More artists announced for LIMF

The second wave of artists are today unveiled for Liverpool International Music Festival (LIMF) including over 30 artists for LIMF Summer Jam, Europe’s biggest free music event taking place at Sefton Park from 29th-31st August.

Latest acts include some of the country’s hottest new talent including the super soulful Elli Ingram; talented vocalist Zak Abel with recent collaborations with Gorgon City; folk, blues and soul singer-songwriter JP Cooper and BBC Sound Of 2015 nominee Sunset Sons.

Bringing the beats to the Central stage is one of the city’s biggest radio stations, Juice Liverpool, with their DJ’s Anton Powers, Ian Longo and Liam Hincks plus renowned DJs, BBC Radio 1’s Phil Taggart and Capital Xtra’s, Ras Kwame.

Liverpool’s own homegrown talent will feature in the form of The Tea Street Band, a Coldplay meets acid house sound, plus super-talented instrumentalist Silent Sleep and feel-good psychedelia band, Holy Thursday.

Also revealed is an incredible partnerships, SA to UK: Arts & Activism, a transAfrican collaboration seeing two Liverpool and two South African artists travel to respective countries. All artists will work together to create and perform a collection of songs about activism, struggle and identity, which will be performed for the first time at LIMF 2015.

The festival will also be teaming up with formidable Liverpool party promoters Circus for an unforgettable after-party on Saturday night featuring rising talent Lewis Boardman, a bass-heavy, colourful, groove-laden DJ set from Catz & Dogz and of course Circus Founder and leading underground House music tastemaker, Yousef. Liverpool International Music Festival also announces that the prestigious LIMF Academy will open for applications on 9th May. LIMF returns for a third year to celebrate music of all cultural diversities on a worldwide scale, alongside the city’s extraordinary music heritage. For the full programme and to buy tickets to select commissions and partnerships please visit www.limfestival.com with more to be announced soon.

LIMF is an inherently different festival representing the latest chapter of an ever evolving global music city. Presenting its most ambitious and vibrant programme to date, Liverpool welcomes artists, creatives and music-lovers for a celebration like no other and one not to be missed. The five-day programme will encompass CommissionsPartnerships and the grand finale, LIMF Summer Jam, and will take place over several iconic Liverpool venues including Sefton Park. The new additions to these elements will continue to cement Liverpool International Music Festival as the must-visit musical event of the summer.

LIMF SUMMER JAM: Saturday 29th, Sunday 30th & Monday 31st August – Sefton Park – FREE
LIMF’s huge, free outdoor music event, LIMF Summer Jam has already revealed some big name performers including Basement Jaxx, Labrinth, Echo & the Bunnymen with Liverpool Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Katy B, Naughty Boy, Laura Mvula and much more. The country’s hottest new talents Elli IngramZak Abel, JP Cooper and Sunset Sons will take to Liverpool’s prestigious LIMF Central Stage in association with Juice Liverpool as well as DJ talent from Juice Liverpool’s Anton PowersIan Longo and Liam Hincks, and big tunes from Radio 1 DJ Phil Taggart and Capital Xtra Ras Kwame.

Joining them will be a selection of homegrown local talent handpicked by some of Liverpool’s top music industry influencers who will be ready to rock the itsliverpool stage. Bringing the feel-good vibe is Holy Thursday, a band reminiscent of 60’s West Coast psychedelia, the captivating She Drew the Gun, alternative pop polymath Esa Shileds, three-piece electro band Barberos, Cheshire band Pacific, and winner of Merseyrail Soundstation 2014, Blue Saint. Silent Sleep’s sparkly sad and darkly romantic songs will be a fantastic addition as well as the “soaring, distinctly Balearic” sounds of The Tea Street Band.

Other acts performing at LIMF Summer Jam include BBC Radio Merseyside’s Dave Monks, No Fakin’ DJs, Rosenblume, Sunstack Jones, Grace Hartery, Ivan Campo, Little Sparrow, Me&Deboe, The Midnight Ramble, Paul Straws, Paul Wilkes and TJ & Murphy.

