Meet PrideFest Performer James Roy

Singer/songwriter James Roy has long been one of Colorado's best-known performers and is now beginning to make a splash nationwide. His song 'Rise Above' recently reached #8 on Logo's Top 10 Videos. Denver PrideFest is lucky and proud to have him returning to the Main Stage on Sunday, June 22.




How many years have you been performing at PrideFest and what do you like best about it?
This is my third year performing at Pride. I've been living in Denver since 2001 so I've experienced Pride as someone watching the parade and watching the shows, as well as being in the parade and on stage. What hits me every time is how important this event is to the community. We have people driving in from nearby states as well as flying in from across the country. The best thing about Pride is that we're in the heart of the city and we can feel completely comfortable for two days. It's great!

What is your most memorable PrideFest moment?
I get choked up every time PFLAG walks by in the parade and I see a lady who is maybe in her 70's. I can't remember exactly what her sign says, but it's something like "Grandma loves gays". It's amazing, and not something you'll see any other time of the year.

Why is PrideFest important to the GLBT community?
PrideFest is important to the GLBT community because each one of us is at a different point in our coming out process. I've met a number of people for which it's their first Pride and they drove in from Utah or Montana and they're very grateful to be here. For those of us that have been here for a while, it's a chance to see other people in the community that we wouldn't normally see. The GLBT community has a number of sub-communities that don't necessarily mingle, and PrideFest is one event that we all have in common.

What projects are you currently working on?
Getting performers together for shows this summer has been quite a project in itself! Outside of that, though, I've got some big-name producers working on some remixes for me and when the shows ramp down I'll be going back to the studio with some new material. Outside of music, I'm also working on a community project to bring fresh produce to a women & children's shelter in Denver. The name of the project is Half of Plenty [www.halfofplenty.org] and I'm still trying to get more participants. If anyone is interested, please e-mail me!

What is your message for readers of the PrideFest Blog?
Be sure to come to PrideFest and enjoy all that it has to offer! The Center, all of its vendors, its performers, and its sponsors [like Stoli] put so much effort into making it a great event for everyone. We are so fortunate to have PrideFest in our backyard, so let's enjoy it! Also, I've got a booth again this year, so stop by to get some autographed CDs if you have the chance! We've got a show at Independent Records & Video on Colfax at 11 am Sunday just as the parade is finishing up, and then we'll be on the main stage at 2:15, shortly before Martha Wash.

For more information on James Roy be sure to visit his website James Roy Music.