Event type: Festival

Africa Oyé 2023

Africa Oyé, the UK’s largest free celebration of African music and culture returns to Sefton Park on 17 & 18 June 2023.

Africa Oyé have revealed the headliners for their 2023 festival taking place this summer in Liverpool. The Saturday of the two-day free festival will see dancehall and reggae artist, Tanya Stephens close proceedings, whilst the Sunday will be headlined by Seun Kuti – son of the legendary afrobeat star, Fela Kuti – with his band, Egypt 80.

Following an incredible 30th anniversary year in 2022, one of Merseyside’s most picturesque green spaces will once again be filled with the music and culture of Africa, the Caribbean and the Diaspora, for two free days of live music, workshops, DJ stages, food stalls and a range of traders in the Oyé Village.

Seun Kuti is the youngest son of legendary Afrobeat godfather and political activist, Fela Kuti. As well as his unprecedented influence on music across the continent, Fela was prolific in his opposition to the corruption of Nigerian government officials and the mistreatment of Nigerian citizens.

Tanya Stephens has been lauded as one of Jamaica’s “most gifted songwriters” (Reggae Vibes Magazine), with her compositions receiving critical acclaim and comparisons to legendary names like Bob Marley. Lauded as one of the “top female artists in Jamaica” by The Washington Post, Tanya speaks of partying, heartbreak, social change and human rights violations with equal comfort and dexterity from previously voiceless perspectives.

Other acts performing over the weekend include Ghanian highlife stars, FRA!, Cameroonian soloist, Veeby and guitarist, percussionist and balafón player, Kimi Djabaté, plus many more.

Beginning over three decades ago in 1992 as a series of shows in the city centre, the Africa Oyé Festival has evolved into one of Liverpool’s most beloved annual events, attracting artists and attendees from across the world.

One of the most popular areas of festival, The Oyé Active Zone – which hosts free multi-arts workshops across the whole weekend – will return this summer, alongside a brand new Toddler Zone, catering for the youngest festival goers, and the acclaimed DJ stages Trenchtown and Freetown.

More main stage artists are set to be revealed soon, along with news on the festival’s Oyé Introduces programme which sees up-and-coming local talent showcased on the line-up alongside the international heavyweights.

The festival’s commitment to being ‘free and open to all’ also means that the Access Tent, British Sign Language on-stage translators and Access Viewing Platform will also all return for this year’s extravaganza. Those wanting to support the festival and help keep the event free and open to all and can do so by donating via africaoye.com.

This year’s Africa Oyé festival will take place on June 17 and 18 2023, in Liverpool’s Sefton Park from 12:30pm til 9:30pm both days and entrance is free.

Image Credit: Mark McNulty

Wirral MakeFest2023

Wirral MakeFest, a free community event that aims to cultivate the public’s engagement with makers, inspiring future careers, hobbies and skills in the community and raising the visibility of local makers through the event and its accompanying website.

The event will take place at BOTH Birkenhead Central Library and Williamson Museum and Art Gallery.

MakeFest is a fusion between art, science and technology: STEAM, and their makers will be from a wide range of arts and sciences, from plastic remoulding to VR and crafts to drama.

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Deva Fest 2023

The fastest-growing UK festival, Deva Fest, is celebrating 90’s House and Old School Trance with a three-day dedicated dance stage.

Chester based music promotion company Sensus will be hosting the first and exclusive dance stage at Deva Fest, showcasing all forms of house music and an incredible production of high-end audio, lighting and special effects. The dance stage will see some of the biggest 90’s household dance names headline including DJ sets from N-Trance, K-Klass and Eric Marton from Technotronic.

Building on the success of last year’s Friday night chilled Old School Dance & Ibiza theme, the dance stage will welcome a wave of talent from the 1990s up to today’s fast-rising local legends.

Saturday night’s dance stage will be headlined with a DJ Set from timeless electronic dance act N-Trance, fresh off their 30-year anniversary tour, who will bring the nostalgia back with hits including ‘Set You Free’ and ‘Turn Up the Power’.

