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Preview: Liverpool Arab Arts Festival 2026

Posted on 13/07/2026 | by Uncover

Family Day-Liverpool Arab Arts Festival 2026 — LAAF’s Family Day

Liverpool Arab Arts Festival (LAAF), the longest running annual festival of Arab arts and culture in the UK, returns for its 24th year this July.

World renowned percussionist Simona Abdallah returns to Liverpool at Rough Trade, this time to collaborate with two powerful DJs from the Arab music world. At the Bluecoat, expect cutting edge cinema, with My Father and Qaddafi, as well as a collaboration with Comma Press – launching the latest in their ‘Reading The City’ series, The Book of Damascus. There’s also a debut script reading of the cross-continental comedy 40 Days & 40 Nights at Liverpool’s Royal Court.

LAAF 2026 will provide a platform for artists and audiences to explore the many meanings of ‘home’: whether rooted in place and territory, shaped through family and relationships, or carried through memory, movement, environment, and social or geographic experience.

Here’s a full rundown of all this year’s festival events:

Yemeni Night feat. The Al-Awhadel Band LIVE, St George’s Hall (17 July)

Join LAAF for a celebration of Yemeni music, with the mesmerising Al-Awhadel Band! Centred on the evocative sounds of the oud, the band is led by Yaser Awdhali, an artist and composer from Aden, Yemen.

He began his artistic career in childhood, learning to play the oud at a young age, influenced by his father, the great artist Ahmed Omar Awdhali who had a long and well-known career in the Gulf states. Now Yaser himself has earned the title ‘Artist of the Diaspora!’

Sudanese Culinary Arts and Literature, The Black-E (18 July)

This Sudanese Culinary Arts and Literature event explores the meaning of home through food, art and storytelling, in collaboration with London-based publisher Almas Art Foundation. Centred on the work of British-Sudanese food archivist Omer Al Tijani, the event brings together recipes, oral histories, and cultural narratives that preserve Sudan’s heritage.

The Sudanese Kitchen began as a long-term documentation project and website led by Omer Al Tijani, and developed into a landmark cookbook and cultural archive that collects over 100 recipes, contextual essays, and personal and field photographs to present Sudan’s culinary diversity.

40 Days And 40 Nights: Script in Hand Reading, Liverpool’s Royal Court (18 July)

Inspired by a true story, 40 Days and 40 Nights is a cross-continental comedy of double decker proportions, where a family departs and comes together. As they navigate across Europe and the Middle East, the El Gadhy’s explore their different versions of being Muslim, pioneers, Yemeni and Scouse.

Strap in for the ride of a lifetime and journey from the Mersey to the Middle East with ferries, fights, fun and family. 40 Days and 40 Nights has been developed as a co-creation between Liverpool’s Royal Court and Liverpool Arab Arts Festival. Join them for a script in hand reading to get a first look at this brand new comedy.

A Journey Home: Family Screening and Workshop, Plaza Community Cinema (19 July)

Join Plaza Community Cinema for A Journey Home: Family Film Screening and Workshop, in association with At the Library. A screening of four short animated films centred around the theme of home, told through the perspectives of young characters. This will be followed by a creative workshop. I am from Palestine, Olivia, All Aboard, BAHR

You can also take part in their family creative workshop exploring roots, memory, and belonging through drawing, storytelling, mapping, and traditional Karagoz-inspired shadow puppetry. No art experience needed. Everyone is welcome.

My Father and Qaddafi, Bluecoat (21 July)

This UK premiere of My Father and Qaddafi will take the audience on a raw and reflective journey as Jihan pieces together a father she barely remembers, while discovering the troubled history and politics of Libya. Her journey starts from fading personal memories, leading to encounters with family members, her father’s peers, and historical archive footage.

Hoping at first to uncover the truth, Jihan instead transforms the mystery into a curiosity that brings her closer to her father and her Libyan identity. She approaches politics not as a distant subject, but as a lived experience that penetrates into every human relationship – even between a little girl and her father.

The Book of Damascus, Bluecoat (23 July)

Join Bluecoat for The Book of Damascus, a celebration of storytelling, writing, and critical thinking from the Syrian Capital, in association with Comma Press. The latest instalment in Comma’s ‘Reading the City’ series is filled with the perspectives of ordinary Syrians we never read about in the news – be they teenage boys scheming to raise funds for a longed-for Eid picnic or impoverished girls picking through rubbish dumps hoping to find gold.

LAAF, in association with Comma Press, invite you to join them for an evening of readings, translations and discussions about the challenges that Damascus has survived and what lies ahead for it, in these most precarious times.

Tamsin Elliott & Tarek Elazhary, Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room (24 July)

Liverpool Arab Arts Festival presents the UK premiere performance of the hugely anticipated second album from Tamsin Elliott and Tarek Elazhary.

The album, currently untitled, is scheduled for release in September 2026. Together, Tamsin and Tarek explore the intriguing parallels and idiosyncrasies of Egyptian Maqam and English folk traditions in a captivating fusion of songs, tunes and textures, finding commonality, fostering cross-cultural connection and helping heal the scars of a colonial past through meaningful and conscious collaboration.

In conversation with Simona Abdallah: Finding Freedom Through Art, Rough Trade Liverpool (25 July)

LAAF are partnering with Savera UK for two events at Rough Trade Liverpool. In Conversation with Simona Abdallah will be an afternoon of thought-provoking conversation with the internationally renowned percussionist, intertwined with Simona’s powerful performances on the darbuka, a hand-played traditional percussion instrument.

This will be followed by a night of exhilarating Rhythms and Mixes from Simona and two other powerful musicians of Arab heritage: Palestinian music producer, filmmaker and DJ, Hiba Salameh, and Jordanian sound artist, creative producer and DJ, Yasmeen Soudani.

