‘LGF Quickies’ are short videos presented by Peter Boyle, Sexual Health Coordinator at The Lesbian & Gay Foundation.

The aim is to pass on important sexual health messages in a quick and entertaining way, and to encourage gay and bisexual men to share them with their friends via social media.

Peter says, “Gay and bisexual men are bombarded with safer sex messages on an almost daily basis, and sometimes the message just gets lost. LGF Quickies are bite-sized, two minute videos that get the message across quickly and in an engaging way.

People can watch them online, on their smartphone, or on their tablet. And we’re asking guys to spread the word.” In the first episode of LGF Quickies, Peter examines some of the reasons condoms might break, and what to do to ensure you get the best performance from your condoms and water-based lube.

In the second video, to be launched on Thursday 24th May, Peter will be talking about condom usage. LGF Quickies will be available every fortnight from http://www.lgf.org.uk/quickies

The LGF are also calling on men to get in touch and let them know what they would like Peter to cover in future episodes.

Do you have an itching, burning question about sex that you’ve always wanted to ask? Ever wondered what PEP is? How often should you go for a sexual health test? How do you tell your sexual partner that he’s not doing what you want him to? Let Peter know what you’d like to see him cover.

Drop him an e-mail at peter.boyle@lgf.org.uk The LGF are also seeking social media ‘Safe Sex Ambassadors’ to ‘spread the love’ and share the safe sex message via social media.

They are asking people to share the LGF Quickies on Facebook, Twitter or LGB blogs. Supporters can also subscribe to the LGF’s YouTube channel, and will be informed as soon as a new LGF Quickie is available to view.

If you’ve got any questions about sexual health, call The Lesbian & Gay Foundation on 0845 3 30 30 30 or visit www.lgf.org.uk.

Headlining this year’s event is Sonia, who shot to fame at the age of sixteen whilst playing the Liverpool club circuit. Sonia’s debut single You’ll Never Stop Me from Loving You was released in 1989 and shot to number one in the UK selling a staggering 350,000 copies

Appearing alongside Sonia will be 2010 X-Factor sensation Diva Fever will add just a little bit of campness to the fifth birthday celebrations and Eurovision act Scooch.

Also appearing on the main stage at this year’s event are local acts including the sensational Totally Gaga, who appeared at last years event. The North East’s only LGB&T choir, Northern Pride Voices will also perform at the event.

Newcastle born singer-songwriter Sam Dickinson will also entrain crowds with new released from his upcoming debut album. Sam has previously been known to work with a band, The Fletchtones, which in previous years have traveled the North East. Sam has also appeared at Pride events including Manchester and Northern Pride previously.

Other acts to the line-up include Elle and Horse, with eight albums ( the 9th underway) and a career spanning three decades, Horse has performed alongside Tina Turner, Robbie Williams, Bryan Ferry, Burt Bacharach, Sir Ian McKellen, Lesley Garrett, Pet Shop Boys, B.B. King, Culture Club and Erasure.

This years event will mark five years of Northern Pride, and will also mark the first without previous Festival Director John Harrison.

Top of the line-up is past Eurovision act, Scooch, who are more than ready to fly the flag in the North East for the second year running.

In the late 90s the band 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.

The band are currently best known as the representing group for the United Kingdom in 2007. The song, ‘Flying The Flag’, reached number 5 in the UK Top 40 Singles Chart on in 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.

Scooch continue to perform across the UK and will perform their new show ‘Scooch do GLEE’ at the event on Saturday 21st of July.

The full-line up of acts will be published later today on the Out-Spoken site.

The Tuesday gay night in Sunderland has been established for over nine years and in that time numerous bars have made an addition to the weekly theme of the City.

This week Gatsby’s will join in the goings on with its addition of ‘We Love Tuesdays’ with host, Nova Gina.

Nova is best known for her work in the now nationally known ‘Le Freake’ event by Lush Entertainment.

The fun kicks off this Tuesday, 29^th May, from 9PM with the first event from ‘We Love Tuesday’s’, ‘Nova’s Drag Race’, with an introduction from the competition hopefuls.

You can find out more about the night by visiting the Facebook page; ‘We Love Tuesdays.’

Loreen, 28, wowed viewers with catchy dance track ‘Euphoria’ accompanied by high kick dancing and a shower of snow.

