14 reasons why you should book your tickets for LIMF 2022

LIMF is back and this time it’s heading straight for Liverpool City Centre with a huge lineup of musicians playing venues across town

Only a few weeks until one of Liverpool’s biggest music festivals comes back, with a new format and a massive line-up of big name artists and breakthrough talent.

Instead of the previous multi-stage Sefton Park set-up, this year LIMF will be across around 25 different venues in the city centre as the festival aims to help their recovery after the pandemic.

There’ll be a mix of ticketed and free events on over three days, from Friday July 29 to Sunday July 30. If you haven’t sorted your tickets for LIMF 2022 yet, here are 14 reasons why you should …

Reggae pop legends UB40 feat Ali Campbell are headlining

UB40 have had an incredible 50-plus singles in the UK charts including hits like Red Red Wine, (I Can’t Help) Falling in Love With You and their version of I Got You Babe in a career that’s spanned the very late 70s to now. They’re playing the Arena on July 29 with guests ASWAD, Liam Bailey and Robbo Ranx.

It’s a chance to see De La Soul

De La Soul in NYC

If you love old school American hip-hop then this is going to be a classic one – New Yorkers De La Soul are the absolute masters and, after a date/venue change, they’ll be at the Exhibition Centre Auditorium on July 31 playing with a full live band (which will be amazing!) also guests including Liverpool’s No Fakin DJs & the incredible Kojey Radical.

And Liverpool favourites The Zutons

Scouse indie rock favourites The Zutons have got a pretty busy summer of festivals coming up, but before that they’re back home for a special LIMF date at Camp and Furnace on July 31, heading up an amazing all-dayer, 1pm to 10pm, featuring Red Rum Club.

The Voice of M People Heather Small is at Arts Club

Heather Small

Heather Small’s got one of the most recognisable vocals over the past couple of decades, with hits like Proud, Search for a Hero, Moving on Up and One Night in Heaven. See her perform all those and more live at the Arts Club on July 31 with House Gospel Choir supporting.

Relieve one of Liverpool’s great club nights

Return to the Timepiece at District on July 29 will resurrect one of Liverpool’s legendary venues – the Timepiece club on Fleet Street which, back in the 70s, was the first club in the city to be dedicated to playing RnB, soul and Motown. DJ Les Spaine, who worked at Motown, will be back with Ben Osborne.

There’s a fascinating live panel discussion 

LIMF has partnered with BOLD and JMU to explore links between music, art, fashion and activism using Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing as the basis. There’ll be panel discussions on July 30, 1-6pm, at JMU John Lennon art & design building then on Sunday live performances at District by hip-hop duo Children of Zeus, Grammy-winning jazz duo Blue Lab Beats and reggae-soul artist Aleighcia Scott.

See new talent for free

LIMF Academy Presents is taking over Kazimier Stockroom on Saturday and Sunday from 12 til 6pm for free gigs, no need to book.

Hosted by Radio Merseyside’s Jade Burns, artists include Jalen N’Gonda, Ni Maxine who just played a great set at Africa Oye, Dayzy and Superlate.

Heartless House Party at 24 Kitchen Street

Another great venue and another great line-up, on Friday at Kitchen Street there’s Heartless Crew with Shola Ama, Shortee Blitz, Scott Garcia and DJ Cali, on 9pm til late.

Catch four acts fresh from Glastonbury

If you didn’t manage to get a ticket for Glasto you can still catch four artists who performed there on the LIMF line-up – Kojey Radical is guesting with De La Soul, Cuppy is at District on July 30, She Drew the Gun and Big Joanie are with The Zutons at Camp and Furnace.

System by Gaika at IWF

Invisible Wind Factory always does something a bit different and for LIMF it’s got System by Gaika for one of only a really limited number of UK appearances, on Friday with special guest Marcellus Pittman.

LIMF Presents … The Shubz for under 18s

Young music fans get LIMF Presents … The Shubz, a dry bar event at District on July 30 for 14 to 18-year-olds, from 6pm to 10pm. The line-up features BBC Radio 1Xtra DJs including Kenny Allstar, Sian Anderson and Cuppy alongside DJ Kizzi playing the best in grime, hip-hop and drill.

Legendary DJ Greg Wilson’s doing at after-party at The Merchant

Everyone knows after-parties can be the best, and this one’s definitely going to be a good one – the legendary Greg Wilson, one of the biggest names in dance music DJing, returns to The Merchant on Saturday night for a very special after-party from 10pm til late – and it’s free, no booking needed.

You’ll be giving our music venues a boost

Picture – Academy Group

We loved the old park format, but this new one means the gigs aren’t all in south Liverpool, they’re across the city centre and sharing the love between lots of different venues so everyone gets to benefit after a tough couple of years.

It’s on the same weekend at Pride – so it’s going to be a huge one

What’s better than having one big festival in the weekend? Having two on the same one. LIMF will be all across the city centre from Friday to Sunday and Pride is going to be at the Pier Head on the Saturday so the atmosphere in Liverpool that weekend will be unbelievable.

Find out more and book your tickets now – www.limfestival.com