Liverpool Arab Arts Festival 2025

The annual Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, at 23, the longest running and most extensive of its kind in the UK.

The festival runs from July 11-20 and this year’s theme is Nostalgia. The 2025 programme includes a performance by violin virtuoso Akram Abdulfattah, appearing at Philharmonic Hall’s Music Room on July 19 and the theatre production, Penguin, at Unity Theatre, 11 July.

Highlights Include:

Penguin

LAAF welcome Penguin to the Unity Theatre, Liverpool on 11 July for the opening day of this year’s festival.Full of humour and beauty, Hamzeh Al Hussien’s extraordinary story takes you on a personal tour of the places he knows best. His village in the Syrian mountains, Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan, Gateshead (UK) and inside his mind: a place full of music, dancing, fantasies and marbles.Hamzeh invites the audience to be his childhood friends, to hold up the moon to light his way, and into his dreams, brushing the dust from his clothes…and taking the stage.

“A remarkable story told with irrepressible charm” – The Stage

Palestine Minus One

With Mazen Maarouf, Anwar Hamed, and Basma Ghalayini.

A unique evening of stories and discussion at the Bluecoat, launching Comma Press’s new anthology, Palestine Minus One – an exploration of the event that underpins Israel’s 77-year-long occupation of Palestine: the Nakba of 1948. As a prequel to Comma’s award-winning Palestine + 100 science fiction project, this anthology asks ten Palestinian authors to revisit the build-up to the catastrophe of 1948 as well as its immediate and long-term repercussions, using fantastical, supernatural and speculative tropes.All of these writers had grandparents or great-grandparents who were forcibly displaced during the Nakba, and all offer new ways of re-processing that trauma. At this event, we’ll hear from two of the most prominent Palestinian authors out there: Mazen Maarouf and Anwar Hamed, along with the anthology’s editor Basma Ghalayini.The discussion at The Bluecoat on Wednesday 16th July will be chaired by Comma Press founder, Ra Page.

Good Chance presents… A Grain of Sand  حبة رمل By Elias Matar

Commissioned by London Palestine Film FestivalSupported by Liverpool Arab Arts Festival 

Adapted from A Million Kites: Testimonies and Poems from the Children of Gaza by Leila Boukarim and Asaf Luzon

Renad, a young Gazan girl, embarks on a dangerous journey. Carrying only the echoes of her grandmother’s tales and the spark of her own imagination, she searches for her family and the ‘Anqaa’ – the mythical Palestinian Phoenix.

A Grain of Sand is a one-woman show that takes an intimate look at war through the eyes of a child, blending Palestinian folklore with real-life testimonies from children in contemporary Gaza. Renad’s story is one of resilience, hope and the right of children to be children. The show will be performed at the Unity Theatre on Friday 18 July.

The Alexandrian

In this free exhibition, Mohamed Gohar utilises his artistic visual language alongside architectural and heritage experiences.

He examines the dynamics of present-day Alexandrian society and their influence on the evolution of the city’s urban and built environment. The aim is to observe and analyse the communal behaviours of the city users, focusing on fostering an objective understanding of the changing values and cultures.

The exhibition at Yamama Café and Bar runs throughout the festival’s duration and includes an informal artist talk (and a complimentary hot or soft drink!) on Wednesday 16 July, at 4pm.

Palestinian Tatreez (Embroidery) Workshop

This adult workshop at Bluecoat will teach the basics of Tatreez (traditional Palestinian embroidery) and explore how this ancestral craft can connect us to heritage, resistance, and each other. Stitch your own pattern, and discover the powerful history woven into every thread.

The workshop on Sunday 13th July from Tatreez Collective consists of two parts: a short presentation that covers the history of Tatreez and its role in Palestinian society, followed by a practical session, teaching participants how to embroider a Palestinian traditional pattern (Basic stitches on Aida fabric, the usual fabric to make frames).

All levels are welcome – no experience needed, just curiosity and care. Materials will be provided.

For full festival listings visit here

The full 2025 lineup has now been released with more information about the festival in both English and Arabic here.

 

 

 

A Carnatic Quartet – A Concert for Children and Families

 

 

An exciting introduction to the magic of South Indian classical music.

Join us for a special concert designed just for children and families, featuring the dynamic Carnatic Quartet – Shreya Devnath (Violin), Mylai M Karthikeyan (Nadhaswaram), Praveen Sparsh (Mridangam), and Adyar G Silambarasan(Thavil).

This interactive performance is a joyful, high-energy introduction to the fascinating world of Carnatic music. Expect stunning sounds, fun rhythm games, and plenty of chances to get involved – whether it’s clapping along to the beat or discovering how these powerful instruments work together.

Perfect for curious young minds, budding musicians, and anyone ready to be amazed, this is a rare chance to see four incredible artists bring music to life – up close and unplugged. Let the rhythms spark imagination and the melodies open up a world of wonder.

