Renowned for showcasing the best international and national household names alongside emerging talent at an accessible, low ticket price, Liverpool International Music Festival (LIMF) will be returning to the city this summer. Taking place from July 29-31 in a brand new home, this year’s LIMF makes a change from previous years by hosting a a city-centre takeover of around 25 venues and outdoor locations, in a bid to re-energise and support the city’s music sector which was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The multi-venue line-up will feature the likes of British reggae and pop band legends UB40 ft Ali Campbell, iconic American hip hop trio De La Soul, Liverpool royalty The Zutons and one of the hottest new bands around at the moment, Red Rum Club. Plus, festival-goers can expect the all-female DJ collective Girls Don’t Sync, critically acclaimed rapper Kojey Radical, electrifying performers House Gospel Choir and the singer behind the unmistakable M People vocals, Heather Small, at Liverpool International Music Festival 2022.
The music festival includes a mixture of free and ticketed events, with prices ranging from £5 to £35, in addition to a booking fee. Plus, there’s something for everyone with under-18 gigs such as LIMF Presents… The Shubz, which will see a host of BBC Radio 1XTRA DJs including Kenny AllStar, Sian Anderson and Cuppy playing the very best in grime and hip hop.
Venues include the M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, the Bombed Out Church (St Luke’s), Invisible Wind Factory, 24 Kitchen Street, District, Arts Club Liverpool and Camp and Furnace. The theme of Liverpool International Music Festival 2022 is Power to the People & Purpose, and is a homage to those game-changing, trailblazing people, movements and music genres who empowered change for the better.
LIMF Curator, Yaw Owusu, said: “I’ve curated LIMF since its inception in 2013 and it has very much evolved into the festival we know and love today – audiences expect that mix of household names and up-and-coming talent and we’re giving them that this year in spades – albeit with a decidedly different ambition. Changing the location has added a really interesting dynamic, and working closely with the venues it’s easy to see how important this move is for them. It feels right to be in and around the city centre, utilising the wonderful range of venues and spaces that exist here and are the bedrock of the scene year round.
“This year we have seen the city make history by hosting the first ever Liverpool Against Racism festival, so it’s fitting that this year’s theme is all about taking a stand and making a change which has a positive impact on society. On the line-up we have acts that pushed boundaries and made waves in music and culture, and continue to do so today, and sharing the limelight are new up-and-coming artists who are starting to make their mark on the industry too. It’s great to bring LIMF back with a high-quality and meaningful programme, that is also inclusive and diverse – once again showcasing Liverpool’s bold, contemporary music voice and attitude.”
For full details of the line-up, head to the Liverpool International Music Festival website here. Over 100 more artists are set to be announced in the coming weeks.