LAAF Family Day 2026 – Sefton Park Palm House (26 July)

Taking place on the final day of the festival at Liverpool’s Sefton Park Palm House, the long-established LAAF Family Day is a celebratory showcase of Arab arts and culture. The event is ideal for a summer day out with the whole family.

Creating a moment of togetherness and community, Sefton Park’s Palm House will play host to a free afternoon of music, performance and authentic Arab culture, complemented by a range of stalls offering Arabic and Middle Eastern food, arts and crafts, traditional practices such as calligraphy and dance, as well as activities for children, including storytelling and workshops.

To discover even more events happening in the region, visit our What’s On listings.

9 Family Summer Holiday Events in Liverpool City Region

Posted on 06/07/2026 | by Uncover

With the summer holidays fast approaching, now’s the perfect time to start planning how you’ll keep the kids entertained. If you’re looking for the best summer holiday events in Liverpool City Region, we’ve rounded up some fantastic family-friendly days out, creative activities and unforgettable experiences to help you get organised before the school gates close.

From free events to ticketed attractions, here’s our guide to some of the best family-friendly things to do across Liverpool and the region this summer.

1. Debjani Banerjee: Jalsaghar, Bluecoat (11 July – 6 September)

Debjani Banerjee Jalsaghar-Bluecoat 2026 (1) — Vomiting Marjaryasana on yoga mat, 2024 , KARST. Image Dom Moore
‘Jalsaghar’ installation view, CCA Glasow. Photography by Graeme Yule

Jalsaghar, the solo exhibition by Debjani Banerjee, explores the relationship between the artist’s Bengali heritage and her 1980s upbringing in England. Across film, sculpture, and installation, her work playfully merges traditional craft, religious imagery and modern culture, encouraging audiences to think about what it feels like when different ways of life interplay.

The title Jalsaghar means ‘music room’ in Bengali, and comes from Satyajit Ray’s 1958 film of the same name. Banerjee reimagines this idea of a ‘music room’ and transforms the gallery into a sensory space where you can reflect with music, stories and artworks that connect the past and the present.

Additionally, don’t miss Bluecoat’s Family Weekend (15-16 August) for two days of free family-friendly fun, including creative activities inspired by Debjani Banerjee’s exhibition, suitable for all ages.

2. Ancient Egypt Galleries Tour, World Museum (Tuesdays & Fridays)

Step back in time with a guided tour of the World Museum’s fascinating Ancient Egypt gallery, where families can discover 5,000 years of history, incredible artefacts and stories of mummies, gods and pharaohs. It’s a great way to bring the museum’s Egyptian collection to life for curious kids and adults alike.

In fact, the World Museum makes for a great day out for families with five floors to explore, including the aquarium and the planetarium. Read our floor-by-floor guide to the World Museum before you go.

3. Make It! Summer Craft Workshop, The Atkinson (23 July – 27 August)

Be inspired by The Atkinson’s museum, gallery and theatre programme in a Make It! Summer Craft Workshop suitable for all the family. There’s something for all ages, with all materials supplied and all for free!

Drop-in any time between 11am – 3pm and get creative. Children under 12 must be supervised by an adult. First come first served. You may be expected to wait until a space at a craft table becomes available.

4. LAAF Family Day 2026, Sefton Park Palm House (26 July)

Taking place on the final day of the Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, Sunday 26th July, the long-established LAAF Family Day is a celebratory showcase of Arab arts and culture. Creating a moment of togetherness and community, Sefton Park’s Palm House will play host to a free afternoon of music, performance and authentic Arab culture, complemented by a range of stalls offering Arabic and Middle Eastern food, arts and crafts, traditional practices such as calligraphy and dance, as well as activities for children, including storytelling and workshops.

5. Summer Drama Workshops, Unity Theatre (27 & 28 July)

If you are looking for somewhere to drop your kids off for the day, look no further! Unity Theatre’s Summer Drama Workshops offers participants the chance to spend a few days exploring drama, meet new friends, enjoy games, create characters, puppetry and more with brilliant practitioners. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a theatre expert! All abilities are welcome for children aged between 9-12 years old.

6. Storybarn Holiday Club, The Reader (27 July – 21 August)

Discover Storybarn’s Holiday Club, a holiday club with a difference.  Every day they will venture out into the gorgeous Calderstones Park, dive into the realm of storytelling in the magical  Storybarn, play games and much more.  Every ticket purchased  helps support their charitable work with children and young people across the UK.

Children will embark on new adventures with their Storyhunters, inspired through their diverse range of picture books. They will use their imagination to create new story worlds and characters as part of a team.

7. Open Air Theatre & Cinema: The Reader at Calderstones (27 July – 31 August)

Grab a picnic, settle in under the open sky, and enjoy an unforgettable afternoon of theatre at The Reader with The Three Musketeers. Join the daring Young D’Artagnan on a swashbuckling outdoor adventure as he sets out to prove he has what it takes to become one of the King’s legendary Musketeers. Packed with thrilling sword fights, daring escapes and plenty of laughs, Illyria’s fresh take on this timeless classic is perfect for the whole family.

Additionally, The Reader’s Open-Air Cinema is returning to The Mansion House garden this summer, with feel-good films, and food & drink flowing throughout July and August. They have a packed programme of kids films this summer, including the classics – Zog and the Flying Doctors, Back To The Future, The Scarecrows’ Wedding, Jurassic Park, Tabby McTat and more.

