LIMF Supplement Liverpool Echo 01 09 2015

LIMF

Liverpool international music festival hailed a triumph after thousands flock to park for weekend of entertainment

The fireworks finale last night at the Liverpool International Music Festival Picture: IAN COOPER

2 ECHO TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

Sunset Sons keep the crowd happy

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Final festival

Hooton Tennis Club got the audience moving

Space played the final day

Echo and the bunnmen bring the day to a triumphant end

Grace Hartrey entertains from the bandstand

Pacific were playing on day three

Ian McCulloch, of Echo and the Bunnymen, lights up the stage

Pictures by Ian Cooper, James Maloney, Gavin Trafford and David Munn

ECHO 3

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

LIMF 2015

day ends on high Laura Mvula

A skater in the half pipe at Sefton Park

Gemma Kelly, Frida Stuart, 16 months, and Kenny Stuart take shelter from the storm

4 ECHO TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

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Artful Dodger was on the main stage

LIMF

Becky Hill was a hit with the crowd

Festival T brings city together

By JADE WRIGHT ECHO What’s On writer

jade.wright@trinitymirror.com @JadeWright

DJ Liam Hincks on the decks

THERE WAS Something for everyone at PARK’S sOARAWAY MUSIC SPECTACULAR, says jade wright Conrad Sewell on day two

Food, glorious food was on show at the festival as well

hey came. They saw. They partied. Bands from across the musical spectrum got families up and dancing across five days of the Liverpool International Music Festival.

From The Revolution Will Be Live at St George’s Hall on Thursday through to Echo and the Bunnymen and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s spectacular finale on Monday night, there was something for everyone.

Thursday also saw The Record Producers Live In Liverpool, with special guest Lamont Dozier at The Epstein Theatre. Producer Steve Levine and broadcaster Richard Allinson presented a live version of their acclaimed and award-winning BBC radio series, The Record Producers. Lamont, a third of Lamont-Dozier-Holland, talked about his classic recordings, including Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye, with a Q&A. Friday saw Routes Jukebox at the Epstein, looking back at the key influ-

ECHO 5

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

Kaleem Taylor

LIMF

Emma Williams, James Warburton, and Amanda Holnman, from Kirby Millers Running Club

India and Isla Leung-Vaughan jump for joy

encing records that came to Liverpool from the US after World War II. Special guests included Dave McCabe and the Ramifications, The Farm, Chris Difford of The Squeeze, Ian Prowse, Steve White, Martyn Campbell and Richard Naiff.

The free element Summer Jam ran from Saturday and the crowds were out in force for the first night. organisers said it was the biggest first night of the festival so far, with more people in Sefton Park on opening night than last year or the year before, with around 40,000 jubilant music fans.

Director of culture Clare McColgan said: “This is unprecedented for the opening night. It’s a lovely feeling of being part of the last blast of summer for Liverpool.”

The crowds started to arrive long before the first act began at 5pm, with families enjoying picnics in the sunshine.

Sunday saw the live music step up a notch, with the introduction of three more stages to accompany the action on the main stage.

More than 60,000 people saw Labrinth, Katy B and Naughty Boy headline the Central Stage, with sets from local acts on the itsliverpool

Stage, up-and-coming talent on the Academy Stage, and traditional park entertainment at the Bandstage Stage.

There was a tribute to Cilla Black, and all female artists, in the form of Herstory on the itsLiverpool Stage.

Big In Japan singer and culture expert Jayne Casey took to the stage to sing in public for the first time in 30 years, belting out Woody Guthrie’s All You fascists Bound to Lose, with some altered lyrics for Liverpool. The event featured an all-female in-house band specially put together for the event, alongside the Sense of Sound Singers.

Families picnicked in the park, with some even bringing tables and chairs to enjoy the show in comfort.

The Palm House hosted Global Roots International Music Mixtape, which explored international electronic music from Lagos to LA via London.

