More than 100 artists including UB40 featuring Ali Campbell, US hip hop trio De La Soul and The Zutons will perform across 25 venues as the Liverpool International Music Festival returns. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool International Music Festival (LIMF) returns to the city this summer with more than 100n artists playing at multiple venues.
for showcasing the best international and national household names alongside emerging talent at an accessible, low ticket prices, LIMF takes place from Friday July to Sunday 31 July with a new format.
In a change to previous years, this year’s LIMF will see a city-centre takeover of around 25 venues and outdoor locations. The move has been prompted in a bid to re-energise and support the city’s music sector which was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among the acts performing this year will be UB40 featuring Ali Campbell, US hip hop trio De La Soul,The Zutons, one of the hottest new bands around at the moment Red Rum Club, all-female DJ Collective Girls Don’t Sync and critically acclaimed rapper Kojey Radical.
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.
It’s a mixture of free and ticketed events, and 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.
READ MORE: Sentric music buyout will create 100 Liverpool jobs
The theme of LIMF 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.
For full details of the line-up to date, and to benefit from Early Bird tickets, head to www.limfestival.com. Ticket prices will vary per venue, with prices starting from just £5 to £35 plus booking fee. Some events will be free but are ticketed.
Liverpool’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Visitor Economy, Councillor Harry Doyle, said: “It feels fantastic to be in a position where our Culture Liverpool team is back to doing what it does best – staging major events which residents and visitors love.
“We thought long and hard about LIMF 2022 and what it should look like, and after hearing from the sector itself about the challenges that are still in place, the right thing to do was change the LIMF location.
“Our culture, leisure and hospitality sector is the heartbeat of Liverpool and this reimagined festival means we can drive footfall not only to the music venues but to other restaurants, shops, pubs and clubs in the city.”
The line-up so far includes:
Friday, July 29
UB40 featuring Ali Campbell, Aswad, Liam Bailey, Robbo Ranx
M&S Bank Arena
Early Bird £25 + booking fee
De La Soul, Kojey Radical, Berwyn, No Fakin
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Early Bird £15 + booking fee
Girls Don’t Sync + Guests
Bombed Out Church (St Luke’s)
Free
System by Gaika – Gaika, Flohio, Flora Yin Wong, Glor1a, God Colony, Nazar
Invisible Wind Factory
Early bird £5 + booking fees
Heartless Crew House Party – Heartless Crew, Shola Ama, Shortee Blitz, Scott Garcia, DJ Cali, MC Shabba D, DJ Smokey, MC Preshus
24 Kitchen Street
Early bird £10 + booking fee
Saturday, July 30
LIMF Presents… The Shubz (Anthony Walker Foundation Festival After Party) – Kenny AllStar (BBC Radio 1Xtra), Sian Anderson (BBC Radio 1Xtra), Cuppy (BBC Radio 1Xtra), Kizzi
District (Under 18s dry bar event)
Early bird £5 + booking fee
Donae’o Presents Bounce – Donae’o, Rampage, Supa D + Coldsteps, Gracious K, Donch, Versatile, DJ Zeke
Arts Club Liverpool
Early bird £10 + booking fee
Sunday, July 31
The Zutons, Red Rum Club, She Drew The Gun, Big Joanie, The Dream Machine, Blondes, The Heavy North, Pixey, Michael Aldag, Mexican Dogs, Silent-K, Psycho Comedy, The Sundowners, Casino, Tilly Louise, Razzmatazz, Fiona Lennon
Camp and Furnace
Early bird £15 + booking fee
Heather Small (M People lead singer), House Gospel Choir, Terri Walker, DJ Ronnie Herel (Mi-Soul Radio)
Arts Club Liverpool
Early bird £10 + booking fee
Havana Meets Kingston
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£25-£41 + booking fee