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Liverpool International Music Festival is to return for a third year with a packed programme of events, culminating in a free show by Echo and the Bunnymen and the Philharmonic Orchestra in Sefton Park.

Taking place across Liverpool from August 27 – 31 2015, LIMF will play host to some of the biggest names in pop for Summer Jam, a three-day free outdoor bank holiday extravaganza on Sefton Park.

Headliners include Basement Jaxx, Labrinth, Katy B, Naughty Boy, Laura Mvula, and Becky Hill marking an unforgettable end to the summer season.

Kicking off Saturday's proceedings is veteran dance duo Basement Jaxx, responsible for hits such as Romeo and Where’s Your Head At?, supported by Garage legends Artful Dodger.

Sunday takes an urban pop flavour as singer, songwriter and producer Labrinth takes to the stage along with Queen of Dubstep Katy B. Joining them is the of the moment chart topper dance music vocalist and now solo artist Becky Hill, plus producer Naughty Boy who has been responsible for hits with Emeli Sandé, Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran.

The itsliverpool stage will celebrate local talent in the form of 1970’s soul group The Real Thing, up-and-coming Scouse Louis Berry, plus acts from LIMF’s very own music academy.

The three-day festival will also see other phenomenal Liverpool legends taking to LIMF’s main stage including, Echo and the Bunnymen performing live with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in their 175th Anniversary year.

British soul-singer Laura Mvula will also play along with Rae Morris and Bipolar Sunshine.

Representing the city are bands Space and Hooton Tennis Club.

There will also be four specially produced commissions including:

Routes Jukebox led by Grammy winning producer Steve Levine and BBC Radio 2’s Janice Long with filmmaker and photographer Mark McNulty, exploring the cultural impact of music from the Americas

The Revolution will be Live: A Tribute to Gil Scott Heron curated by Malik Al Nasir and Rich McGinnis and featuring veteran rapper Yasiin Bey aka Mos Def.

Next Stop New York

This series of events will explore the unique association between the city of Liverpool and Black American music, and its huge impact on the region and its people.

DJs Greg Wilson, Les Spaine, and long running hip hop crew No Fakin’.

This will be preceded by an exhibition in Liverpool city centre including Horace Panter of The Specials, and a party on the Friday night will be followed by a weekend of activity and exploration; featuring broadcasts, DJ sets, the Independent Record Label market (Monday), and interactive discussions and Q & A’s with key figures, including members of the Chants and the Real Thing, Bernie Connor, and original Cunard Yanks.

Global Roots International Mixtape

The Global Roots crew comes together to celebrate the sounds of the DJ’s mixing it up around the world. Thris Tian & Blackfoot Phoenix of NTS/Boiler Room invite their selector, DJ and A+R friends from across the Globe to make the ultimate mix – created in a relay style.

Some of the names involved in the project include Lena Wilikens– Comeme (Berlin); Hannah Faith – Soulection (London); Clap! Clap! - Black Acre Record (Toscana); Ebbo Kraan -Rwina Records (Amsterdam). The project will culminate in a live event that will be broadcast on NTS.

There will also be a partnership with The Bluebird at The Bluecoat Project – celebrating the special relationship between Nashville and Liverpool through the art of song writing, by bringing the world famous Bluebird Café’s Listening Room to Liverpool.

As part of the project two specially selected local songwriters were picked after the competition was launched in the Liverpool ECHO. The two musicians are in Nashville to write and perform with greats at The Bluebird as part of Tin Pan South songwriters festival, returning to Liverpool with key global figures to facilitate workshops and culminate in a live event at LIMF 2015 curated by Bob Harris.

There will also be a partnership event called The Record Producers Live In Liverpool with special guest record producer Lamont Dozier at The Epstein .

Steve Levine and broadcaster Richard Allinson present a Live version of their acclaimed and award winning BBC radio series The Record Producers.

This unique event will consist of an in depth analysis and discussion of rare archive & original session tracks of some of Holland-Dozier-Hollands’ classic recordings, including Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye. Lamont Dozier will talk about his songwriting and production career followed by a Q&A. LIMF is an inherently different festival representing the latest chapter of an ever evolving global music city.

Listings

The Commissions

Thursday 27th August The Revolution Will Be Live, St George’s Hall, Saint George’s Place, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 1JJ 6.30 – 12.30pm Tickets: Price TBC For more information: LIMFestival.com

Friday 28th August Routes Jukebox, The Epstein Theatre, Hanover House, 85 Hanover Street, Liverpool, L1 3DZ 7.30 – 11.30pm Tickets: £10 + Fees For more information: LIMFestival.com

Saturday 29th August Liverpool, Next Stop New York Launch Party, The Palm House, Sefton Park 8pm - 1am Tickets: FREE For more information see nextstopnewyork.org

Sunday 30th August Liverpool, Next Stop New York Interactive Weekend, The Palm House, Sefton Park 12noon-6pm Tickets: FREE For more information see nextstopnewyork.org

Global Roots International Music Mixtape, Palm House, Sefton Park 9.00pm - late Tickets: £10 + Fees For more information see LIMFestival.com

Monday 31st August Liverpool, Next Stop New York Exhibition, The Palm House, Sefton Park. Times TBC Tickets: FREE For more information see nextstopnewyork.org