A free live music street party weekend is returning to the Baltic Triangle

A free all-day live music street party is returning to the Baltic Triangle this April.

Balticfest will feature performances and DJ sets, open mic, record fairs, a makers’ market and B-sides party over the weekend of April 25-26.

Now in its fifth year, Balticfest is the biggest it’s ever been, covering more venues and with a wider events programme focused on supporting grassroots culture in the city.

Festival organiser Ivan Thunders says it’s become known for creating a fabulous atmosphere right across the Baltic area, on or around Jamaica Street.

He said:

“There are so many places in a small area, and our venues are all five minutes walking distance from each so you can walk from one end of Jamaica Street to the other and you hear great music blasting out.

“Whether you want to come and join or you’re just going from A-B, you get to enjoy a really good vibe.”

The first Balticfest launched just after Covid, when some restrictions were still in place.

Ivan explains:

“We started in 2021 in the middle of the pandemic when no-one was making any events and we found a little gap. We thought we could do things low-key with social distancing but still let people enjoy themselves in the middle of that crisis.

“Everyone loved it, we had an art exhibition and some live music outdoors only, and it worked really well.

“We kept going every year and adding to it, this year Half-space which is a new café in the Baltic, got in touch and wanted to get involved.

“I was thinking we should have a makers’ market at some point so it just fitted the bill for that. It will be quite small and boutique, with a mix of creative things like artwork, knitting, and clay artwork, and all the traders are very excited and looking forward to it.”

As well as live music at Lost Art and Hobo Kiosk, and open mic at Dorothy, there’ll be DJ sets outside 92 Degree Coffee and the Duck and Swagger pub at The Baltic Hotel on Jamaica Street and indoors at Half-space on Norfolk Street.

Ivan will be one of the DJs playing at 92 Degrees where he first helped to launch Coffee and Turntables.

“I’ll be back at 92 where it all started, back in 2018 before Balticfest, that’s where Coffee and Turntables was born so every year we make sure to return.

“We always say, ‘create your own culture’, and I think we really did,” he adds. “We created something new that’s truly grassroots and that’s lasted.”

The Liverpool Psychedelic Society is again curating live music for Balticfest, with artists at Lost Art (Sat 25 & Sun 26 from 5pm-late) and Hobo Kiosk (Sun 26 from 5pm-late), plus Open Mic at Dorothy on Sat 25 – everyone welcome, from 12pm-4pm.
There’ll be open-air DJ sets from 11am-5pm on Jamaica Street – outside 92 Degrees Coffee and The Baltic Hotel, as well as indoors at Half-space on Norfolk Street.
Balticfest will bring a pop-up record shop experience to the Baltic Triangle, with a vinyl record fair at 92 Degrees on Sat & Sun, and at Dorothy (Sun only).
Coffee and Turntables B-Sides Party returns to Hobo Kiosk on Sat 25, from 7pm-late. It’s a unique and fun vinyl listening party … and anyone is welcome to bring their vinyl.
New for 2026, a makers’ market featuring handmade clothes, artwork and more will be at Half-space on Norfolk Street so you can get shopping and support local, creative traders.