Event type: Festival

No Play Festival will be heading to the Invisible Wind Factory this August.

No Play are an independent promoter from Liverpool. This year sees them launch the first No Play Festival – a 1,300 person celebration of all things alternative music. The main stage will host alternative acts including headliners: YONAKA along with artists such as VUKOVI, Higher Power and Superlove. The second stage will host a range of heavier acts including Conjurer, Graphic Nature and Going Off.

An event of this size needs a big name to headline it and No Play are thrilled to be bringing Brighton’s alternative rock outfit YONAKA to Liverpool for their first headline in the city since playing The Shipping Forecast in 2017.

They’ve certainly come a long way since then. Fusing elements of pop, punk and hip hop into their own unique sound they have released two albums to widespread acclaim and amassed over 150 million streams. Their latest single Welcome to My House was released 31 March and with their new EP coming 26 May, it’s safe to say an exciting next chapter lies ahead. The band are “excited to be headlining No Play Festival” and can’t wait to get back to Liverpool stating “we knew we’d get to see you soon Liverpool, we miss you! Summer is looking oh so sweet.”

YONAKA aren’t the only names making a long-awaited return to Merseyside this summer as this will be VUKOVI’s first date in the city in over a decade, “it’s been years since we’ve been back so super hyped to be on this stacked line up”. It’s also Leeds hardcore outfit Higher Power’s debut.

No Play launched post-covid at the end of 2021 but the team have been promoting shows in Liverpool since 2016. Passionate about their local scene and the community that surrounds it, they want to push alternative music in Liverpool and build a platform for the local talent that they see at their shows every week. They’ve named their second stage The Guillotine Stage; a tribute to the monthly ‘Guillotine Sessions’ they host to promote local artists. In testament to their love of curating local talent, it will be recent Guillotine Session headliners, Lure In, who open this stage.

“No Play has always championed and supported the underground in such a way that bands and punters alike both feel it and want to be involved.” say the band. “We are extremely hyped to help continue their mission to bring up the underground and make it something special”.

Liverpool will host a vibrant festival of Latin American arts and culture this September.

With a programme of music, dance, storytelling, street arts and more from the rich diversity of the Latin American continent, LA FERIA is set to take over a variety of city centre venues as part of the unique celebration.

A launch event will take place at the Unity Theatre on Wednesday 20th September, which includes performances from MC Millaray, a rising rap star from Chile. The sixteen-year-old’s songs decry environmental injustices and call for the return of ancestral lands.

The launch night will also feature Victor Rios‘ powerful and comic one man show “How British Are You?”, which tells the story of life as a Bolivian living in the UK.

The following night at the Unity Theatre, Thursday 20th September, sees Andean Latin Afro groove fusion band, Lokandes take the stage, along with Magaly Flores – a performer who preserves her identity through Mexican dance, embracing the cultural heritage her predecessors left her.

Colombian salsa champion, Daniela Rodriguez features on the Thursday night at the Unity, giving the Liverpool audience a chance to see why she has toured with J-Lo as well as being crowned Folklore Dance Queen five times and called upon to represent Colombia in competitions across the world.

The evening will also feature local favourites Capoeira For All as well as commissioned artists from Bolivia, Spain and Liverpool collaborating to create a fusion dance piece that represents their roots and the journeys of migrants from all over the world that have come and made Liverpool their home.

Ahead of the festival main events, an exhibition of Latin American women who through their art, music, writing and activism have inspired the people of Latin America and beyond, will open at St George’s Hall. Inspiring Latin American Women in Art and Activism will be open for all to view from 6th September to 6th October.

The incomparable ‘Voice of Tango’ Martin Alvarado from Buenos Aires will join the festival lineup for a show at the Philharmonic Music Room on the evening of Friday 22nd September. Alongside the talented Gerardo Villar & Los Aguirre guitar quartet, Martin will share the authentic sound of old Buenos Aires, with added 21st-century flair.

The night will also feature Bandita La Inquieta from Chile – an all-female quartet that creates unique performances through dance, the arts and the environment. The group will also put on a special performance at 12:30pm on the Friday at the Museum of Liverpool Life for those wanting a sample of the evening’s entertainment.

For those wanting to experience the best food, drink and art that Latin America has to offer, A Taste of Latin America, on Saturday 23rd September, will see a free family day of stalls and workshops fill District in the Baltic Triangle, whilst attendees enjoy performances by dance groups from Ecuador and Bolivia, and music from bands Mestisa and Bandita La Inquieta.

Then in the evening, the venue will host an explosive finale to La Feria, featruring the hypnotic rhythms and melodies of the Mexican & Colombian Electronic Cumbia outfit Mambe & Danochilango with support from Roxy & Toby – an accomplished Latin duo who first crossed paths in Liverpool – and renowned Chilean DJ and music producer, Cidtronyck.