Second place in the competition went to the heart-warming, but ever so typical Eurovision act, Buranovskiye Babushki representing Russia, a choir of elderly women from a village who performed a disco song Party for Everybody in English and their local Finnic language with a stove and a tray as props.

There was disappointment however for Britain after veteran crooner Engelbert Humperdinck – brought in to revive its notoriously bad Eurovision fortunes – who scored just 12 points and came second last with his ballad ‘Love Will Set You Free’, leaving many blaming the fact he was the first to perform for the disappointing position.

The festive atmosphere was clouded by reports of dozens of opposition activists who attempted to hold several peaceful demonstrations calling for democratic freedoms in the tightly-controlled state.

The content was also shunned by neighboring country Armenia, who decided to pull out of the competition as it feared for the safety of their representing artists.

The success of Loreen for Sweden has continued as the song, ‘Euphoria’, now holds the top spot in the UK music chart.

How did you first get involved in the music industry?

Growing up in a musical household predetermines a great deal of your fate. I started working in the theatre at a really young age and then transitioned to singing when I was tired of theatre songs and being underutilized as just another voice in the chorus. It wasn’t until my first year of university that I realized I could start writing my own music. A few years ago I decided to make an honest stab at recording an album and that has lead me to where I am today.

You currently have a great following in the UK, how do you feel about that?

How do I explain it…? Well, the first time I came over to the UK I hadn’t a clue what to expect. I was bowled over by how open and welcoming the audiences were…so now I have a bit of a love affair with the UK honestly… American audiences can sometimes be a little hostile or you get the feeling that they expect you to pull pyrotechnics out of your ass or something…like if you’re going to sing a Pop song you have to have a wind machine, an endorsement deal, a reality show and a perfume licensed and shelved at Tescos… In Europe, and more specifically the UK, the audience generally wants to be entertained… It’s more of a “Ok kid, let’s see what ya got..” kinda thing which I love. Just give me a microphone – I’ll do the rest.

 Your new album “Narcissus Drowned” is out on March 27… how do you hope it will be taken by your fans?

The title track “Narcissus Drowned” seems to be resonating with fans and I think the remixes have contributed nicely. I like the fact that I can revisit a song (along with the listener) and hear something fresh and different in the remix. I’ve said it before, but I treated the album itself as sort of an aural journal. The songs represent feelings, moments and memories for me – I hope that the listener will be able to associate their own experiences with the music. Some of the music will be familiar to long-term fans; other tracks are going to be fresh for everyone. I’m getting a lot of feedback on a song called “Keep Calm” – I think that may end up being the next single, it might also work it’s way into a video treatment. Ultimately I do as an artist because it has become more of a vocation than a career – if my friends and fans like what they hear, hopefully a lot more music will be coming your way soon. I do have a major floor-stomper with Australian DJ Loud Manners coming out this summer – that is something to keep your ears perked for!

Recently you’ve been involved in the It Gets Better Campaign, why did you want to get involved in that project?

My participation with the online campaign and subsequent “It Gets Better” book came about quite simply. I was responding to a tidal wave of hate against LGBTQ teens and young adults. We have come to use the term “bully” as a way to describe what has essentially become “murder” in our society. Its my belief that when you bully someone to extinction that’s exactly what it is – murder. So to counteract all the negativity and the hate-speak and fear-mongering, I wanted to send out a message that sometimes the pain one endures can be useful. We’ve all had moments where we’ve felt like giving up – but I believe that there is great comfort in knowing that nothing that you are facing, no adversity or challenge is unique in it’s experience. It may be unique to you, but someone, somewhere, has dealt with an almost identical challenge or complication and they have survived. It’s about survival. Survival and support. If we taught our children early on the usefulness of support early on, we might be a more compassionate world.

If you weren’t involved in music what do you think you’d be doing?

I think about that a lot actually. I cannot imagine living my life outside of music – but if there are days where I wouldn’t mind being holed up in some dusty old museum. I could see myself as a Curator or owning a little bookshop. Word will likely be the death of me so I may as well build my own testament to their greatness – seems like books are the best way. If either of those ideas failed I’d move to Capri and sell gelato – or be the only member of Kazaky not in heels. I could also moonlight at Kylie Minogue’s house-keeper. I dust a mean shelf.

https://www.facebook.com/AngeloMusic

Liverpool music legend Ian McCulloch said “It’s an honour to be asked to open the venue named after Brian Epstein. I’m looking forward to performing at there for the first time.”