Also, on Saturday night’s headliner lineup will be a DJ set from K-Klass, the group behind classic 90’s electronic hits such as ‘Rhythm is a Mystery’ and ‘Let Me Show You’ as well as the iconic remix of the Bobby Brown hit ‘2 Can Play That Game’.

Sunday night will play host to legendary Eric Martin from Technotronic, the founder member of the Belgian Eurodance group whose number one ‘Pump Up the Jam’ will transport the crowd back to the early 90s, with Friday night showcasing an unmissable ream of local and undiscovered DJs from the UK.

Liverpool Improvisation Festival

Announcing the first ever edition of the Liverpool Improvisation Festival: This new two-day festival is supported and hosted by the Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

The festival opens on Friday the 21st of April (3pm) and runs through till late on Saturday the 22nd of April (10pm).

Across the two days we have an exciting programme of 12 shows including two world premieres and four workshops.  There is a mix of established artists and companies and those who are new and emerging.

All the work is improvised and draws upon numerous art forms including clown, comedy, fooling, music, puppetry, storytelling, and theatre. 

uMoya: The Sacred Return of Lost Thing...

The 12th edition of Liverpool Biennial ‘uMoya: The sacred Return of Lost Things’ addresses the history and temperament of the city of Liverpool and is a call for ancestral and indigenous forms of knowledge, wisdom and healing. In the isiZulu language, ‘uMoya’ means spirit, breath, air, climate and wind.

The festival explores the ways in which people and objects have the potential to manifest power as they move across the world, while acknowledging the continued losses of the past. It draws a line from the ongoing Catastrophes caused by colonialism towards an insistence on being truly Alive.

More than 30 international artists and collectives have been invited to engage with uMoya as a compass, divine intervention, and thoroughfare. Taking over historic buildings, unexpected spaces and art galleries, a dynamic programme of free exhibitions, performances, screenings, community events, learning activities and fringe events unfolds over 14 weeks, shining a light on the city’s vibrant cultural scene. Liverpool Biennial 2023 is curated by Khaniyisile Mbongwa.

Visual identity by Thom Isom

Liverpool International Jazz Festival ...

Liverpool International Jazz Festival places an emphasis on contemporary instrumental jazz in a variety of styles with a focus on presenting work from an international selection of world class artists, taking audience members on a musical journey that traverses numerous genres and cross-genres.

Liverpool International Jazz Festival (LIJF) was established in 2013 by Liverpool Hope University, and in previous years has included performances from some of Jazz music’s leading lights. The emphasis of the Festival is on contemporary instrumental jazz in a variety of styles with a focus on presenting work from an international selection of world class artists, taking audience members on a musical journey that traverses numerous genres and cross-genres.

The forthcoming Festival which takes place from Thurs 23rd Feb to Sun 26th Feb 2023 at Liverpool Hope University’s Capstone Theatre, comprises concerts by Milap Indo Jazz Club (Thurs 23rd Feb), an all star indojazz line up of musicians, Devils of Moko (Fri 24th Feb) an electronic soul afrofunk fusion project, Dock In Absolute (Sat 25th Feb) a Luxembourgian piano trio with a classical bent, Shez Raja featuring Tony Kofi (Sat 25th Feb) who will deliver a lively slice of indojazzfunk and Marius Neset Quartet (Sun 26th Feb), the latest vehicle of the Norwegian virtuoso saxophonist and composer.

You can purchase tickets for Festival events individually or purchase a Festival Pass allowing access to all these concerts for a total price of £48 (including bf).

Knowsley Music Festival

As part of Knowsley’s celebrations as Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture, a ten-day music festival will take place in venues across the Borough.

With an eclectic line-up featuring household names such as Anton Powers, Craig Charles, The Real Thing, John Power and ZuZu, the programme produced by Liverpool-based music consultant Yaw Owusu promises something for everyone to enjoy.