 

 

 

They Say It’s Our Birthday: Baked a la Ska

 

Today’s the day – it’s officially the Music Room’s tenth birthday! And what better way to celebrate this anniversary than with an all-out, irresistible party hosted by none other than Baked A La Ska – the incredible group who have brought so much fun and joyful energy to the venue over the years.  

With their annual Christmas show, and plenty of other visits besides, they’ve introduced us to vintage ska sounds and an eclectic platter of covers – and now they’re back, marking a decade of the Music Room with a specially-curated, never-before-seen show. In this very special performance, they’ll be sprinkling some ska dust on Beatles hits and rarities, and travelling through their own back catalogue, bringing you tracks from all five of their albums. Get ready for a real extravaganza, from one of the tightest rhythm sections in Manchester.  

Please note that this is a standing event. If you have any access needs, please contact the Box Office on 0151 709 3789.

 

One Night on Sugnall

 

Nurturing talent, giving a platform to local artists – roles that the Music Room has embraced over the past decade. As part of our celebrations, we’re welcoming back some of our city’s most exciting young stars – artists who have all risen up through the Music Room, and have each headlined their own show in the space. Come along as Ellis Murphy, Astles, MT Jones and Motel Sundown perform as you’ve never seen them before.

Please note that this is a standing event. If you have any access needs, please contact the Box Office on 0151 709 3789.

 

Hope St. Blues: Catfish Keith and Jo Harman with very special guest Connie Lush

 

Foot-stomping, heartbreaking, spellbinding – some Music Room legends return to sing the blues. On this tenth anniversary, the pioneering Catfish Keith makes his tenth appearance on our stage, and award-winning, best-selling blues/soul vocalist Jo Harman performs for us for the third time too. We’re also delighted to welcome back Connie Lush from retirement to perform a couple of songs. She was the artist who performed the very first test event at the Music Room’s launch and treated us to a Christmas residency in 2019. 

 

Daughters of Albion: O’Hooley & Tidow, Frankie Archer and Hannah Scott

 

A celebration of English Folk music.

The Music Room has always been a beloved home for folk music – and today we’re finishing our tour of Britain’s folk tradition by returning home to England. In two exciting shows, we’ll see female folk artists – both established stars and up-and-coming talent – come together on stage in inspiring showcases of the English folk genre, its history and its future too. Tonight, we welcome O’Hooley & Tidow, Frankie Archer and Hannah Scott back to the Music Room stage​.  

 

Daughters of Albion: Kathryn Williams and Sarah Smout

 

A celebration of English Folk music.

The Music Room has always been a beloved home for folk music – and today we’re finishing our tour of Britain’s folk tradition by returning home to England. In two exciting shows, we’ll see female folk artists – both established stars and up-and-coming talent – come together on stage in inspiring showcases of the English folk genre, its history and its future too.  This afternoon, we welcome Kathryn Williams and Sarah Smout.

 

Klezmer-ish – Celebrating 10 Years of Music and Memories

 

Thomas Verity clarinetConcettina Del Vecchio piano accordion/violinMarcel Becker double bassRobert Shepley guitar/violin

Klezmer-ish returns to the Music Room to celebrate a remarkable milestone — the 10th anniversary of both the band and this iconic venue. These special performances will be a vibrant celebration of nostalgia, joy, and musical magic. To mark the occasion, we’ll welcome back special guest artists who have collaborated with us over the years, while also showcasing the talent of new young performers, coming together to create a dynamic and exciting blend of sounds and styles.

 

Youth Company Celebrates 10 years of the Music Room

 

Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Session Band  Nadeen Kemp director 

Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Brass Band  Simon Cowen director 

Since 2015, the Music Room has been an invaluable venue for Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company, giving the region’s brightest young musicians a space to stage incredible concerts, and celebrate their talent and hard work. For our anniversary, we invited two of Youth Company’s stellar ensembles to come along and really put on a show. 

Both Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Session Band and Brass Band are no stranger to the Music Room – they have regularly taken to the stage over the years to sell-out audiences. This afternoon, hear the best of Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company’s contemporary and brass ensembles in an electrifying, high-energy performance of pop favourites new and old, and brass music that will bring the house down.   

 

Ensemble of St. Luke’s Celebrate 10 Years of the Music Room

 

Puccini CrisantemiBeethoven String Quartet Op.59 No.1, Rasumovsky

Ensemble of St. Luke’s:Alexander Marks violinElizabeth Lamberton violinRobert Shepley violaGethyn Jones cello

The Ensemble of St. Luke’s, who opened the Music Room back in 2015, return to celebrate the venue’s 10th anniversary with a programme that features one of the greatest and most influential string quartets of all time, and Puccini’s beautifully poignant Crisantemi.