Liverpool International Music Festival 2016 unveils first wave of acts with Sigma, The Wombats, Lianne La Havas & more

Posted on 26 January 2016
By Khyle Deen
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The sensational Liverpool International Music Festival (LIMF) returns for its fourth outing celebrating the city’s musical pedigree, diversity and heritage on a global scale.

Taking place from Thursday 21st – Sunday 24th July 2016, LIMF explores the theme of ‘ReDefinition’ with five commissioned projects and performances that are and have redefined music and popular culture.

These include a curated live show by BBC 6 Music’s Gilles Peterson called ‘From The Soul’; a celebration of Liverpool’s counter-culture over the last 40 years with ’76-16: From Eric’s To Evol’; and ‘House Nation’ where renowned Liverpool-based DJ and Producer Yousef will explore what defines house music in four international cities.

LIMF Summer Jam returns with a three-day FREE outdoor music celebration featuring its best line-up to date including Sigma, The Wombats, Lianne La Havas, Kwabs, Netsky, Ms Dynamite, Maverick Sabre, a very special Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Friday evening performance and much more. The recent national award winning LIMF Academy stage will return to showcase tomorrow’s stars, which alongside the ‘its Liverpool’ stage which showcases past, present and future homegrown talents, provides another reason why Liverpool has received the prestigious UNESCO City Of Music status in 2016. For the latest LIMF programme and to buy tickets for the LIMF Presents series please visit the LIMF website with more to be announced soon.

LIMF Summer Jam’s monumental music offering will be available for all to see for free, making it one of Europe’s biggest free outdoor events and an unmissable date in the diary for all.

LIMF Presents…’ReDefintion’
The LIMF Presents series is a showcase of artists, music and projects that have and are redefining music and culture. The commissions projects and performances will taking place during LIMF 2016 and include:

From the Soul (LIVE) – Thursday 21st July – 1900 – 22.00 – Music Room – Royal Philharmonic Hall – £26.40 (incl. booking fee)
Curated by 6 Music’s Gilles Peterson, LIMF explores the redefining sounds of British soul music over the past 30 years. The event will feature a special house band collaborating with some of the most important names in British Soul. The live event will be followed by an exclusive DJ led after party hosted and featuring sets by Gilles Peterson and Thris Tian (Boiler Room / NTS), which will bring 3 decades of Soul to the dance floor. Line up to be announced soon.

From the Soul (After Party) – Thursday 21st July – 2200 – 0100 – Buyers Club – Early Bird £13.20 (incl. booking fee), £19.80 thereafter.
Line up to be announced soon.

House Nation in association with Circus – Friday 22nd July – 1700 – 0000 – Sefton Park Palm House – £26.40 (inc. booking fee)

House music is truly a global phenomenon. In key cities around the world various dynamic producers are trailblazing a more progressive sound – redefining what you consider House Music to be. LIMF travels to three international music cities with Liverpool-based DJ and Producer Yousef as he immerses himself in those different scenes – returning home to make four records that reflect the sounds of those different cities and his hometown of Liverpool. The process will be documented, with both the music and shorts being released. The project will culminate in a special live show, in association with CIRCUS, at LIMF 2016. Line up to be announced soon.

House Nation (After Party) – Friday 22nd July – 0100 – 0400 – 24 Kitchen Street – Early Bird £13.20 (incl. booking fee), £19.80 thereafter
Line up to be announced soon.

76-16: From Eric’s To Evol (a celebration of Liverpool music’s counter-culture) – Saturday 23rd July – 1930 – 2300 – Liverpool Guild of Students – Early Bird till 1st March £19.80 (inc. booking fee), £26.40 thereafter
For the last 40 years the punk-indie attitude has been prevalent in Liverpool and has led to the creation of some of the most influential cultural movements the city has ever seen. These are movements that have connected not just with the people of Liverpool but with the world. LIMF showcases those key venues, artists and scenes. This is the inter-generational story of Liverpool’s underground music scene and how it has redefined itself in terms of music, fashion and popular culture over 40 years! Line up to be announced soon.

Music City: Reimagined – Friday 22nd July – 18.30 – 21.30 – Sefton Park – FREE
In 2015 LIMF focused on the influencing sounds that entered this City, this year LIMF showcases the defining songs that came from our city and impacted the world. The evening will see Liverpool’s no1 playlist performed by the spectacular Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

Roots, Rock, Reggae – Saturday 23rd August – 15.00 – 15.30 – Sefton Park – FREE
It has been over 50 years since Millie Small reached number 1 in the UK with “My Boy Lollipop”, and introduced Reggae to the British mainstream. Subsequently that first generation of settlers and their offspring carved out their own brand of reggae here in the UK and redefined the global image of the genre as a whole. From the birth of Lovers Rock, to the driving sound of roots reggae and the interpretation of vocal reggae, the British reggae sound added a considerable amount to the music scene. This project would see award winning BBC Radio DJ Seani B (himself a Grammy nominated Reggae producer) curate a collaboration between a host of British reggae artists. Line up to be announced soon.

LIMF Curator, Yaw Owusu comments, “LIMF continues to move forward in its ambition to be one of the most dynamic, diverse and inherently different festivals in Europe! Year four is all about us shining a light on re-defining musical moments and movements, as well as the artists that lead these! I hope that music lovers from anywhere and everywhere, of all ages and backgrounds, revel in a number of special experiences at LIMF 2016.”

Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, comments: “It’s clichéd, but this year really offers something for everyone – whether your musical tastes lie in pop, dance, indie or classical; established or emerging artists, LIMF caters to it all, ensuring that once again, it stands out as an incredibly diverse yet accessible festival.

“Each year the popularity of the event grows. Key players in the music industry are eager to be part of it, which goes to show not only its reputation for showcasing top acts but that the artists know they are going to get a warm welcome from our audience.”

LIMF is an inherently different festival representing the latest chapter of an ever evolving global music city. Presenting its most ambitious and vibrant programme to date, the fours days features a showcase of artists, music and projects that have and are redefining music and culture.

For the complete line-up and ticket information: http://www.limfestival.com/

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