What's on as Liverpool hosts first 'Music Month'

Liverpool, a UNESCO City of Music, has kicked off its inaugural Music Month, hoping to shine a spotlight on the artists and venues that have helped give the city its title.

Across the region, residents can expect live gigs, workshops and community activity to celebrate the city's "grassroots to global" musical offering, organisers said.

The events begin with the Sound City festival, which will include performances from artists including Jalen Ngonda, Keo and Kate Nash.

Councillor Harry Doyle said: "Our city is alive with music on any given day of the week, but this month promises to be an even bigger showcase of everything that makes Liverpool one of the greatest music cities in the world."

The four-week-long event is twinned with New York's own Music Month, already in its ninth year of running.

The month-long festivities will bring a host of international and regional, up-and-coming, talent to the stage with performances from Emmy Lou Harris, The Longest Johns, Kingfishr while James Morrison will perform as part of the Dark Reign Metal Fest.

In the city centre, the Liverpool Philarmonic will also open its doors for a flood of talent.

Top shows include the Roland Gift Presents Fine Young Cannibals, Max Cooper and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra's Celebration of the Beach Boys on 22 May.

Midge Ure's Band Electronica will perform at the hall on 9 May, while two days later British singer Maisie Peters will perform at venue Camp and Furnace.

Free events to dip your toe into include Brazilian drum group Katumba performing on 2 May from 15:00 to 15:30 GMT.

On 3 May, Blackburn rock band, Sky Valley Mistress will perform from 15:30 to 15:50.

Fans can watch the performance outside on Slater Street.

Wrapping up the month, Baltic Weekender is set to take over multiple venues across Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 May with a line-up of house music, disco, techno, bass, and grime sets.

Shira Gans, who founded the New York Music Month said she was looking forward to bridging the musical gap between the two cities.

"The ties between Liverpool and New York run deep and both have rich musical histories that continue to inspire generations," she said.

Doyle added: "We're honoured to be taking the baton from New York City and following in the footsteps of its incredibly successful music month, which has been a staple of its cultural calendar for the past nine years.

"Liverpool and New York already share such a special relationship, from our rich musical histories to our maritime connections, and we're looking forward to strengthening our ties even further through programmes like this."

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