Liverpool City Council opened out tenders for the management contract, which was won in 2011 by the organisers of the popular and respected Liverpool Sound City music festival.  CEO of Liverpool Sound City and The Epstein Theatre Dave Pichilingi, last night revealed his plans for the theatre.

A full programme of theatre, music, comedy and dance will be announced for the main auditorium soon, but highlights of the year are already in place for the Autumn season, with the World Premiere of a play based on the life of Brian Epstein titled EPSTEIN, which runs from 15 Nov – 1 Dec. The play is produced by Bill Elms and Jen Heyes Productions Ltd and penned by local writer Andrew Sherlock.  The theatre will also see the return of their Christmas Pantomimes with LHK Productions promising a lavish production of Cinderella, from 6 Dec – 6 Jan.

Plans have also been revealed to have regular entertainment in the theatre bar, named Brian’s Bar.  The Bar will open throughout the day and is hoped to become the hub of the city’s creative community, plans for open mic comedy and poetry nights and a platform to hear new bands will create an exciting vibe in the bar overlooking Hanover St.  Food will be served throughout the day and aims to specialise in serving a wide variety of cheeses, pates, cooked meats and the finest breads, including re-inventing the Ploughman’s.

The bar will host art and photography exhibitions and opens with a photography exhibition by renowned Liverpool photographer Mark McNulty. The work will include his photographs taken over the past 25 years.

Joe Flannery, 81, a lifelong friend of Brian Epstein has donated a large photograph of Brian which hangs in the theatre bar.

The forum has been developed by a group of diversity focused organisations in partnership with Equality North East through their Connecting for Change  programme.

Connecting for Change aims to improve economic inclusion for minority and disadvantaged groups by identifying and addressing barriers within employment and entry to employment and training.

LGBT North East recognises that lesbian, gay, bisexual and  transgender people can face particular  barriers in employment, developing a sense of community and in accessing key services.

This forum presents a unique opportunity for LGB and Trans people in the North East to support each other and to have their say on how to make things better for all.

More information on the forum can be found via http://www.lgbtnortheast.com/index.html.

Another step closer to world domination, Jessie J has proven she is one of the hottest pop-star’s on the planet right now having hit the #1 spot in 19 countries world-wide selling 11 million singles and over 2 million copies of her multi-platinum debut album.

In the UK alone Jessie has sold 1 million albums, secured two #1 singles and to her extraordinary live credentials she adds two very special appearances at Ibiza & Mallorca Live this summer – the ONLY performance she will be doing on either island this season. Jessie said ‘I’m so excited to be performing out in Mallorca and Ibiza at Ibiza Live, they are the only shows I’m doing out there this summer.

The White Isle better be ready to party!” Undeniably the hottest music event to hit the Balearics this year Ibiza and Mallorca Live is an explosive 15 week, multi-tiered, clubbing experience bringing the biggest and hottest UK acts to the islands this season.

Featuring a host of A-List artists who will be performing at the most infamous clubs on both sides of the Med, Ibiza and Mallorca Live will be bringing a totally live, unique and unforgettable clubbing extravaganza in both Ibiza and Mallorca.

For first time ever, clubbers will be able to enjoy the ultimate party experience on both islands on the same day, Jessie will performing a matinee performance in an specially constructed outdoor arena in Mallorca before jetting off to Ibiza so clubbers there will be able to see the same spectacular show.

Jessie joins the existing line up of huge acts including Dizzee Rascal, Tinie Tempah, Example, Labrinth, Professor Green, Wretch 32, Rizzle Kicks and the legendary Rev Run (Run DMC) with more to be announced.

Mallorca and Ibiza Live curator Simon Belofsky said “we tested the concept out last year at Eden with big acts like Example, Tinie Tempah and N-Dubz, the shows were completely sold out and the venue was at capacity – so we learned very quickly that there is a strong appetite for this kind of format in Ibiza.’

One summer, two islands, the biggest acts, the hottest clubs, Mallorca and Ibiza Live has arrived.