the opening ceremony and also for a full solo performance. He’s perhaps most familiar to us as the wonderfully flamboyant character Wade “Unique” Adams on Fox’s popular show, “Glee.”
· The always entertaining BJ Daniels Revue returns, a fun-loving assembly of drag performers who’ve worked together for more than two decades.
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· Amongst the 19 DJs will be San Diego’s genre-fusing DrewG, as well as Chris Cox, Bret Law, Joe Gauthreaux and Hector Fonseca. Fonseca has been named Best International DJ/Producer by Edge magazine and has charted more than 10 dance remixes on Billboard.
· Fox’s “American Idol” is our point of introduction for three PrideFest singers, including Brody Ray, who made it through four “Idol” auditions and whose female-male transformation was featured on the TLC program “Strange Sex.” Gorgeous singer, songwriter and actor David Hernandez was a 2008 “Idol” finalist, and 2010 runner-up Crystal Bowersox will delight the audience with her eclectic blend of country rock, blues and folk.
· Homegrown musical talent will also be well represented. Such notables include Corky Morgan, a Milwaukee native and traditional R&B vocalist with more than 20 years of stage and screen experience. Also, there’s Milwaukee’s synth-pop group GGOOLLDD. “How perfectly every element of their sound works,” according to Shepherd Express Music Editor Evan Rytlewski.
· Additional performers include Australia’s indie-pop singer Betty Who; Eryn Woods, whose pop-punk music has gained attention from both VH-1 and MTV; and Latina comic Sandra Valls, who’s appeared on two Showtime comedy specials and was named one of the top “Bad Ass Comics with Latin Roots” by Latina magazine.
· Among the brightest stars in PrideFest’s sparkling firmament of talented musicians are Ty Herndon and En Vogue. Herndon has garnered 17 charting songs on Billboard’s Hot Country chart, including number-one hits “What Mattered Most” and “Living in a Moment.” R&B trio En Vogue have won more MTV Video Music awards than any other female group. Their infectious hit singles “Hold On” and “Whatta Man” were part of the nostalgic soundtrack for many in the ’90s club-hopping days.
· Finally, PrideFest welcomes one of our strongest champions, Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and activist Ani DiFranco. DiFranco is a winner of NOW’s Woman of Courage Award, an honor she shares with Sen. Barbara Boxer and Barbra Streisand.
PrideFest takes place at Henry Maier Festival Park, June 5-7. For more information, visit pridefest.com.