8. National Children’s Orchestras American Concert, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (1 August)

Join National Children’s Orchestras American Concert featuring musicians from In Harmony Liverpool Philharmonic for an afternoon of glorious American music. For NCO’s eldest musicians, just 13 and 14 years old, this concert is the culmination of their final week-long NCO residential of the year, which has included rehearsals, creative sessions and more.

NCO’s concerts are for everyone, join them to appreciate the sheer joy that can be experienced nowhere else than in the presence of a wonderful children’s orchestra and be part of supporting the next generation of musicians. Expect a warm, welcoming audience and to be dazzled by really remarkable young musicians.

9. Pipes & Poo, Shakespeare North Playhouse (19 August)

Have you ever wondered what happens to a poo after you flush it down the loo? Head down to the Shakespeare North Playhouse for a delightfully disgusting interactive game-show exploring the extraordinary world of water, Pipes and Poo. A brand new show from award-winning children’s theatre company One Tenth Human. Featuring ridiculous dance moves, competitive flushing, real toilets, and some very disgusting poo, this brand new adventure will delight everyone aged four and up.

You can discover plenty more evens happening across the Liverpool city region by exploring our What’s On listings.

Culture Radar – Kate Haselden (Tate Liverpool)

Posted on 01/07/2026 | by Uncover

This week’s Culture Radar guest is Kate Haselden, Assistant Curator at Tate Liverpool.

Loved: It was great to see Gender Stories at the Walker Art Gallery – the exhibition brings together some amazing works by Ajamu X, Del LaGrace Volcano, David Hockney and many others. One of my favourite works was a small watercolour portrait by Sarah Biffin (1784-1850), a female artist who established a successful career as a portrait painter and challenged attitudes towards disability.

Looking forward to: FACT is presenting two events focused on the work of John Akomfrah. I am particularly looking forward to the screening of ‘The Stuart Hall Project’ and thinking through how we reflect on forgotten histories. It is fantastic to see this alongside Akomfrah’s ‘Listening All Night to the Rain’ at the Walker; he discusses his long personal and professional relationship with Liverpool in the introduction to this display.

What is coming up for your organisation? We are organising a collaborative event with the International Slavery Museum on the 11th July, entitled ‘Call and Response: How does the land remember slavery?’. The free event will explore the impact of transatlantic slavery on the environment, with conversations informing displays at Tate Liverpool and the new International Slavery Museum.

We have two incredible speakers joining us – artist Imani Jacqueline Brown and writer and artist Tao Leigh Goffe. Both are undertaking crucial research into connections between exploitation of the environment and climate change. Goffe is travelling from New York for this event, so we are incredibly excited to welcome her to Liverpool.

The event is free but booking is essential.

Trivia: We have just announced our first major commission for the new Art Hall space of Tate Liverpool. Asad Raza will create the inaugural commission which will greet visitors as they enter our transformed gallery.

Buried Treasure By ArtsGroupie CIC: Following the Trail to Bootle International Festival

Posted on 22/06/2026 | by Uncover

By John Maguire

In the latest instalment of Buried Treasure, ArtsGroupie CIC’s John Maguire explores Bootle’s layered and often overlooked heritage, uncovering the stories, landmarks and community spirit that continue to shape the town today.

For this month’s Buried Treasure, I am in Bootle and have been astounded by the hidden heritage uncovered here. Local landmarks tell a fascinating story, from the historic Bootle Baths, a generational hub for swimming clubs and water polo proudly tied to Bootle-born Olympic swimmer Margaret ‘Maggy’ Kelly MBE, to the town’s oldest house at 1 Merton Road. Built in 1773, this building was originally the kitchen wing of the Earl of Derby’s Hunting Lodge, sitting just across from Christ Church, which has served the community since 1864.

It’s like a labyrinth and you can turn a corner and be struck by a ghost from the past. Take the industrial history on display by Well Lane and Waterworks Street, where the Bootle Tanning Company Factory was built around 1900. This factory, along with several others in the area, was established due to the abundant local water supply.

I also had the pleasure of exploring In Another Place, located right inside the Strand Shopping Centre. Here, a dedicated team of volunteers were busy sewing and crafting world flags to decorate an amazing community showcase, the Bootle International Festival. An event led by the community for the community. A true factory of creativity, and with my own passion for the theatre, having the chance to peep inside their prop cupboard left me feeling like a kid in a candy store. Digging through their collection, I encountered Mr Tumnus from Narnia, a sleeping apostle, and even a couple of dragons.

The festival returns on Saturday, 27 June 2026, from 12pm to 4pm, transforming the Strand Shopping Centre into an international celebration of culture and community roots. The event originally evolved out of the Eurovision celebration in 2023, which served as the foundation for this annual showcase before the official first festival under the ‘International’ name launched at nearby Salt & Tar in April 2024. This canal-side events space is named after Bootle’s historical salt trade and the Hawthorne Road Brotherton Tar Distillery.

The choice to host this year’s festival inside the Strand carries deep historical significance. Opened in 1968 alongside the Netherton Girobank development, marking Bootle’s charter centenary year, the shopping centre sits on the historic site of a demolished Victorian housing estate affectionately known as ‘Little America.’ Where shoppers now walk, once ran old neighbourhood tracks like Delaware Street and Vermont Street.

While the concrete mall was famously home to generations of retailers like Woolworths and originally erected to bring post-war commercial progress to the town, it has like most high street retail areas faced challenges, particularly as the way people shop continues to change. It has evolved from its 1980s transition into an American-style mall to facing the challenges of the recent pandemic. Nearby, the cutting Office Block Triad building, completed in 1974, reminds me of the infamous Nakatomi Plaza building in the great Xmas film Die Hard. It still cuts into the skyline as one of the region’s few remaining brutalist architectural treasures, that you either like or loathe.

