A taste of the Liverpool International Music Festival (LIMF) is coming to Liverpool city centre on Thursday 8 August.
Some of the up-and-coming local performers being showcased in the inaugural 35 day event will take to five special pop-up stages – giving people a sneak preview of what they will be able to enjoy as part of LIMF from 18 August to 22 September.
At the performances, people will also be able to purchase tickets for the Turn Up the Radio and Party at the Pier shows on the bank holiday weekend of Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 August – where the likes of JLS, Little Mix, The Saturdays and Texas will also be performing.
Taking to the stages will be:
• Chelcee Grimes – acknowledged as one the UK’s brightest emerging talents
• Tyler Mensah – nominated for the Liverpool GIT and Liverpool Music awards
• Sophia Ben-Yousef – acclaimed teenage singer-songwriter, who has performed across the UK
• Five piece boy R’n’B boy band Mic Lowry
• Sense of Sound choir
The time and locations of the shows are:
0830 – 0930: Lime Street Piazza (outside mainline railway station)
1200 – 1300: Dome at Chavasse Park in Liverpool One
1230 – 1400: Williamson Square Bandstand (organised by Liverpool City Central BID)
1400 – 1500: Met Quarter
1630 – 1730: St George’s Hall Plateau
LIMF music curator, Yaw Owusu, said: “We know the excitement is already building around the Liverpool International Music Festival, and I was really keen to give people just a taste of what they will be able to enjoy later this month.
“This is a chance for people to come along and see the quality and diversity of the acts that we have secured. It is going to be a festival that music lovers will never forget.”
LIMF will see some of the biggest names in music descend from 18 August to 22 September.
It kicks off on 18 August as Neil Young & Crazy Horse perform at the Echo Arena.
During bank holiday weekend from 23 to 26 August, acts will take to a new stage in Sefton Park including internationally acclaimed Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and chief conductor Vasily Petrenko, Soul II Soul, Rebecca Ferguson, Ghetto Youths International Crew (featuring Damian, Stephen and Julian Marley) and The Christians as well as some of the leading stars from the world of reggae, jazz, folk and African. Throughout the weekend there will be food stalls, a children’s fairground and other family activities
On Saturday 24 August, the Pier Head will play host to the Turn Up the Radio event with headliners JLS being joined by acts including Little Mix, Union J, Stooshe, The Vamps and Eliza Doolittle.
On Sunday 25 August Party at the Pier will see the Juice FM stage playing host to well-known artists including The Saturdays, Texas and Nina Nesbitt. They will perform alongside local stars including KOF, Esco Williams, The Hummingbirds and Chelcee Grimes. There will also be a Mathew Street Festival Stage with Real Radio (programmed by Bill Heckle and Dave Jones from Cavern City Tours) with acts paying homage to artists such as Queen, Adele, Robbie Williams and The Rolling Stones.
Monday 26 August will see The Charlatans headline a special gig in the beautiful surroundings of St George’s Hall.
The Sefton Park events are free, but early bird tickets for Turn Up the Radio cost from £22.50 per person including booking fee plus £2.50 postage per order. Early bird tickets for Party at the Pier will cost from £5 per person plus £2.25 postage fee per order. Tickets for the St George’s Hall event are £32.50 plus booking fee.
Tickets for all events can be bought online at www.limfestival.com.
Alternatively Turn Up the Radio tickets can be bought by calling 08448 24 48 24 or visiting www.axs.com.
Party at the Pier tickets can be bought in person at Ticket Quarter Box Office in Queens Square or by calling 0844 8094620.
Also part of LIMF will be:
• International Beatle Week from 21 – 27 August organised by Cavern City Tours, with bands from over 20 countries and fans from over 40 countries including live gigs, exhibitions, memorabilia sales, guest speakers, video shows, sightseeing tours and a convention. Festival venues include the Cavern Club and Cavern Pub in Mathew Street, the Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool Cathedral and the Philharmonic Hall.
• A fringe festival which will see more than 100 events taking place in pubs and clubs across the city.
• The first ever Summercamp festival hosted by Camp and Furnace which combines top acts such as Ghostpoet and Martha Wainwright, with world-class art and mouth-watering food. It takes place on 24 and 25 August.
• The second ever Liverpool Music Awards which feature 16 awards and live performances and is a massive celebration of musical talent from, and inspired by, the city.
• Three events by internationally acclaimed opera and concert singer Bryn Terfel. The first is a night of songs from musicals on 9 September, the second and third will take place on 20 and 22 September with a beautiful performance of Puccini’s Tosca, with Vasily Petrenko as conductor. All these events take place in Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.
• The LIMF Academy which will work with and inspire young people who are interested in getting into the music business.