Over at District in the Baltic Triangle, there was SA to UK: Activism in Arts Live, where soul-singer Roxanne L Jones and rapper Merki Waters performed alongside singer-songwriter Tresor and vocalists Shaimag and Siphokazi.

Claire McColgan added: “I’m so delighted at the way Liverpool residents and visitors have taken this event to their hearts. This is only year three, but it’s already an event people have in their diary and it has become a staple summer event.”

The festival finished with a bang as the sky lit up with pyrotechnics after Echo and the Bunnymen finished their set with a stunning Ocean Rain.

LIMF music curator Yaw Owusu said of the event: “I think 2015’s Liverpool International Music Festival has really made a statement about this city’s love, ambition and relationship with music. Without focusing on numbers - which were unprecedented – it is clear this statement has resonated with the people of Liverpool and beyond. The quality, breadth and quantity of the music offer really reflects what we are about at LIMF. “Particularly, I am really passionate about continuing to push boundaries with the Commissions, the Academy and Partnerships - surpassing existing expectations and winning new audiences. But, most of all, we will continue to improve on this event year on year, uniting people in their love for music”

Naughty Boy behaved himself

Zak Abel

Photographs by David Munn, Gavin Trafford and James Maloney

6 ECHO TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

Jack Robinson with Annie McDermott

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60,000 people park for a night Cody Burns with Ellie Wright

By JADE WRIGHT ECHO What’s On writer

jade.wright@trinitymirror.com @JadeWright

REVIEW

Labrinth Sefton Park

T

ime was when record producers were shadowy figures sitting behind mixing desks twiddling knobs and making the artists sound better.

Even the famous ones weren’t going to be pin-ups – Phil Spector or Brian Eno anyone?

But not any more.

Now it seems they’ve jumped out from the studios and are taking centre stage at stars in their own right.

Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, Mark Ronson and Kanye West have all made the leap from backroom boys to bona fide pop celebrities.

It was fitting then that Labrinth headlined the second night of Liverpool International Music Festival, following last night’s Basement Jaxx festivities.

Having co-written and produced Tinie Tempah’s Brit awardwinning debut single, Pass Out, while still in his teens, Labrinth showed that he knew a hit single when he saw it.

He followed up with a clutch of his own, making his name as one of the most successful artists on the UK urban scene.

There was a chill in the air as he took to the stage, the last heat of the day ebbing away.

But he got the crowd up and jumping, firing in a couple of big up tempo numbers.

He called out to all the Scousers in the crowd his pronunciation making clear that he’d just learnt the word - and they shouted back, clearly pleased he’d made the effort.

It was a big crowd, with 60,000 or so, and hearing them sing in unison was a powerful thing.

Labrinth seemed to love every minute, and the crowd even forgave some “new material”, which only served to lengthen the queue for the bar.

As the set drew to an end, he shouted “I love you Liverpool”.

Judging from the response, it seems the feeling is mutual.

Pictures by David Munn, Ian Cooper and James Maloney

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

News / LIMF

e pack into to remember Labrinth performing at the Summer Jam, while Katy B, below, was also a headline act

Alesha Dixon thrilled the crowds

8 ECHO TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

@LivEchoNews Steven Ierston takes shelter from the rain

News

Picture: GAVIN TRAFFORD

And here’s the best of the best

■■Routes Jukebox at the Epstein, Friday Part gig, part history lesson, Routes Jukebox looked back at the key influencing records that came to Liverpool from the US after World War II, inspiring pioneering movements from Merseybeat to Doo Wop to Rock n’ Roll.

Musically directed by Grammy award-winning producer Steve Levine and presented by BBC Radio 2’s Janice Long, it had performances from Ian Prowse, Natalie McCool, Terri Walker, Christopher Ellis and Jalen Ngonda, backed by an all-star band comprising Paul Weller’s drummer, Steve White; bassist Martyn Campbell, of the Lightning Seeds; and The Waterboys’ Richard Naiff on This was a band you’d expect to see Men last December, and released down the road at Creamfields, not at their debut EP, The Show, in May, keys. There were also sets from a free council event in the park. which reached number one in the Chris Difford and The Farm.