Today, the shopping complex integrates not only In Another Place, but community hubs like Strand By Me and Kingsley and Co. In June 2026, as old storefronts are being cleared to make way for a sustainable new Mons Square, hosting the festival here honours the site’s legacy as a monument to community building, bridging Bootle’s retail past with its future as a hub for cultural identity.

Reviving the site’s original goal as an accessible civic hub, this completely free, fully accessible, and family-friendly event eliminates financial barriers. It invites diverse local communities together under one roof to show mutual appreciation for the town’s rich diversity. Visitors are welcome to explore international crafts, play giant games for all ages and enjoy a diverse line up of performers.

Maggi Aslet from Sefton CVS notes that the festival is a brilliant opportunity for the community to come together, looking forward to an exciting and inspiring day shaped by a rich mix of workshops and activities. Annie Spiers, Creative Director at In Another Place, adds that the event offers a wonderful way for families to sample global culture without ever having to get onboard an airplane.

Visitors can expect an exciting lineup of cultural performances, including African drumming, Bollywood dancing, samba, and Ukrainian choirs, side-by-side with a vital spotlight on talented local musicians and dance groups. This harmonious blend celebrates Bootle’s modern identity, reinforcing a collective ‘Made in Bootle’ pride right where generations of local families have walked.

To find out more about Bootle International Festival visit inanotherplace.com/bootle-international-festival-2026.

Preview: Africa Oyé 2026

Posted on 06/06/2026 | by Uncover

Africa Oyé, the UK’s largest celebration of African music and culture, returns to Sefton Park this month, ushering in a new era for one of the Liverpool city region’s most cherished festivals.

Africa Oyé was born out of the monthly Club Corinto nights, produced by the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign. In 1992, people from across Liverpool came together to create a programme under the banner of the 500 Years of Resistance Campaign. While others were marking 500 years since the “discovery” of America, Liverpool chose instead to celebrate 500 years of resistance.

Africa Oyé quickly became one of the cultural projects emerging from the campaign, and over time has grown into a truly international festival. It celebrates the spirit of multiculturalism and exchange, and has welcomed artists from across Africa as well as music and performances from South America and the Caribbean.

Africa Oyé 2026 Music Lineup

The 2026 festival features a dazzling array of talent, here’s a selection of the fantastic live music on offer.

Saturday 20 June

Patoranking

A visionary in the African music industry and a cultural ambassador for Afrobeats, Patoranking blends the genre with reggae and dancehall to create a unique sound that resonates worldwide. He is a an MTV Africa Music Awards winner and earned recognition in Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 class of 2020.

Patoranking’s career achieved prominence when he released his hit single “My Woman My Everything” in 2016, which played a pivotal role in the global recognition of Afrobeats. With a series of successful releases under his label Amari Musiq including tracks such as “Babylon” “Abule” and “Kolo Kolo” and collaborations with the likes of Major Lazer, Wizkid, and Davido, his music has collectively amassed nearly a billion streams on YouTube alone.

Kizaba

Afrofuturist singer-songwriter and pioneer of Congolese Electric music Kizaba returns to Oyé in 2026 with a full ensemble, after successfully opening the 2022 festival as a solo artist. He skilfully blends ancestral vocals with the vibrant sounds of Congolese soukous and Afrobeat – rooted in an ‘afro-pun philosophy’, and framed by a futuristic aesthetic – with seminal performances at the New Orleans Jazz festival and WOMAD Chile.

The Kizaba live show delivers a truly unique musical experience. Driven by a vibrant and authentic energy, the performance invites audiences on an Afro-futuristic journey – a tribute to ancestral heritage reimagined through the modern sounds of today’s world.

King Ayisoba

King Ayisoba’s performances are full of raw tribal power. Rhythms and frenzied dancing mingle with Ayisoba’s distinctive voice – shattering musical codes in a piercing energy. An incredible range of deep and loud nasal cries contracts with soft and high vocals, all accompanied by his kologo.

Hailing from a rural area in the far north of Ghana, and descending from a Frafra hunting tribe, King Ayisoba offers a universe where the spirit world merges with the painful origins of Kologo music, mystical forests and concrete cracked Accra – the cries of a rebellious youth who is still seeking his identity. Bringing the traditional and modern together – while addressing personal, social and political issues that he believes need attention and change – King Ayisoba sounds like no other.

Ghorwane

Ghorwane, the legendary band from Maputo in Mozambique, are celebrating 40 years of magical and original music since their formation back in 1983.

Named after a tiny lake in the south of Mozambique – Ghorwane (“the lake that never dries out”) are a true natural force, inspiring the lives of several generations.

Peter Gabriel invited Ghorwane to play the WOMAD festival in 1990, and during that visit Real World Records offered the group the opportunity to record an album. The iconic album Majurugenta was released in 1993, opening the doors to the world stages. Tragically, just before their European tour in support of the album, the band’s most beloved member, saxophone player and composer Zeca Alage was murdered. Ghorwane regrouped and have since continued performed on stages around the world.

Oumy

An award-winning singer-songwriter and rapper, Oumy is one of Senegal’s most authentic global cultural figures. Her music blends the raw power of hip-hop with the elegance of African R&B and the energy of global pop – creating songs that transcend languages and generations, all topped with her mesmerising voice. She is the founder of FEM’ART and created the 48H DE BARGNY festival – an annual musical and social event aiming to provide solutions and training for young people and women, contributing to the development of her community.

Sunday 21 June

Fatoumata Diawara

Fatoumata Diawara is pure energy. Her vibrant voice tells the story of Africa—its suffering and its rediscovered joys—sung in her mother tongue, Bambara. She is a captivating artist, able to stir emotions, to make her audience laugh, cry, and above all, dance.

