LIVERPOOL INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL WITH LIVERPOOL GIN CELEBRATED SELL-OUT SUCCESS

LIMF welcomed tens of thousands over the weekend and saw over 70 performances in Sefton Park across four stages including Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Sigma, Ella Eyre, Disco Classical with Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge, Nao and more.

Liverpool International Music Festival celebrated its seventh year with Nile Rodgers & CHIC, 3Beat @ 30 showcase including Sigma, M-22 and Geko, Ella Eyre, De La Soul, Disco Classical with Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge and many more. LIMF saw its Saturday sell out, cementing itself as a key cultural event and international platform for music in Liverpool.  

YAW OWUSU, LIMF MUSIC CURATOR, SAID:

“Our seventh year has been the most cohesive in our celebration of rich music history and representation of Liverpool’s next chapter as a music city. 2019 was a year for legends and legends in the making and attendees really came together to support that and enjoyed great music and performances in Sefton Park at LIMF.” 

WENDY SIMON, DEPUTY MAYOR AND CABINET MEMBER FOR CULTURE, TOURISM & EVENTS, SAID: 

“This weekend has surpassed our expectations and has been an unforgettable event appealing to audiences young and old. Saturday saw the main stage filled with an incredible mix of rising stars, current chart toppers and closed with a show-stopping set by the iconic Nile Rodgers & CHIC.

LIMF combines local talent with international megastars. When people buy a ticket to LIMF, they are supporting the next generation of artists and that is a wonderful thing.

Disco Classical with Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge was the perfect way to round up an unforgettable weekend as festival goers danced and sang-along to hit after hit. I’d like to thank the thousands of people that came out to support this incredible live music extravaganza and we look forward to seeing you in 2020!”

Representing the next chapter of a global music city, LIMF 2019 kicked off in style with local upcomer Raheem Alameen opening the Central Stage. His mix of R&B and Afrobeats set the audience up for the day, before further afternoon performances came from rising talent Sfven, Kara Marni and Merseyside’s MiC LOWRY.

Maverick Sabre treated the crowd to songs from his impressive back-catalogue, before East London rapper Yxng Bane took to the stage to play his dancehall remix of Ed Sheeran’s ‘Shape Of You’, amongst other fan-favourites. It wasn’t long before he was back on stage, joining the chart-topping Ella Eyre for an incredible rendition of their top 10 single ‘Answerphone’.

Saturday evening featured a full-on celebration of Liverpool’s rich musical heritage, with a showcase from Liverpool born music institution 3Beat Records, to celebrate their 30th anniversary at the festival. The set included some of their classic hits with guest performances by M-22, Geko and more, before Sigma returned to LIMF to ignite the audience with their platinum-selling hits.

It was Nile Rodgers & CHIC who stole the show, performing hit after hit from their incomparable 40-year career. Highlights included ‘Le Freak’, Nile’s Daft Punk collaboration ‘Get Lucky’, and closing track ‘Good Times’, which saw a disco party erupt on stage, complete with samba dancers and audience members pulled from the crowd.

NILE RODGERS TWEETED:

“Thx @limfestival for an unforgettable night. #liverpool was a total ?crowd. #goodtimes #dance #samba #twerking #hardcore @thechicorganization”

Jazzie B, Norman Jay MBE and Bobbito Garicia played the True School Club House stage alongside an array of classic talent, whilst Ace, Snoochie Shy and Kenny All-Star played sets of all things urban in The Shubz DJ Tent.

Sunday’s main stage saw trailblazing sets from soul wunderkind Grace Carter, who performed her impressive catalogue of self-penned hits, SG Lewis, who showcased a perfectly mixed set of eclectic electronic sounds, and the incredible NAO who brought her brand of silky smooth R&B to Sefton Park, playing a set packed with gems including ‘Complicated’ and ‘Bad Blood’.

SG LEWIS SHARED ON INSTAGRAM:
«So many great memories in this city ?Big love to everyone at @limfestival»

Hip Hop living legends, platinum album selling and Grammy winners, De La Soul were introduced to the stage by Tony Bellew and shook the ground with their extensive back-to-back of huge global hits, featuring surprise special guests Talib Kweli and Black Sheep. The weekend was closed out by a once-in-a-lifetime performance from Disco Classical with Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge. Revellers across the park were witness to a disco spectacular, with ‘We Are Family,’ ‘He’s the Greatest Dancer’ and more, complete with an orchestra and light show.

Across the park at The Shubz DJ Tent, Manny Norte, Sian Anderson, Robbo Ranx and more played sets, whilst LIMF Academy alumni Pizzagirl, Sub Blue with Deliah, Gazelle and more played the Music City Stage which also featured the first UNESCO City of Music collaboration at LIMF.

A festival for the whole family and perfect for children, the LIMF Family Zone featured a retro time machine disco caravan; The Boogie Wonder Van, dance classes with House of Suarez, storytelling, a badge making pop-up with Tate Liverpool, street theatre performances and face painting.

The LIMF VIP area, which sold out in advance of the festival, was soundtracked by an all-female DJ line up and featured its own private Liverpool Gin bar. LIMF also featured its biggest ferris wheel to date which overlooked the mainstage.

Tate Liverpool made a statement at LIMF. On-site was the unmistakable work of the late Keith Haring. Haring’s notable ‘The Matrix’ design wrapped an entire Arriva bus which held talks for 16-25 years olds giving them the opportunity to sign up to the Tate collective scheme, which entitles them access to exhibitions and events.

LIMF Music Curator Yaw Owusu joined the talks and praised the work that they are doing to raise the profile of the Tate and also for involvement with art in the region.