Free two-day festival Liverpool Loves returns to the city this weekend (August 5 and 6). Andrew Wright reports.

 

Liverpool ONE will host a comprehensive family and community programme of cultural and wellbeing activities.

And organisers Orb CIC have now revealed the full programme of events, which runs from 12pm – 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.

The On The Green programme in Chavasse Park and The Culturebox Stage on Thomas Steers Way will feature activities, masterclasses and demonstrations, plus live entertainment.

On The Green Programme, Chavasse Park

Offers a selection of health and wellbeing demonstrations, plus activities and performances.

-Yoga Bears from the Liverpool Yoga Centre. Enables children of all ages and abilities to improve their fitness levels, concentration, mood, social skills and much more.

-Jordan’s Laughter Yoga. Consists of breathing and stretching exercises followed by child-like play and laughter exercises which increases oxygen levels to the body and brain. Laughing releases endorphins, which can relax the whole body, improve sleeping and engages core muscles.

-Bring the Fire Project will be presenting a Circus Skills demonstration, which includes learning to spin poi, staff, levitation stick and juggling.

-Hoop Dancing with Liverpool company Stay Beautiful.

-Dance enthusiasts will be treated to a Samba demonstration, and performances from Eclipse Cheerleading and Britain’s Got Talent finalists MD Productions.

-Martial arts- Tai Chi and Bushido Karate demonstrations.

Culturebox Stage, Thomas Steers Way

A platform to celebrate the best in local and international music, dance and community groups.

-The Liver Drummers and Viva Brasil Samba and The Anahis.

-Liverpool School of Cantonese Kung Fu demonstrate their traditional Dragon Dance.

-Alandalus Flamenco will present southern Spanish traditional Flamenco dancing.

-A trio of the city’s vocal choirs; Liverpool Harmonic Gospel Choir, Singing Our Socks Off and the Choir With No Name.

-Music also comes from 17-year-old Liverpool born singer Liv Pritchard, duo Tippin’ It Up presenting their selection of traditional music on guitar, mandolin and bouzouki, Liverpool’s own ukulele band D’Ukes of Hazzard and home-grown girl band Girl Talk.

-Liverpool Loves Superstars. The Big Lottery-funded initiative is bringing children and young people together from across North Liverpool for a masterclass in dance and performance. The initiative aims to ‘promote social inclusion through the arts and empower disadvantaged young people to work together’ and has been planned in partnership with local dance academy Pulse Performing Arts.

Liverpool Loves, organised by Orb CIC, centres around four core themes of business, culture, food and well-being, and last year attracted an audience of 40,000.