Through her singing, she addresses crucial subjects such as female genital mutilation and forced marriage—personal hardships that she transforms into a universal message of hope and resilience. Having fled Mali at the age of 19 to write her own story, Fatoumata Diawara continues, at 43, to examine society’s flaws while celebrating her dual life as an artist and a mother.

Nana Benz Du Togo

Nana Benz Du Togo consists of three formidable feminist voices. Armed with nothing more than their vocals and a vintage Korg keyboard, this powerful ensemble create a unique blend of voodoo tradition and soul.

Nana Benz du Togo channels an organic sound steeped in sub-bass and layered with complex polyrhythms, creating a hypnotic foundation for the voices of these three electrifying electro-soul preachers. Their transcendent live shows are nothing short of spiritual – a blend of ancestral energy and modern fire.

Janet Kay

Queen of Lovers Rock, Janet Kay, makes her Oyé debut. The multi-award winning artist is best known for her stellar hit single “Silly Games”, which placed her in the Music Guinness Book of Records as the first Black British born Female Reggae artist to hit the top of the UK Pop Charts.

As a ‘sixties child’, Kay was exposed to the singing greats – especially those from the Tamla Motown stable – and her love for singing was born. She has since been produced by a host of legendary producers/artists, including the late great Alton Ellis, Jackie Mitto and Sugar Minot. Kay’s impact on the UK reggae scene has been inspirational – and her sweet, heartwarming vocals continue to win her many fans around the world.

Fulu Miziki

Fulu Miziki roughly translates as “music from garbage” which is in a literal sense is an accurate description of the thrillingly chaotic Eco-Friendly-Afro-futuristic-Punk-Assemble collective of artists who “come straight from a future where humans have reconciled with mother earth and with themselves”.

This multidisciplinary collective of artists is based in the heart of Africa, in the Congolese capital city Kinshasa. For several years now, its members have spent an amount of time conceptualising an orchestra made from objects ‘found in the trash’, constantly changing instruments, and always in search of new sounds. Making their own instruments, performance costumes, and masks is essential to the approach of Fulu Miziki’s musical core ideology.

Kobo Town

Kobo Town reinvigorate and reimagine calypso, infusing Caribbean folk music with roots reggae, ska, and an array of contemporary sounds to create their unique driving, joyous calypso rock, which will no doubt get Sefton Park moving.

Founded by Trinidadian-Canadian Drew Gonsalves, Kobo Town is named after the historic neighborhood in Port-of-Spain where calypso was born. The barriers and bridges built by the colonial rule that governed Trinidad have long been at the heart of Gonsalves’ much acclaimed writing. On latest album ‘Where The Galleon Sank’ he sets out to raise some of that hidden past to the surface.

Awale Jant Band

Founded by Senegalese soul singer Birame Seck and French musician Thibaut Remy, Awale Jant Band are all about connecting cultures through music. With a rich foundation in traditional Wolof storytelling from Birame’s heritage and Thibaut’s soulful sensibilities, the vibrant contemporary ensemble blend Afrobeat, Mbalax, reggae, and highlife into an electrifying fusion that bridges generations and borders.

Awale Jant Band draw deep inspiration from the rhythmic heritage of the Senegambian region. Their music pulses with sabar-driven grooves, hypnotic basslines, intricate guitar melodies, and call-and-response vocals that echo the communal spirit of West African performance. At the heart of their sound lies a commitment to storytelling—songs that speak of unity, resilience, love, migration, and social consciousness.

Beyond The Main Stage: Oyé Village, Family Zone, Markets & More

Africa Oye 2026 main promo shot — A carnival dancer with the Katumba drumming troupe lead a parade around Sefton Park. Credit: Nick Clague

Alongside Africa Oyé’s live performances, Sefton Park transforms across the weekend into a cultural hub, with the Oyé Village bringing together over 90 stalls offering street food, fashion, crafts and cultural goods inspired by Africa and the wider world.

Elsewhere on site, visitors can take part in workshops, dance sessions and creative activities in the Oyé Active Zone, while DJs, family entertainment and a dedicated Family Zone for 2026 help expand the programme beyond the main stage and into a full-day experience for all ages.

You’ll also find the region’s finest Afro-centric DJs and those from further afield showcasing their sounds across the wider festival site, at the Trenchtown and Freetown zones.

A big part of what gives Africa Oyé its lasting appeal is its atmosphere. It remains one of the few UK festivals that feels genuinely intergenerational and community-led, drawing in families, students, dedicated music fans and visitors travelling from across the country.

For the full Africa Oye 2026 line-up, visit africaoye.com.

To discover more of what’s on from across the Liverpool city region check out our events listings.

Win 2 Tickets to Africa Oyé with Uncover Liverpool

Posted on 04/06/2026 | by Uncover

Uncover Liverpool is giving you the chance to win a pair of tickets to this year’s Africa Oyé festival, one of the UK’s most vibrant celebrations of African and Caribbean music, culture and community.

Taking place in Liverpool, Africa Oyé brings together an incredible line-up of live artists, DJs, food, and atmosphere across a weekend that has become a staple in the city’s summer calendar.

How to enter

There are two ways to be in with a chance of winning:

Comment on the Uncover Liverpool Instagram post and tag the person you’d bring with you.
Or complete our quick entry form.

That’s it — simple as that. Good luck!

