Guest post by Mitch Null, Co-chair OutRaleigh Festival
The OutRaleigh Festival is taking place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 5, at City Plaza in downtown Raleigh, will include more than a dozen entertainment acts on the main stage. Performances include local and national musicians, dancing, skits, stand-up comedy, as well as male and female impersonations. Between performances, DJ Rob will fill the air with music.
The entertainment schedule includes:
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Team Don’t H8
- Mary Selvidge
- Angelica Ross
- DV8
12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
- TeamMate
- Fortune Feimster
- Jason Dudey
- Private Pageant
- Someone’s Sister
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sayer McShane
- Team Don’t H8
4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Kristy Lee
- Drag-A-Palooza
- Who’s Bad – The Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute Band
More information
Team Don’t H8
A dance team from Gastonia, North Carolina that strives to recognize and celebrate each individual’s differences through their message of “one voice, one song, one dance.” With their dream of world peace, the team has demonstrated their cause in communities of all races, religions and beliefs. According to the team, “If we don’t help make a change, the issues at stake are: the bullying doesn’t stop, people continue to harm themselves, discrimination still happens, groups form and unite and harm one another.”
Mary Selvidge
Mary Selvidge is a singer-songwriter from Baily, North Carolina. Playing and performing music since the age of sixteen, Selvidge has won both regional and statewide country music competitions. She has opened for renowned artists including George Strait, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Toby Keith and Taylor Swift.
Angelica Ross
The music of Angelica Ross is a reflection of the beautiful complexity that is created when two worlds collide, man and woman. Delivering her debut album “When Two Worlds Collide,” co-produced by Antonio Sage, Ross is ready to sing her stories to bring people together from all around the world. This is where life becomes art.
DV8
Formed from a youth club called the DASH Club, DV8 performances are unapologetic in their portrayal of bullying, teen suicide and HIV/AIDS. Unable to perform at local school functions due to the nature of their performance material, the group has found a welcoming audience in the members of the local HIV/AIDS chapter and at community festivals across the state.
TeamMate
An indie pop/rock outfit from Los Angeles, California, TeamMate is a musical duo comprised of Scott Simons and Dani Buncher. Writing songs largely based on their previous relationship as a couple, their compositions consist of weighty themes accompanied by melodies that are surprisingly upbeat.
Fortune Feimster
Fortune Feimster, is a Summa Cum Laude from Peace College in Raleigh, North Carolina. She has taken the Los Angeles comedy scene by storm and last year made her national TV debut on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” where she finished as a semi-finalist. Now Fortune is a full-time writer and performer on the E! Network’s popular “Chelsea Lately” show.
Jason Dudey
Jason Dudey is a comedian from West Hollywood, California who has been described as “side-splitting” with material out of the gay community. He frequently performs at comedy clubs across the country including Raleigh’s own Goonights Comedy Club.
Private Pageant
Hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina, Private Pageant is an electronica dance-rock outfit with Depeche Mode and New Order as two of their biggest influences. The Private Pageant embellishes the electronic sound of the 80s and fuses it with a modern twist, creating a product that is both intelligent and entertaining.
Someone’s Sister
Someone’s Sister is the acoustic duo of Georgia Winfree and Katherine Jones. They released their debut album, “Hand Me Downs,” at the end of 2004. Since then, they have traveled across the U.S. singing and spreading their message of child abuse prevention. Their music provides the perfect blending of rock and folk as each artist lends her own life experience to create music unlike any other.
Sayer McShane
Comprised of Kristin Sayer and Carolyn McShane, Sayer McShane is an exciting two-piece band hailing from Detroit, Michigan. Nominated for several Detroit Music Awards, they capture a danceable, Motown/beach feel that is richly steeped in the blues.
Kristy Lee
It is hard to stick Kristy Lee in a music category, because when it comes to writing songs, she has no limits. Her unique rhythms are clean, pure, and unapologetic. Her first album, at age 18, was selected for exclusive distribution through Target retailers. This Alabama girl performs across the county to packed houses.
Drag-A-Palooza
This compilation of male and female impersonators, aka drag kings andqueens, will lip-sync and perform live vocals to some of the most popular songs of the past. To create their gender-bending visual effect, the artists often incorporate unique and elaborate costuming as part of their performance. Humor frequently plays an important role in drag, so expect the unexpected as the host and performers ad lib throughout the production.
Who’s Bad
The only tribute band that was created before Michael Jackson’s passing. Native to North Carolina, The band was founded in 2004 with its first performance occurring in Chapel Hill. Since then, Who’s Bad has played to sold-out audiences across the U.S., England, Europe and China. Who’s Bad concert’s include choreography, costuming, full orchestration and vocals that duplicate, in detail, Jackson’s performances. The band pays tribute to Jackson with songs spanning his entire career from ABC to You Rock My World.
About OutRaleigh 2012
OutRaleigh, a LGBT Center of Raleigh program, celebrates the diversity of families in the Triangle region of North Carolina. With the theme of “All Families Matter,” the annual street festival will be held Saturday, May 5 in downtown Raleigh. This family-friendly event provides a safe and welcoming environment for all people to have fun and learn about issues affecting neighbors, friends, coworkers and family members who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The event includes guest speakers, live entertainment, a KidsZone, and an expo area.