The line-up for this year’s International Mersey River Festival has been revealed with R&B legend Billy Ocean topping the bill.
The three-day event will run from 3 – 5 June and will also see headline performances from the Fun Lovin’ Criminals frontman Huey Morgan and Grammy award-winning group Soul II Soul.
Things get underway on the Friday with BBC Music Day – from 5pm, BBC Introducing will offer a platform for both emerging and established artists including Natalie McCool, The Sundowners, Claire Macloed, Cavalry, Tea Street Band, Louis Berry and Clean Cut Kid.
Graduates from last year’s Liverpool International Music Festival Academy have been given a chance to show off their talents with Volo, Jalen N’Gonda, Amique, Hicari and Harlem all taking a main stage slot on the Saturday.
Billy says: “I’m looking forward to coming to Liverpool next month to play at the International Mersey River Festival. Bring your dancing shoes and be ready to sing along to all my hits and more – It’s going to be a party!”
Councillor Wendy Simon, assistant Mayor and cabinet member for culture, adds: “ This is one of the strongest ever music line-ups for the festival, and just goes to show that thanks to the reputation and popularity of the annual event, music acts across a variety of genres want to be part of it.
“There is a real mix of household names, home grown talent and up and coming acts who will be taking to stages across the waterfront, catering to a wide variety of tastes – and best of all, it’s completely free.”
Last year’s festival brought thousands of visitors to Liverpool’s waterfront with tall ships, yachts and boats on display across the weekend alongside performances from Rebecca Ferguson, Sam Bailey and Collabro.
The full line-up for the main stage is as follows:
Friday 3 June – 5pm to 10.55pm
Huey Morgan
Clean Cut Kid
Louis Berry
Tea Street Band
Cavalry
Claire Macleod
The Sundowners
Saturday 4 June 1pm to 8pm
Soul II Soul
Gwen Dickey’s Rose Royce
Shola Ama
XamVolo
Hicari
Jalen N’Gonda
Halem
Ronnie Herel (DJ set)
Sunday 5 June – 1pm to 8pm
Billy Ocean
The Real Thing
Wack Pack
Terri Walker
Amique
The Ambition
Charlie C (local DJ)