Competition Terms & Conditions

Closing Date: The competition closes at 11pm on Wednesday 17 June 2026. Entries submitted after this time will not be counted.
Prize: The prizes are redeemable on the specified event, Africa Oyé festival 2026. No cash alternatives will be offered.
Winner Selection: The winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entries and contacted directly via the details provided.
Eligibility: Open to UK residents aged 18 or over. Only one entry per person is permitted.
Contacting The Winner: If the winner does not respond within 1 days of being contacted, The Culture Network reserves the right to choose an alternative winner.
Data Use: Personal data supplied will only be used for the purposes of this competition and in accordance with The Culture Network LCR’s privacy policy.
Acceptance: By entering, participants agree to these terms and conditions.

How Open Eye Gallery Became a Hub for Socially Engaged Photography

Posted on 01/06/2026 | by Uncover

A Place Of Our Own exhibition at Open Eye Gallery. Credit: Rob Battersby

Open Eye Gallery is an independent, not-for-profit photography gallery based in Liverpool. They share photography for everyone, with everyone, every day.

Launched in 1977, Liverpool’s Open Eye Gallery was one of the UK’s first dedicated photography galleries. Excluded from the programmes of art galleries, photographers and others with an interest in the medium established their own network of galleries in the 1970s and ‘80s, with a growing sense of photography’s artistic, social and political potential.

After working from premises in Bold Street and Wood Street in the 90s and 2000s, in 2011 the Gallery moved to new premises in Mann Island. A change to more audience focused exhibitions and growing relationships with local, national and international partners has ensured a 500% increase in visitors over recent years. Since 2019, they have also been building a network to discuss and accelerate the practice of socially engaged photography.

Alongside their main gallery exhibitions, the Gallery also run Socially Engaged Photography Projects and Residencies in the Liverpool City Region, across the North West, nationally and internationally.

Here’s a selection of their recent work and exhibitions.

Current exhibitions and upcoming events

Self-Defined: New Stories from Archives (Open Eye Gallery, until 7 June, open Tuesday–Sunday, 10am–5pm)

Self-Defined brings together the histories from the East (or the Centre, depending on the perspective) of Europe through the contemporary work of artists from different geographies working with local contexts and their own family stories. It explores non-institutional, independent, private archiving and the non-existence or inaccessibility of material memory.

The projects featured in the exhibition range from an exploration of post-WW2 family displacement in Poland and Ukraine; to the history of the Crimean Tatars in the 20th century; to a decades-long photographic exploration of life in the Latvian countryside; from playful collages deconstructing Soviet tourist photographs to a speculative video dealing with the disappearance of the family archive.

Absence. In conversation with artists and curators (Open Eye Gallery, 6 June, 5pm–7pm, free, RSVP)

Curators and several of the exhibiting artists will discuss their work and the challenges of picturing what resits to be shown. Absence (exhibited at Stable Gallery) will be discussed in conversation with Self-Defined. New Stories from Archives, exhibited at Open Eye Gallery, exploring the use of archives in contemporary photography to highlight omissions, memories and historical narratives.

TreeStory Wigan during LOOK Climate Lab 2026, Open Eye Gallery. Credit: Rob Battersby

TreeStory Wigan (Haigh Woodland Park, Wigan, 23 May – 6 September)

A stunning outdoor exhibition featuring photos and stories by 20 local people, celebrating the remarkable trees that shape Wigan’s landscape and heritage.

TreeStory Wigan is a community project that invites residents of all ages and abilities to discover and celebrate the incredible trees of the borough, from the wetlands of the Flashes of Wigan and Leigh National Nature Reserve to cherished trees in local parks, streets and green spaces.

OFFSHOOT: Artists in Residence (RHS Garden Bridgewater, until 28 February 2027)

Explore RHS Garden Bridgewater from new perspectives with exhibits from the inaugural artists in residence displayed in a variety of locations across the garden.

Yan Wang Preston, a multi-award-winning visual artist and photographer passionate about the natural world and our place within it, shares two pieces of work inspired by the garden and the work of the RHS. Yan’s work is shared alongside images by Fiona Robinson and Anoosh Ariamehr, Socially Engaged Photographers who have been resident in the Community Wellbeing and Community Grow gardens. Their artwork deepens our understanding of the impact of these spaces, allowing us to better understand how individuals from all walks of life connect with gardens and gardening.

Yan Wang Preston research work during LOOK Climate Lab 2026 at Open Eye Gallery. Credit: Rob Battersby

Previous Socially Engaged Photography Projects

Photography Projects at the Life Rooms

The Life Rooms is a Mersey Care NHS Trust initiative, set up in 2016, to provide a wide range of free, short courses aimed to enable people to become more active in their own health and support wellbeing. They focus on prevention and enabling the whole community to bring about change. As part of their collaborative approach, Open Eye Gallery works in partnership through their Photography Projects at the Life Rooms to deliver a series of photography courses across all three of their sites in Walton, Bootle and Southport.

Revitalising Historic High Streets

With Revitalising Historic High Streets, Open Eye Gallery was working with Historic England, local authorities and other partners on revitalising cultural projects in Chester and Prescot. This project aimed to unlock the potential of high streets across England, fuelling economic, social and cultural recovery and breathing new life into it for future generations. It resulted in A Place of Our Own exhibition (2023).

Socially Engaged Photography Residencies

The Gallery’s Socially Engaged Photography Residencies programme has been running since 2016. This programme focuses on commissioning photographers and other creative practitioners together with local communities, using photography to explore topics which are important to those communities.

These have ranged from collaborative projects working with people within health and social care settings, local grass root community initiatives, gardening communities, youth centres, charities and prison settings. The work is made with and for those communities, ensuring their voice is central to the work.

Liverpool City Region Photo Awards 2025, Open Eye Gallery. Credit: Rob Battersby

One of the recent examples is Photo Here, a series of 6 residencies across the Liverpool City Region. The ‘Photo Here’ project saw established groups, including refugees and asylum seekers, members of the LGBTQI+ community and D/deaf and BSL users, tell their stories and the stories of the areas they live in with the help of professional socially engaged photographers in residence. Workshops culminated in six exhibitions in 2025.

