The annual music festival takes place on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th March 2016 at Unity Theatre and Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room and a ‘free fringe festival’ programme sprawls out to venues all along Hope Street for what will be a captivating and inspiring event to kick off the festival calendar.
Now in its third year, the festival has grown out of Unity and onto the historic and unique street in Liverpool’s cultural quarter, and boasts intimate live performances from some of the most highly regarded U.K. acoustic acts, including the award-winning and acclaimed Scott Matthews, British blues/rock heavyweight Marcus Bonfanti, Liverpool legends Ian Prowse, Ian McNabb, Tommy Scott and Paul Hemmings along with rising stars Robert Vincent, Gary Edward Jones, Stephen Langstaff, LIMF Academy award winner Eleanor Nelly in addition to over 50 up-and-coming Liverpool artists.
Other highlights of the festival include a specially commissioned work inspired by former Hope Street resident Adrian Henri. Liverpool I love your horny handed tons of soil by Lizzie Nunnery, Vidar Norheim and Martin Heslop will form the centre of a Phrased & Confused stage (Friday night) fusing music and spoken word. Other artists appearing as part of P&C stage include Ana Silvera, Mark Grist and Hollie McNish. Renowned live music promoters Liverpool Acoustic and Mellowtone will be adding thier considerable knowledge to the proceedings with Mellowtone running one of the fringe stages at 92 Degrees Coffee whilst Liverpool Acoustic is moving up to Unity 2 to join forces with Liverpool Live TV to host top acoustic musicians performing in an intimate ‘in the round’ setting. On the Friday they have got Dominic Dunn, Karen Turley, and a late lounge style session with Joe Topping. Saturday sees Caroline England, Niamh Jones, Maria Silker, and Roxanne de Bastion joining the fray with live performances, Q&As and a seminar on women in music. Finally the festival will also play host to special guest events and masterclasses featuring some of the best musicians and music industry experts in the country. The festival is kindly sponsored by the 60 Hope Street Group.
Paul Dunbar, Festival Director said about the festival, “I’m so excited for the festival this year, it’s our third time out and it seemed the logical step to push out of the walls of Unity and onto Hope Street, bringing a bigger offering of acoustic music to the city and a great vibe and buzz around and along Hope Street. All the acts are amazing and I can’t wait for all venues to showcase the incredible talent that Liverpool has to offer. Enjoy!”
Matthew Linley, Artistic Director and CEO of Unity Theatre added, “The Acoustic Festival was one of the first things I witnessed when I first arrived in Liverpool last year. Lots struck me – the fantastic music, the huge potential of the festival and the warmth and friendly nature of the vibe. So it’s incredibly exciting to see the festival spread out this year from its natural home of Unity, and, via our friends at Liverpool Philharmonic, out and across what is one of the most extraordinary streets in the U.K. – Hope Street”
Richard Haswell, head of programme Liverpool philharmonic said, “The opening of The Music Room means Liverpool Philharmonic has a great opportunity to work with artists and festivals in Liverpool in a whole new way. It’s great that the festival is embracing the whole of Hope Street and we are delighted to be playing our part.”
Passes for both days or single days are available to purchase via the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall’s Box Office on 0151 709 3789 or online via www.liverpoolphil.com
A full lineup and festival schedule will be published closer to the event at www.liverpoolacousticfestival.co.uk.