As well as household names, up and coming performers will also be showcasing their talents. For those looking to be the future names in music, there is the chance to hear from music industry experts, and also the opportunity for young people to access free music.

“Music is such a brilliant way to bring people together and this festival will be a really fantastic addition to our end of year programme of events. It’s been an amazing year so far for Knowsley and it really would be incomplete if we didn’t take the opportunity to celebrate music too.”

– Cllr Shelley Powell, Knowsley Council Cabinet Member for Communities & Neighbourhoods

“I am absolutely thrilled to be part of Knowsley’s celebrations as the Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture and to be curating such a special musical festival. Music is a part of the fabric of the borough and has influenced the musical landscape more than many would know.”

– Yaw Owusu

Tickets are on sale now.

Stay tuned and make sure you follow @cultureknowsley on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook or visit https://www.cultureknowsley.co.uk/knowsley-music-festival/

DaDaFest 2022

DaDaFest International Festival returns this autumn with a fantastic and fascinating programme showcasing the talents of disabled, Deaf and neurodivergent artists and performers.

This year’s festival, with the theme and title Hybrid, runs over six weeks from 26 October to 3 December at venues across the city and beyond including the Unity Theatre, Bluecoat, Museum of Liverpool and St Helens Library as well as online.

DADA Fest Programme Information

ROSE FAYE GARLAND: TRASH SALAD
Venue: Unity Theatre
Date: Wednesday 26 October
Time: 7.30pm

CHRONIC INSANITY: 24,23,22
Venue: Unity Theatre
Date: Thursday 27 October
Time: 7.30pm

KADISHA KAYANI: SUNSHINE AND SHADOWS
Venue: Unity Theatre
Date: Friday 28 October
Time: 7.30pm

RHIANNON MAY: CRASH LANDING
Venue: Unity Theatre
Date: Saturday 29 October
Time: 2pm, 4.30pm, 7.30pm

HERA: WE ASK THESE QUESTIONS OF EVERYBODY
Venue: Online
Date: Monday 31 October – Sunday 18 December

ALICE CHRISTINA-CORRIGAN: PAST LIFE
Venue: Online
Date: Monday 31 October – Sunday 18 December

EXTANT: FLIGHT PATHS
Venue: Online
Date: Monday 31 October – Sunday 18 December

RACHEL PARRY: MALPER
Venue: Online
Date: Monday 31 October – Sunday 18 December

MARK PEACHEY: KEEP CLEAR
Venue: St Helen’s Library
Date: Monday 7 November – Friday 2 December
Time: Library opening hours

DADA ACADEMY DIGITAL SHOWCASE
Venue: Online
Date: Monday 7 November

SHIELDED IN THE COMMUNITY EXHIBITION
Venue: Museum of Liverpool
Date: From Wednesday 16 November
Time: 10am – 5pm

AMINA ATIQ
Venue: Bluecoat
Date: Wednesday 23 November
Time: 7.30pm

DADA ENSEMBLE CONCERT
Venue: Bluecoat
Date: Friday 25 November
Time: 7.30pm

SHIELDED IN THE COMMUNITY EXHIBITION
Venue: Museum of Liverpool
Date: From Monday 14 November
Time: 10am – 5pm

PEN PALS
Venue: Online
Date: Monday 28 November

EDWARD RUSHTON LECTURE
Venue: Museum of Liverpool and online
Date: Saturday 3 December
Time: Afternoon

Phantasmagoria 2022

The second annual Phantasmagoria event being held at EBGBS, Liverpool on Saturday 29 October 2022 which will see the likes of Canadian singer Tess Parks headline the event with Deja Vega, Helicon, HARKS, Fruit Tones (who we’re currently releasing a 3 part live session with), The Lotts and The Ivies take to the stage in one full day of music.

Irish graphic designer Conor Dardis aka Thirst and Company designed this years poster and vinyl. Conor has created artwork for psychedelic giants such as Australian Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, The Shins, Vinyl Williams and many more.