THE COMMISSIONS:
Based on the theme ‘Music Migrations’, four Commissions will explore deeper undertones in international music through carefully constructed events. Routes Jukebox will see Grammy winning producer Steve Levine and BBC Radio 2’s Janice Long along with esteemed video documenter Mark McNulty, retrace the key influencing records that came to Liverpool from the U.S. and beyond via the air and the sea in the 1950’s. Newly-announced and featured artists will include Terri WalkerThe Hummingbirds and Natalie McCool, plus an all-star band consisting of Ian Prowse (Amsterdam/Pele), Steve White (The Style Council/The Who), Billy Kinsley (The Merseybeats/Liverpool Express) and Jez Wing (Echo & The Bunnymen) with more acts to be announced soon.

Other highlights include The Revolution Will Be Live: A Tribute to Gil Scott Heron from a mélange of influential artists including Mos Def, Aswad, The Christians and Malik & the OG’s; a series of events exploring the unique link between Liverpool and Black American Music entitled Liverpool, Next Stop New York! boasting performances from Greg Wilson, Les Spaine and the No Fakin’ Crew; and a Global Roots Mixtape which will see DJ’s from around the world create a mix in relay style to be broadcast live on NTS Radio.

THE PARTNERSHIPS
Some of the most influential names and bodies within music will link together to form bespoke, one-off events especially for LIMF. Added to an already enviable programme will be SA to UK: Arts & Activism – an exciting youth music project for 2015 from LIMF, the British Council and the Steve Biko Housing Association Foundation in Liverpool. The project will see soul-singer Roxannne Jones and rapper Merki Waters from Liverpool travel to South Africa to perform and collaborate with popular singer-songwriter Tresor and Jazz vocalist Ncebakazi Yeko from the local region. Working under the creative eye of acclaimed Liverpool based singer-songwriter and producer KOF, the young artists will create and release an EP themed around activism, struggle and identity. The group will perform the catalogue for the first time as part of LIMF 2015.

In addition LIMF will be teaming up with Liverpool clubbing institution Circus for an unforgettable after-party on Saturday night at Sefton Park’s Palm House. Circus has embodied clubbing in the city for over a decade, progressing from a humble house party to a international institution. LIMF x Circus will feature Lewis Boardman, Catz & Dogz and founder Yousef for a party to end all parties.

The Bluebird at The Bluecoat Project is well underway in preparation for the grand unveiling at LIMF 2015, with specially-selected songwriters Jim Lauderdale, Beth Nielson Chapman, Kirsty McGee & Karen Turleytravelling the Nashville to take part in the Tin Pan South songwriters festival. Their live event curated by BBC Radio 2’s Bob Harris will see workshops and performances with key global figures. Finally, an undoubted climax will be a very special live version of acclaimed BBC radio series The Record Producers Live in Liverpool, a rare exploration of Motown producer Lamont Dozier and his vast repertoire from Steve Levine and Richard Allison.

LIMF ACADEMY
Known for championing emerging talent from the area, the LIMF Academy has supported a number of budding artists through workshops, mentorship and performance opportunities, not to mention the chance to be selected to perform on the coveted LIMF Summer Jam stage. Hoping to find another selection of talents in 2015, LIMF Academy are proud to announce that applications will be open from 9th May.

LIMF Curator, Yaw Owusu comments“Very pleased to announce the next stage of the LIMF 2015 programme – which adds depth to what I believe is our best festival programme so far. It has been a pleasure working alongside our various artistic friends such as Steve Levine, Bido Lito!, Get Into This, Mellowtone and Circus to further strengthen the offer. Also with joy we have been able to partner with the British Council, Steve Biko Foundation and Steve Biko Housing Association to make a very exciting and important music collaborative project happen between South African artists and Liverpool-based artists. And don’t forget we still do have more to announce!”

Liverpool Waterfront