Liverpool International Music Festival announces new dates for 2016

Fireworks bring LIMF 2015 to a spectacular close

As Liverpool International Music Festival announces a change in date, Getintothis’ Adam Lowerson has all the details.

Liverpool International Music Festival, which involves Europe’s largest free music festival at Sefton Park, have announced that the event will run on new dates from July 22-24 in 2016. In the past the festival has taken place over the August band holiday weekend.

The festival, which alongside the Summer Jam event at Sefton Park, also runs the a series of Commissions, which this year included shows at the Bluecoat, an evening with Lamont Dozier and a tribute to Gil Scott Heron. It has been announced that the theme for next year’s commissions will be ‘redefinition’, with more details to be announced in the coming months.

Speaking on the changes to the festival, LIMF curator Yaw Owuso said, “LIMF is an established event and people are used to it falling across the Bank Holiday Weekend.

“LIMF 2015 was the most successful to date, with over 160,000 revellers making the most of the five day festival. However, we believe we can better maximise the potential and impact of this event by moving dates – strengthening our position within the wider regional, national and international festival offer.

“The current quality of festivals across the UK is outstanding and LIMF has fortunately managed to improve its offer year on year. We’ve been really adept at showcasing the likes of Basement Jaxx, Labrinth, Damian Marley and Katy B in the past, alongside some really outstanding new bands and commissioned projects.

“We are focusing on quality, positioning, return on investment and driving visitors to experience our city, so this means the period we host the festival is vital. After looking at various dates, we believe the weekend we have chosen is ideal. What better way is there to kick start the summer holidays?”

Read our extensive coverage of LIMF 2015

LIMF Summer Jam 2015 was headlined by Basement Jaxx, Labrinth and Echo and the Bunnymen, and featured performances from the likes of The Real Thing, Space, Tea Street Band and Hooton Tennis Club.

LIMF has also been nominated for Best Family Festival at the UK Festival Awards.