Our Place In Space

Liverpool has been announced as an additional stop on the UK tour of Our Place in Space, a recreation of the solar system as a stunning 8.1 km sculpture trail designed by artist Oliver Jeffers, astrophysicist Professor Stephen Smartt and a creative team led by Nerve Centre.

Following popular visits to Derry-Londonderry, Belfast and Cambridge during 2022, where it has been experienced by more than 300,000 people, the trail will touch down in the city from 14 October to 6 November, before returning to Northern Ireland in February 2023 at the Ulster Transport Museum.

Beginning on Church Street in the heart of the city centre and running along the riverside all the way to Otterspool, Our Place in Space is free to visit and features scale models of the Sun and planets, recreated as contemporary art sculptures. Colourful arches house each planet with an arrow and the name of the planet lit up in Las Vegas style lights.

At a scale of 591 million to one, the Sun is 2.35 metres across, Earth is 2.2 centimetres and Pluto just 4 millimetres. The Our Place in Space trail will run until 6 November with events and creative education programmes taking place across the city.

Our Place in Space, part of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, invites participants to consider how we might better share and protect our planet in future and what is the difference between ‘us’ and ‘them’? The project aims to bring our solar system down to Earth and send us soaring into the stars to find new perspectives and reconsider what it means to live life on our planet.

The trail is accompanied by the free Our Place in Space augmented reality app, available on Apple and Android, which allows users across the world to take a journey through the solar system, experiencing the planets in augmented reality and considering 10,000 years of human history on Earth. On the trail, users are invited to collect space souvenirs, including characters from the world of Oliver Jeffers, as well as launch a personalised star into space.

Oliver Jeffers, internationally renowned artist and author said: “For centuries, we’ve defined ourselves by who we are and who we’re not. Which side we choose, on what ground we stand, who and what we fight for. A human story, that lives merely in human minds. But with distance comes perspective – and what happens to our perspective on everything when we look back at Earth from space? Our Place in Space is a playful experiment that asks: What is the difference between ‘us’ and ‘them’? Which side are we on, and if we look back at ourselves from vastness of outer space – alone on our tiny planet, the only one that can harbour life – should there be any ‘sides’ at all?”

Our Place in Space has been designed by Oliver Jeffers with leading astrophysicist Professor Stephen Smartt and a creative team led by Nerve Centre, Northern Ireland’s leading creative media arts centre. Local partners helping to bring Our Place in Space to Liverpool include Culture Liverpool, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool BID Company and Canal & Riverside Trust.

Our Place in Space in Liverpool coincides with the launch of a new children’s book by Oliver, Meanwhile Back on Earth (HarperCollins). Inspired by the themes of Our Place in Space and available from 4 October, the book features a father who takes his two squabbling children on a journey into space to show them what binds us together matters more than what might set us apart. Oliver will be signing copies of his new book at Waterstones, College Lane, Liverpool on Saturday 15 October at 12 noon.

Our Place in Space is one of 10 major creative projects commissioned as part of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, a celebration of creativity taking place across the UK this year. UNBOXED features free large-scale events, installations and globally accessible digital experiences in the UK’s most ambitious showcase of creative collaboration.

There are opportunities for local people to become trail guardians while the trail is in Liverpool, helping enhance and support visitors’ experience. For more information visit www.ourplaceinspace.earth.

Our Place in Space is commissioned by UNBOXED and Belfast City Council. Led by Nerve Centre, the project is a collaboration between Astrophysics Research Centre at Queen’s University Belfast, National Museums NI, NI Science Festival, Big Motive, Taunt, Microsoft, Jeffers & Sons, Dumbworld, Live Music Now, Little Inventors, and Urban Scale Interventions.

UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK is funded and supported by the four governments of the UK and is commissioned and delivered in partnership with Belfast City Council, Creative Wales and EventScotland.

Photo Credit: Our Place In Space – Earth+Moon – Derry-Londonderry.
Our Place in Space part of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK Courtesy of Nerve Centre, 2021