Main Stage
Main Stage comperes include: Tina Sparkle, Amanda Protheroe Thomas, Miss Kitty and Marcia, Fanny Dazzle, Bella Endez and Jolene Dover.
The Fine Line
We discovered this Cardiff-based band at a recent battle of the bands event. The Fine Line believe that it is more important to write and perform great music than to have a great choreographer!. The list their musical influences as including Bob Dylan, The Police, Sam Cooke and Bon Jovi. Check out their Facebook page here.
Urban Freestyle Display Team
A first for Cardiff Mardi Gras. You’ll be entertained by their high energy urban display – including BMX’ing and local World Record holding football freestyler Ash Randall. Ash has performed his act on commercials for Disney and Blackberry – but prepare to be awed as you see him on the main stage in Cardiff. More here.
Dee Stokes
An emerging talent on the UK music scene and soon to be worldwide. He is a Singer, Songwriter, Producer and Musician, incorporating his own unique sound with commercial beats. His influences range through Pop, RnB, Dance and Electronic. His main credibility comes through his creativity. Always trying to challenge himself, he truly is breaking the boundaries of live performance. With a team of amazing dancers behind him, Dee has created several live shows in which he incorporates song, dance, drama and theatre. Visit his website.
Cwtch
This local band makes a return to the Mardi Gras Stage. Cwtch have been together for 8 years and have performed all over the world with their their musical sound that they describe as a light breeze on a summer beach. We are delighted that they are joining us once again. Join them on MySpace.
South Wales Gay Mens Chorus
We are delighted to welcome Wales’ only gay choir to the stage. South Wales Gay Mens Chorus is a fresh and lively group that sing a range of music from contemporary pop, jazz and musicals to classical and traditional folk. Check out their website.
Sean Rumsey
Sean has been making music for years and was an X Factor finalist in the band Futurproof – now an established singer song writer – this gent has storming looks and a voice to match. Sean has worked alongside artists such as Grace Jones, Mika and Groove Armada and we are excited about having him on the main stage at Cardiff. More info.
Copthorne Musical Theatre Group
Coopers Field you are going to dance and jive to 20 minutes of some of the highest energy showtunes – from Hairspray to Grease prepare to dance. It’s going to be system’atic, automatic and mardigras’tastic. You danced like mad men to these guys in 2009, and we know you will again!
Danny Hilton
Danny returns to Cardiff Mardi Gras following on from his appearence last year. It’s been a busy year for Danny whoose set comprises high energy dance coverrs – Danny is fitting us in his global schedule that has included New York Pride, Stockholm Pride, Dusseldorf Pride and Ronnie Scott’s in London. More here.
Cubstars
This act debuted at Manchester Pride last year, and are the UK’s newest pop/dance Man Band – featuring a group of talented and professionally trained Cubs from the north West. Expect fur meets Kylie, beefcake meets Madonna as they take on some of our favourite club anthems. Their website is here.
Kenelis
You wanted them back and they are back. Kenelis have been on the rock LGBT Scene for the last 8 years. These guys perform their own material and are passionate about the LGBT Scene. Prepare to rock Cardiff to the sounds of Mel Sanson and her band Kenelis. See more on their website.
MLE
MLE brings dirty dance to Cardiff – she’s fab and kinky – when she was younger her ambition was to run around the park topless and make mudpies. Now this working class girl from Newport has released her debut album and is making her mark in the music scene – recently topping a poll of unsigned artists in NXGZINE. More info.
Daniela Brooker
Daniela is appearing with her band. Aged just 18 Daniela has already received airplay and backing from The Chris Evans Breakfast Show. Working with producers whose back catelogue includes Mary J Blige, Jamoroquai and the Kooks she is already rising star having played a number of gigs both sides of the Atlantic and is being compared to Adele. This is Daniella’s Mardi Gras debut and she joins us in the run up to her appearence at Palm Springs Pride USA. Visit her website.
The Wow Showgirls
We are not quite sure if Cardiff has ever seen anything like this; or if the ancient site that is Cooper’s Field is ready for this. We do know however that you guys will go mad for the mainstay of Cardiff’s Drag Community – Miss Kitty, Marcia, Fanny Dazzle, Bella Endez, Gypsy Divine, Amberdextrous, Mona Lotte all in one massive showpiece number. Will it be the Tiller Girls meet Moulin Rouge?
David Longden
Described as “awesome’ by Charlotte Church, David is not a stranger to most of us having been a big supporter of the south Wales gay scene. David brings to the main stage in Cardiff a vocal versatility that will treat us to some of the most popular anthems written for the male voice. More info.
