A much-anticipated live performance by folk ‘supergroup’ Spell Songs, the musical evolution of the iconic Lost Words and Lost Spells books by acclaimed author Robert Macfarlane and award-winning artist Jackie Morris, commissioned by Folk by the Oak Festival and featuring the collaborative genius of Karine Polwart, Julie Fowlis, Seckou Keita, Kris Drever, Rachel Newton, Beth Porter and Jim Molyneux.
Spell Songs are renowned for enthralling live performances that expertly blend virtuosic kora, electroharp, cello, Indian harmonium and more, gorgeously layered with musical and linguistic influences spanning from Orkney to Senegal. Inspired by Robert and Jackie’s latest work, The Book of Birds, Spell Song’s new studio album In Thin Air is released on 4th September and this uplifting performance will include a wealth of beautiful new songs alongside favourites from The Lost Words Spell Songs (2019) and Spell Songs II, Let The Light In (2021).
Spell Songs will be joined on stage by Lost Words artist Jackie Morris conjuring creatures and birds from ink and watercolour, bringing a captivating artistic dimension to all the shows.
The Lost Notes come to the Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room as winners of the FATEA Band of the Year 2025, recognised for their harmony‑rich songwriting, sharp wit, and quietly dazzling musicianship. Their live shows blend foot‑tapping folk, soulful Americana, and warm, generous humour. FATEA praised them as “a band at the top of their game – inventive, heartfelt and engaging from first note to last.”
Michell, Pfeiffer & Kulesh bring their acclaimed blend of close‑harmony vocals, intricate arrangements, and exquisitely crafted original songs. Drawing on English, American, and Eastern European folk traditions, they create a sound that feels both timeless and strikingly contemporary. Folk London described them as “a trio of rare finesse – voices that blend like smoke and light, with songs that linger long after the last note.”
Together, these two standout acts promise an evening of rich storytelling, luminous harmonies, and musicianship shaped with real heart. Expect songs that make you smile, moments that stop you in your tracks, and performances that celebrate the breadth and beauty of modern folk.
With two headline sets in one night, this is a rare chance to experience two of the scene’s most compelling live acts in the intimate surroundings of the Music Room.
Michael Ball announces a new solo album of original material for 2026! ‘Glow’ will be Michael’s 23rd solo album, due for release early next year.
Speaking on the news, Michael Ball said: “There’s probably only one thing I enjoy more than being in the studio — writing, producing, and singing songs with people I love — and that’s taking it all out on the road and performing those songs as well as all the old favourites to the audiences I love. I hope you enjoy the new album, and I hope you come to see us on tour next year. It’s going to be an exciting year, and I can’t wait to see you all’’
Michael Ball is Britain’s leading musical theatre star, a double Olivier Award-winning, Grammy nominated, multi-platinum recording artist and a hugely popular radio and TV presenter. For over 40 years he has been at the top of his game, starring in musical theatre productions in the West End and on Broadway, winning critical acclaim, a devoted following and awards for his stage work and recording career.
He regularly tours the UK as a concert artist and has sold millions of albums over the last 40 years; he’s performed in Australia, China, USA, Japan and, in 2007, made his BBC Proms debut: An Evening with Michael Ball at the Royal Albert Hall which marked the first time a musical theatre star had been given a solo concert at the Proms.
Join National Children’s Orchestras and 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. They are delighted to share the stage today with musicians from In Harmony Liverpool Philharmonic.
NCO’s concerts are for everyone. Join us as we appreciate the sheer joy and energy 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!
Liverpool Arab Arts Festival presents the world premiere performance of the hugely anticipated second album from Tamsin Elliott (UK) and Tarek Elazhary (Egypt). 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.
Closing this year’s festival is the annual Youth Company choral celebration concert.
Over 250 young singers aged 7-19, across four different Youth Company choirs, will take to the stage. Included in this performance will be the Philharmonic Hall debut of Youth Company’s newest choir – Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Training Choir.
The award-winning Arrival – The Hits of ABBA returns in 2027 with a dazzling tour, bringing audiences closer than ever to the sound, style and spirit of ABBA.