Liverpool-based Luma Creations, who have organised the festival, are also putting on a community tour to bring Latin American arts to communities across the city region, ensuring people who have not seen or experienced the rich diversity of Latin America’s arts & culture have a chance to do so in their own spaces.

LA FERIA will take place across city centre venues in Liverpool this September. For all the latest information and ticket links head to lumacreations.org.

La Feria 2023 Lineup

6 Sept – 6 Oct 2023 – FREE ENTRANCE
Inspiring Latin American Women in Art and Activism, Exhibition
The Stables, St George’s Hall
An exhibition of Latin American women who through their art, music, writing or activism have inspired thousands if not millions of people in Latin America and throughout the world.

8 – 15 Sept 2023
La Feria Community Tour
La Feria travels with amazing artists from Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica and Mexico to share a taste of Latin America to five different communities in the Liverpool region: Chinatown, Fazakerley, Prescot, Toxteth and Wallasey.

20 – 23 Sept 2023
Main Events in Liverpool City Centre
Working in partnership with District in the Baltic Triangle, The Philharmonic Hall and Unity Theatre, La Feria presents an array of world class Latin American artists and events.

MAIN EVENTS & TICKET LINKS

7.30 pm, Wednesday 20^th September
Unity Theatre, Liverpool

We launch this year’s LA FERIA festival with a powerful event focusing on Identity. With strong and influential voices from South America, we present two artists that speak about and celebrate their heritage and ask deep and difficult questions.

ARTISTS:
MILLARAY (Chile)
VICTOR RIOS (Bolivia) with How British Are You?

Tickets

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7.30 pm, Thursday 21^st September
Unity Theatre, Liverpool

DANCE SHOWCASE (Roots & Fusion)
LOKANDES (Bolivia, Peru, Chile)
Magaly Flores (Mexico)
Daniela Rodriguez with Raices
Marina, Sabrina & Valeria with Identidad.
CAPOEIRA FOR ALL (Brasil/UK)

Tickets

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12.30 pm, Friday 22^nd September
Museum of Liverpool Life, Pierhead

Bandita La Inquieta (Chile)

FREE

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7.30 pm, Friday 22^nd September
The Music Room, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

ARTISTS:
Martin Alvarado, Gerardo Villar & Los Aguirre Guitar Quartet (Argentina)
Bandita La Inquieta (Chile)

Tickets

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12.00 pm – 5.00 pm, Saturday 23^rd September
District, Liverpool

A TASTE OF LATIN AMERICA

FREE ENTRANCE

Bringing a variety of Latin American flavours, and performances right to Liverpool’s doorstep, this will be an exciting and mouth-watering event.

There will be a delicious array of food stalls, from Latin American countries including Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela, adorning the entire venue.

ARTISTS:
Bandita la Inquieta (Chile)
Colibri Mexican Folk Dance
Mestisa (Peru & Chile)
Warmis (Ecuador)
San Simon Sucre London (Bolivia)

With special input from members of the Latin American community in the region.

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7.30 pm, Saturday 23^rd September
District, Liverpool

La Feria 2023 concludes with an explosive manifestation of music from across Latin America. For the finale, we bring together local & international artists from Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile and the UK. Here you can let your hair down, dance the night away and experience the power of Latin American Rhythms and the exquisite joy of Latin American culture.

ARTISTS:
Mambe & Danochilango (Mexico & Colombia)
Roxy & Toby (Venezuela & UK)
Cidtronyck (Chile)

Tickets

Pleasure Island presents the Penny Lane Weekender, a brand-new two-day festival, set to rock Dovedale Towers, Penny Lane, Liverpool on August 5 and 6. The event promises to showcase a captivating mix of local and UK artists spanning the genres of rock and electronic music.

That the event is planned and produced by the artists themselves, shows a refreshing change to similar music festivals that have a more corporate influence on their production. The Penny Lane Weekender is a reflection of the diverse roles that musicians are having to fulfill in order to showcase their talent and provide entertainment for music lovers, in the background of financial struggles in wider society and the arts sector. You can be sure that the performers will benefit from your attendance, with your support going directly to the acts.

The first wave of artists confirmed for the Liverpool Penny Lane Weekender are sure to cause a buzz amongst Northern music enthusiasts, with bands hailing from Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield and Nottingham.

Penny Lane Weekender First Wave Announcement

Django Jones and The Mystery Men (Sheffield)
Diablo Furs (Nottingham)
Zetland (Liverpool)
Ombudsmen (Manchester)
Eternum Joy (Liverpool)
Megaladon Fried Rice (Manchester)
She’s in Trees (Liverpool)
Blue Eyed Crows (Liverpool)