Fantastic festivals coming to Liverpool during 2022
Liverpool is known as a festival city, and despite the challenges and uncertainty of the last two years festival organisers have continued to run fantastic programmes – both in person and online.
That is no exception as we head in to 2022, with a number of major events already in the diary including the return of the Liverpool International Jazz Festival, Sound City, Africa Oyé and International Beatleweek.
Meanwhile annual festivals like WoWFest, Liverpool Irish Festival, Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, Homotopia, Liverpool Literature Festival and more are also expected to return with exciting programmes during the year.
Music, art, theatre and the written and spoken word are all represented in a festival scene which attracts local, national and international audiences to the banks of the Mersey.
Here’s what is definitely firmed up festival-wise so far for 2022 – ongoing pandemic depending of course.
Liverpool International Jazz Festival – February 24-27
The Liverpool International Jazz Festival is planning to return this February after a hiatus caused by you-know-what, and it’s promising the most multicultural programme yet.
The festival takes place at the Capstone Theatre at Hope University’s Everton campus.
The Camilla George Band, Duology and the Xhosa Cole Trio are among the line-up for the four-day event.
More details HERE
Futurama – April 16-17
New Model Army, The Skids and The Chameleons are among the line-up for this two-day festival at the Invisible Wind Factory on the North Docks this spring.
Meanwhile Peter Hook and the Light will perform Joy Division’s set from Futurama 1979.
Futurama is billed as a ‘utopian festival for dystopian times’, and a celebration of the original, independent ethos and inventiveness of post-punk music past, present and future.
More details HERE
Smithdown Festival – April 28-May 2
South Liverpool’s business and community-driven Smithdown Road Festival has become a firm favourite in the calendar since it started.
And now it’s back for another weekend of free music and entertainment at venues in the Smithdown Road area.
Meanwhile Sefton Park Cricket Club is the location of an open-air festival stage and general festival fun.
Sound City – April 30-May 1
Sound City celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2022.
The festival takes place at city centre venues and aims to capture the vibrancy of Liverpool with established names performing alongside a constant stream of local, national and international emerging talent.
And music festival bosses have already revealed some of the line-up with headliners The Lathums and Self Esteem, joined by The Royston Club, Yard Act and Alfie Templeman to name only a few.
If that wasn’t enough, Sound City is also organising a David Bowie fan convention in Liverpool from June 17-19.
More details HERE
Africa Oyé – June 18-19
Liverpool’s Africa Oyé returns to Sefton Park this summer to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
It is the first time since 2019 that the Oyé will be held at the park following a two-summer hiatus due to the ongoing pandemic.
The free weekend festival, running on June 18-19, will form the heart of a year long programme of anniversary events.
The festival was founded in 1992 as a series of small gigs in the city centre and has grown into a major event which attracts around 20,000 festivalgoers to Sefton Park each year as well as the cream of global music talent.
More details HERE
Brazilica – July 9-10
It appears at the moment that Liverpool’s samba carnival – the only one in the UK – is pencilled in to take place on the weekend of July 9-10.
The festival is a celebration of all things Brazilian, from music and dance to food and film, and also includes a carnival queen competition.
At its heart is a Rio-style carnival samba parade which winds through the city centre.
Liverpool Pride – July
Liverpool Pride organisers have pledged the usually annual event will return in summer 2022 after two years of cancellations due to Covid.
Thousands of people usually take part in Pride which includes the Pride March through the city centre.
The event is usually held on the closest weekend to August 2 in commemoration of Michael Causer, a young gay man who was murdered in the city in 2008.
Keep up to date with plans HERE
LIMF – July 29-31
Liverpool International Music Festival returns for 2022, but with a new look and a new location.
The popular music festival is promising an inspiring programme of unique music performances and collaborations which will pay homage to Liverpool’s status as a UNESCO City of Music.
Details on the venue and who is appearing are yet to be revealed.
Let’s Rock Liverpool - July 30
Love the 1980s? Then Wavertree is the place to be this July with the return of Let’s Rock Liverpool – the ultimate celebration of the decade’s great music.
This year’s stellar line-up includes Human League, Billy Ocean, Belinda Carlisle, Level 42, Nick Hayward, Go West and Johnny Hates Jazz to name just a handful.
The festival takes place on Wavertree Playing Fields.
More details HERE
International Beatleweek – August 24-30
After going online in 2020, Beatleweek returned to city venues last summer and organisers Cavern City Tours will be hoping for some sense of normality to have returned by the late August bank holiday week this year too.
Headliners and special guests are yet to be announced, as are any themes – but given 2022 is the 60th anniversary of the Fab Four’s first chart success and inaugural LP, there’s a good chance they will both feature in the programme.
Keep up to date with International Beatleweek plans HERE
River of Light – October 21-November 6
The third edition of the city’s River of Light festival is expected to attract tens of thousands of people to the Liverpool waterfront this autumn.
A series of stunning illuminated installations will form a trail along the River Mersey and in the city streets beyond its banks.
The theme of the 2022 event is Unexpected Twist, giving a nod towards the World Gymnastics Championships which will be held in the city at the same time.
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