Socially Engaged Photography Network

Working with organisations, photographers, community groups, academics and curators from across the country, Open Eye Gallery have been building a Socially Engaged Photography Network to discuss and accelerate the practice of socially engaged photography.

In the spirit of social practice, the network is shaped collaboratively by its users and has been running as a distributed network since October 2019. They now have over 500 members and 25 organisational partners supporting its development and delivery.

Socially engaged photography means activities or projects where photographers and communities/ individuals come together to co-author or co-produce visual representations of the world around us. The process behind the work produced is often as important as the final photographic work, and projects are often reliant on collaboration and discussion. The work often reflects multiple voices about a particular social, political, economical or environmental issue, rather than that of a single artistic voice.

Find even more events from Open Eye Gallery and beyond via our What’s On listings.

Culture Radar – Nicole Konigs Balfry (Zest Event Management)

Posted on 25/05/2026 | by Uncover

This week’s Culture Radar guest is Nicole Konigs Balfry, Director, Zest Event Management.

What is coming up for your organisation? We’re in the midst of Liverpool European Festival, one of our big projects in 2026. The launch events were amazing and there’s still loads in store until the start of July! I’m shamelessly plugging the festival because the events organised by the Liverpool European diaspora communities are just to beautiful to miss.

What arts & cultural Liverpool City Regions event/s have you loved recently: The exhibition “Self-Defined. New stories from the Archives” at the Open Eye Gallery made me think hard about my understanding of identity. And I got to see bands I love and bands I didn’t yet know I love at “So Long, Good Friday”.

What arts & cultural Liverpool City Regions event/s are you looking forward to: The Utah Saints gig at Future Yard later this month and Africa Oyé in June! Plus I’ve got my eye on the “Liverpool Welcomes Europe” events, they are a great opportunity to connect “with Europe”.

Trivia: Whenever I teach event management at university level, the majority of students are female. This doesn’t translate into working life: female event managers are still under-represented, especially in the outdoor events industry. Me and my two female event managers are keen to address this imbalance, come and speak to us if you are, too.

Buried Treasure By ArtsGroupie CIC: Breaking the Class Ceiling at The Unity Theatre

Posted on 24/05/2026 | by Uncover

In the latest instalment of Buried Treasure, ArtsGroupie CIC’s John Maguire explores the radical history of Unity Theatre and its enduring role in championing working-class voices, experimental theatre and political storytelling in Liverpool.

Alternative drama in Liverpool has a deep history, with roots stretching back to 1895 when the January issue of The Labour Chronicle first referenced the Liverpool Socialist Dramatic Society. During this era, groups of left-wing activists and artists were forming all over the UK.

Among them was the London-based Left Book Club Theatre Guild (LBCTG), which loosely associated 250 branches nationwide. Meeting minutes from February 7, 1937, first acknowledged the formation of a new Liverpool branch: the Merseyside Left Theatre. Many of their early productions were anti-war plays and fundraisers supporting socialism and democracy in Spain during the fight against fascism.

Despite having no permanent home between 1937 and 1965, the company managed to stage radical left work from America and Europe, British classics, new original pieces, and even Ancient Greek drama in various venues across Merseyside. After World War II, 50 branches connected with the LBCTG formed The Unity Federation, and the Merseyside Left Theatre officially changed its name to The Unity. The company gradually moved away from its strict, radical left roots over the decades, though it continued to host radical and experimental work, finally finding a permanent home on Hope Place in 1981 by converting an old Victorian synagogue schoolroom.

The nomadic nature of The Unity’s early days, staging productions in nontraditional spaces long before securing a building, has heavily influenced the evolution of my own practice, particularly post-COVID. For instance, an adaptation of my short story, The Liver Bird, by The Bookworm Players toured local parks, turning the green spaces of Liverpool into “community centres without walls.” Such agile, project-based practice has defined my artistic journey.

I began writing in the late 1990s, volunteering as a steward at The Unity in my teens, which gave me the opportunity to develop my cultural capital, witnessing diverse, experimental and radical work. To see firsthand the possibilities of imagination, creativity and passion. Companies like Kaboodle, Volcano, Hope Street Ltd and many other artists transformed the way I looked at theatre. Work that was radical and risky.

Now, with more stringent arts cuts, theatres are becoming more risk-averse, leading to a problem that David Edgar coins as a growth in the “Primark play” (a term he attributes to Amanda Whittington), with new plays being staged once and never done again.

ArtsGroupie are delighted to be at The Unity in May, participating in an event that will discuss theatre and the arts for working-class creatives.

The Breaking the Class Ceiling event takes place on Saturday, 30th May, with a panellist briefing at 2pm ahead of a 3pm public start. This live, unflinching exploration of working-class artistry bridges the gap between Unity’s 1930s “Workers’ Theatre” roots and Liverpool’s contemporary creative scene, bringing together six local artists to discuss the politics of the stage, the power of heritage, and the future of storytelling.

The afternoon is split into two ninety-minute halves: Part 1 (3pm – 4.30pm) features the main panel discussion and audience Q&A, followed by a brief interval, before Part 2: The Scratch (5pm – 6.30pm) opens a dedicated platform for local voices to test new ideas, poetry, scenes, or political rants. Bringing their insights to this vital conversation are featured panellists Dr Ashleigh Nugent, Dr Maria Barrett, Mikey Garland, Steph Greer, Dr Andrew Sherlock, and Dr John Maguire.