This high-energy production is a standout celebration of pop’s most iconic group, delivering a feel-good night of unforgettable music, fabulous costumes, sensational vocals and a fantastic live band.
Featuring all the timeless favourites, the 2027 tour also shines a spotlight on the 50th anniversary of ABBA’s landmark ‘The Album’, celebrating its legacy with classics such as Thank You for The Music, The Name of the Game and Take a Chance on Me.
With its acclaimed interactive format, audiences are invited to sing along as immersive video projections transform the theatre into a shared celebration, placing fans right at the heart of the performance.
Blending nostalgia, energy and audience participation, the tour promises an unforgettable two-hour celebration of ABBA’s enduring legacy.
Reviews:
“Simply the best ABBA show” – The Stage
“The best ABBA show since ABBA” – Hong Kong Stadium
“The Ultimate ABBA show” – Phoenix Symphony Hall, Arizona
“Awesome, Awesome, Awesome” – The Times of India
“The finest tribute act in the UK” – Vice Magazine
Led by a bona fide star of swing music, Ray Quinn, this concert spectacular celebrates the fabulous music and tells the incredible story of the world-famous Rat Pack.
Ray’s debut album, ‘My Way’, features songs from this golden era of music and entered the UK album chart at number one. It sold 127,000 copies in its first week of release before being certified platinum, selling over 250,000 worldwide.
Featuring all the greatest hits of Sammy Davis Jnr, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and many more timeless classics from the stars of swing and rat pack with a Christmas twist.
“What A Great ****ing Show” – ART GARFUNKEL
Few shows have experienced the phenomenal global success of The Simon & Garfunkel Story, with multiple sold-out shows in over 50-countries worldwide and over 20 headline performances in London’s West End, including multiple appearances at the world-famous London Palladium.
Using huge projection photos and original film footage, the international hit show tells the story of the origins and meteoric rise of Simon & Garfunkel blended together seamlessly with a full live band performing all the hits including Mrs Robinson, Cecilia, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Homeward Bound and many more.
With standing ovations at every performance at the show Art Garfunkel himself loved, you don’t want to miss this international sensation.
For the past 30 years, James Lavelle has been at the forefront of global club culture. Known as much for his eclectic DJ sets as for his production work with UNKLE, Lavelle has been lauded as a highly influential tastemaker and musical curator.
He began DJing in Oxford aged only 15, where he started his first night, ‘Mo’Wax Please’. Relocating to London to start the record label of the same name, Lavelle took up a residency at The Fridge for Gilles Peterson’s ‘Talkin’ Loud’. The pair went on to start their own night together, ‘That’s How It Is’, a legendary Monday night session at Bar Rumba on Shaftesbury Avenue that saw Lavelle become a major fixture of London’s burgeoning club scene.
Lavelle’s ability to craft genre-spanning mixes translated from to the club to the studio, where he created contributions to several iconic mix series. After releasing mixes for Tribal Gathering and Cream, he produced the inaugural FABRICLIVE CD, and has gone on to release four critically acclaimed mixes for Global Underground, the most recent of which went to the top of the Electronic charts on iTunes. Pete Tong lauded him as ‘one of the most gifted minds in music’ when introducing his ‘mind blowing’ Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1.
Lavelle continues to tour as a DJ, playing a major role in Fabric’s 20th anniversary celebrations, curating two nights at the club and playing alongside Laurent Garnier. He also reunited with Gilles Peterson for a ‘That’s How It Is’ reunion show at We Out Here festival. Away from the dancefloor, Lavelle has recently contributed DJ mixes for Keinemusik, Crosstown Rebels and Mary Anne Hobbs, as well as the soundtrack for Virgil Abloh’s final Off-White show at Paris Fashion Week. His monthly Living In My Headphones shows on Soho Radio serve as a showcase for the more eclectic reaches of his record collection.
He also produces albums under his UNKLE moniker, working with a myriad cast of musical collaborators including Thom Yorke, Michael Kiwanuka, Mark Lanegan, Massive Attack, Brian Eno and Josh Homme. Lavelle also curates multi-sensory art exhibitions, with his highly innovative and hugely successful series ‘Daydreaming With…’ and ‘Beyond the Road’ the latter of which NME described as an ‘album you can walk around’.