Clingol
CLINIGOL is brought to you by two Welsh brothers, some synths, an ice cream van, a healthy dollop of neurosis, and a merry band of lovely guest singing ladies. It kinda all started with the debut single EILIAD (A Second) in December 2006. It didn’t quite make the Christmas No. 1, didn’t top the Welsh Language Artists Chart either, but No. 9 ain’t too bad. We are really excited to be joined by one of Wales’ top bi-lingual bands at this years Mardi Gras. Find out more here.
Vanity
Prepare to meet your 4 new best friends; Carley, Sarah, Cher and Rosie are four girls who love to go shopping and live for the weekend. Formed in early 2010 to fill the gap in the girl band market, Vanity are currently recording tracks for their debut album and touring the UK performing at some of the country’s biggest events. Check them out here.
AJ
AJ is the new prince of Pop! AJ has spent the last year touring UK on a string of dates alongside artists such as The Saturdays, Peter Andre, Chipmunk and Scouting for Girls. On 3rd September AJ unleashes his new live show on Cardiff – bigger and better with more pop madness than you can shake a stick at. The high-energy show features floor-filling tunes from AJ’s forthcoming album alongside with dancers, giveaways and lots of pop fun! Everything AJ is here.
FTW
The UK’s number 1 new boy band, fusing all the elements of a classic boy band with stylish high street fashion, high energy dance routines and dance~pop sound. This September you can catch Callum, Tom, Kyle and Jake at Cardiff Mardi Gras where their set will include their debut single “Dance Dance”. Visit their Facebook Page for more.
J J Sneed
Valleys-born “JJ Sneed” is a Bilingual Producer/DJ/Singer/Songwriter with a passion for music and culture. He has been a front man for many years of up and coming bands around South Wales. His debut solo single Gobaith / Hope charted last winter and we are privileged to welcome this handsome performer to the Mardi Gras stage. Check out his website.
Alexander Price
Initially starting out as a performance artist with a backdrop of electronic music he made his debut at Amy Lame`s much loved Duckie night at the legendary Vauxhall Tavern.Eventually developing as a pop artist his stage shows have become one of Londons most talked about gig going experiences.Combining high energy choreography with self made and designed stage attire and a wild female dance troupe the Designer Babies.He has performed with the darlings of the London club scene as well as supporting Kelis,Beverly Knight and Chicane.
“something quite spectacular Alexander Price has caused quite a sensation” - BBC Radio
Check out his website here.
Tom Richards
Aged just 16 Tom was a star of last year’s X Factor where he made it all the way to Australia to sing for Danni at her house. Despite not making it into the final 12 Tom now has a successful singing career. Watch a preview on YouTube.
Chelcee Grimes
Chelcee is one of the UK’s fastest emerging talents, aged 19 and hailing from Liverpool Chelcee is signed to Sony and is a priority artist for launch this winter. Visit her website here.
Chelcee appears in conjunction with Pulse Cardiff.
Bright Light
Disco Pop at it’s best! South Wales finest musical export since Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey, Bright Light Bright Light mixes a love of the dancefloor with classic songwriting. Acclaimed for shimmering electro-pop & fantastic live performances.
“Creator of emotional disco moments that only Kylie or Robyn can normally provide.” - Attitude Magazine
Find out more here.
Scooch Does Glee
In the late 90s Scooch were signed to EMI Records and released 4 singles (‘When My Baby’, ‘The Best Is Yet To Come’, ‘For Sure’ & the top 5 hit ‘More Than I Needed To Know’) all culminating in their debut album ‘Four Sure’ in the UK. In 2007 Scooch signed to Warner Bros. and represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest in Helsinki with their song ‘Flying the Flag (For You)’. The song reached number 5 in the UK Top 40 Singles Chart on 13 May 2007. It continues to hold the record for the highest charting UK Eurovision single in over 12 years… since we last won the competition in 1997. Appearing at Cardiff with that Eurovision song, and some of the best pop-sing-along tunes from Glee we welcome Scooch to the main field. Join them on Facebook.
Hazell Dean
Cardiff Mardi Gras welcomes a legend to the stage. With a singing career spanning four decades we are Hazell will re-create some of her hits – ‘Who’s leaving who’, ‘Searchin’, ‘Turn it into Love’ and ‘Maybe we should call it a day’. Hazell has appeared at Gay Pride events around the world and can justifiably be called a gay icon.
Sian Evans (DL Fresh / Louder / Kosheen)
Sian is one of the UK’s leading vocalists – and has just spent several weeks at number one in the UK charts with her collaboration with DJ Fresh – Louder. Sian is also the lead vocalist with the group Kosheen. Expect to dance and rock as we travel through Sian’s list of hits including Louder, Hide You and Catch. Visit her website.