This vital conversation is part of a much broader celebration, as Liverpool’s Unity Theatre hosts A Radical Reimagining: Unity Heritage Project from mid-May through June 2026. Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, this dedicated season honours the building’s rich history as a former synagogue schoolroom and a historic hub for grassroots political theatre.

Alongside the Breaking the Class Ceiling panel and open mic, the extensive line-up features an archive exhibition at the Mount Pleasant Campus Library, hands-on political theatre and songwriting workshops, archive open days, and a screening of the acclaimed documentary Orwell: 2+2=5. The programme directly champions contemporary, forward-looking performances as well, highlighting the next generation through the youth-led Young Radical Theatre Makers alongside Unity’s own in-house production, Stage Left.

For more information about Unity Theatre and the Radical Re-Imagining Heritage Project visit unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk/a-radical-re-imagining-unity-heritage-project.

Half Term Family Activities in Liverpool and the City Region

Posted on 18/05/2026 | by Uncover

This May half term holiday is jam-packed with events to discover and explore, from a revolting science show and Albert Dock art trail to a dinosaur rock band adventure and a detector dog display, there’s plenty of family entertainment on offer over the half term break to enjoy.

Here’s our selection of family activities for May half term.

Everywhere’s a Beach, Wonder Arts at Haigh Woodland Park, St Helens (23 May)

Join Wonder Arts for a day at the beach unlike any other in this high energy, circus theatre show! Perfect for the whole family, Everywhere’s a Beach is a charmingly ridiculous performance taking place on a giant revolving beach parasol! This dynamic, dizzying and downright daft show will leave you dancing with delight!

You’ll be swept away as this show embraces everything you love about the beach. Their spinning parasol creates the perfect setting for their eccentric beach loving characters. Watch as their world collides with yours, as sophistication turns to chaos in this aerial circus performance.

Mosh Tots: Disney Kingdom, Future Yard (24 May)

The Mosh Tots Band headline the hippest show in town this May half term! Aimed at children aged 0-8, Mosh Tots: Disney Kingdom is there to introduce young people to the world of live music in a safe and fun environment.

Future Yard believe that live music should be for everyone, no matter your age. For too long live music venues have been off limits for young children and their parents. Mosh Tots flips that on its head and is an opportunity to share the joy of live music together as a family.

The Dinosaur That Pooped, Liverpool Playhouse (26 – 30 May)

Adapted from the number one best-selling books by Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter, the whole family will have a poopy good time enjoying The Dinosaur that Pooped, a brand, new story for the stage. The books feature rip-roaring rhyme and laugh-out-loud silliness with the Dinosaur that Pooped series selling over 1.5 million copies around the world!

This stage adaptation expertly brings the series to life, featuring new songs by Tom and Dougie, a lot of laughs and a whole lot of poo!

Beside the Seaside: National Museums Liverpool at 40, World Museum (28 May)

Beside the Seaside invites families to dive into a day of coastal creativity, music, and hands-on discovery. Inspired by the seaside scenes in Walter Sickert’s Bathers, Dieppe and New Brighton, 1977 by photographer Martin Parr, alongside a range of maritime models, paintings, and objects from their NML 40 exhibition, this event brings the spirit of the seaside to life.

Create your own seaside-inspired scenes, take part in creative activities, and get up close with real maritime objects. Discover the stories behind life by the sea — from boats and voyages to the tools and treasures of the coast. With music, making, and plenty to handle and explore, Beside the Seaside offers a playful and engaging way for families to experience their NML 40 exhibition.

Mildred’s Albert Dock Art Trail, Tate Liverpool (Everyday, self-tour)

Mildred, Tate’s art-loving cat, wants you to help her find 6 images of artworks placed around the inner quay of the Royal Albert Dock on Mildred’s Art Trail. Collect your free Art Trail booklet from Tate Liverpool + RIBA North at Mann Island.

Follow the map on the back to find the images of Tate artworks. There’s plenty of space and guidance inside the booklet to encourage young visitors to create their own amazing art along the way. Mildred also likes word games! There are 5 letters near the artworks that can be rearranged to spell a word. The Art Trail is a great way for families to spend time together, doing something that is both creative and active.

Pat the Painting Pig, Unity Theatre (28 May)

Join Pat and a host of other woodland creatures in this charming exploration of friendship, community and artistic talent. Pat the Painting Pig is a brand new play featuring set and props made at Bridge Inn Community Farm, and original music and songs.

Written by Ed Bixter and directed by Suzy Walker, this pig-tastic adventure will have the entire family clapping along and oinking with laughter. Ideal for a fun half term slice of entertainment.

Return of the Detector dogs!, World Museum (28 May)

Detector dogs work with a handler from Border Force to detect hidden objects and smuggled goods. More recently, they have also been used in the detection of diseases and as a resource in wildlife biological research. The World Museum is hosting a special Return of the detector dogs! visit from these highly skilled dogs with a unique chance to see them in action and find out more!

Demonstrations will take place in their Treasure House Theatre throughout the day. Sessions are drop-in, with no booking required

The Utterly Revolting Science Show, The Atkinson (30 May)

Brace yourselves for the Rude Science team’s hilarious, high-tech, highly-explosive new journey through the human body, The Utterly Revolting Science Show, packed with burp biology, fart physics and revolting edible chemistry. Expect enormous bottoms, edible fireworks, burp machines and the world’s loudest fart in this riotous science spectacular.

On the surface it’s a rollercoaster of disgusting experiments built to delight young audiences, but under the bonnet it’s a brilliantly-constructed curriculum-driven adventure designed to inspire Britain’s kids with a lasting fascination for science. The show is the brainchild of Stefan Gates, high-octane presenter of twenty TV series, five for CBBC.

Find even more events across the Liverpool city region via our What’s On listings.