Liverpool Acoustic Festival takes over Hope Street next month

The annual Liverpool Acoustic Festival is set to return on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th March 2016 with a ‘free fringe festival’ programme sprawling out to venues all along Hope Street. 

Now in its third year, the festival has expanded out of Unity Theatre and Liverpool Philharmonic and onto the historic street in Liverpool’s cultural quarter, for what promises to be a fantastic event to kick off the festival calendar.

The festival boasts intimate live performances from some of the most highly regarded UK acoustic acts, including the award-winning Scott Matthews and British blues/rock heavyweight Marcus Bonfanti. The packed line-up also features Liverpool legends Ian Prowse, Ian McNabb, Tommy Scott and Paul Hemmings along with rising stars Robert Vincent, Gary Edward Jones, Stephen Langstaff and LIMF Academy award winner Eleanor Nelly in addition to over 50 up-and-coming Liverpool artists.

Scott Matthews

Other highlights include a specially commissioned piece 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. 

Ana Silvera

Renowned live music promoters Liverpool Acoustic and Mellowtone will programme two stages of eclectic acoustic music, including an all-female stage at Unity Theatre with live performances, Q&As and a seminar on women in music.

Finally the festival, sponsored by 60 Hope Street Group, will also play host to special guest events and masterclasses featuring some of the best musicians and music industry experts in the country. 

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.”

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 UK – 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