RnB charts after heavy support ■■Louis Berry on the itsLiverpool from BBC Radio 1Xtra Introducing, ■■Artful Dodger on the Central Stage, Sunday who made it their track of the week.

Stage, Saturday Louis Berry, just 23, is a relative Artful Dodger was a massive newcomer on the Liverpool music ■■The Real Thing on the crowd favourite, drawing out every scene. A chance conversation led to itsLiverpool Stage, Sunday oooh and ahh as he coaxed the a meeting with a producer that led The name was given to the group audience to chorus every line back to a studio session that led to a by their mentor and manager Tony to him. Never afraid to try band. Having only been singing and Hall, as they were about to perform something new, he covered Oasis writing songs for the last couple of on the hugely popular Opportunity singalong Wonderwall, a risky years, he signed a publishing deal Knocks talent show, with its strategy, but the crowd loved it. straight after his explosive debut presenter Hughie Green. He wasn’t gig for BBC Introducing. happy with the present one, Vocal ■■Basement Jaxx on the Central Perfection. Tony noticed a CocaStage, Saturday ■ ■ MiC Lowry on the Central Stage, Cola sign blinking and suddenly he Saturday night headliners Sunday had his name - The Real Thing.

Basement Jaxx had pulled in an Vocal harmony group Mic Lowry impressive crowd, the biggest the ■■Herstory on the itsLiverpool event has seen for an opening night, have had a great year. This cheeky bunch of Liverpudlian RnB fans Stage, Sunday possibly bigger than we’ve seen at have quietly been building an talented all-female collaboration any of the days in the three years impressive fan base for their live Herstory stole the show it’s been going. shows, having first got together at particularly with a guest As the sun went down and the school.

Their vocals won them a appearance from Big in Japan supermoon rose behind the stage, MOBO Unsung award and they have singer and culture champion Jayne Basement Jaxx kicked off their set been backed by BBC Introducing in Casey, singing in Liverpool for the with party anthem Good Luck, to Liverpool. They toured with Boyz II first time in 30 years. massive cheers from the crowd.

jade wright picks out her top 10 performances from this year’s festival She joined the fabulous Sense of Sound choir, fronted by Jennifer John.

■■Labrinth on the Central Stage, Sunday There was a chill in the air as he took to the stage, the last heat of the day ebbing away. But he got the crowd up and jumping, firing in a couple of big up-tempo numbers. It was a big crowd, with 60,000 or so, and hearing them sing in unison was a powerful thing.

Labrinth seemed to love every minute, and the crowd even forgave some “new material”, which only served to lengthen the queue for the bar. As the set drew to an end, he shouted “I love you, Liverpool”.

Judging from the response, it seems the feeling is mutual.

■■Bipolar Sunshine, Central Stage, Monday Liverpool Hope University graduate Bipolar Sunshine was glad to be back in his adopted hometown.

He’s played some great gigs here,

becoming a Liverpool Sound City favourite - and this show at LIMF was no exception, despite some issues with the weather.

■■Echo and the Bunnymen on the Central Stage, Monday Formed in Liverpool’s golden Eric’s era, Echo and the Bunnymen brought their own brand of psychedelic new wave and penchant for military overcoats to the masses. They defined the sound and atmosphere of the early 1980s with their combination of primal guitar, pulsating bass and Doors-esque bittersweet lyrics.

Now inspiring a new generation of music lovers, Ian - Mac to his mates - remains ever youthful and unfeasibly cool, and the band’s name has become a cultural marker, a shorthand for a sound which has generated a thousand imitations.

■■Which were your favourite acts of the festival? Tweet your pictures, thoughts and mini reviews to @echowhatson

Jen Abrahim, left, and Josie Whyatt, right, together with their pet dog, Ginger

Picture: James Maloney