CHIC and Nile Rodgers will headline Liverpool Music Week
Liverpool Music Week reveal disco legends CHIC as their headliners plus the first wave of bands is announced, Getintothis’ Peter Guy has the exclusive on the 15th anniversary billing.
Liverpool Music Week have revealed the legendary CHIC featuring Nile Rodgers will headline the 15th Anniversary of the festival.
CHIC will kick start the ten day Liverpool Music Week festivities with an opening party on October 26 at the Liverpool Echo Arena.
In what represents a significant coup for Liverpool Music Week, recently crowned metropolitan music festival of the year, this will be the first time CHIC have played the city in more than four decades.
The band, renowned for their factory of pop classics including We Are Family, Le Freak and Good Times, are famed for their live spectacles including their Sunday evening smash at this year’s Glastonbury Festival on the Pyramid Stage.
Band leader, Rodgers’ musical legacy is near unparalleled too; a multi-Grammy-winning composer, producer, arranger and guitarist whose influence on popular music transcends disco, funk, dance while permeating modern classics like Daft Punk‘s Get Lucky.
Liverpool Music Week festival director, Mike Deane told Getintothis: “It’s been quite the journey since starting Liverpool Music Week as a single venue venture back in 2003, but there’s no doubt that today is our single proudest moment as we announce CHIC and Nile Rodgers as our 2017 headliners.
“There aren’t many individuals in music who compare to their legendary status, importance and continued iconic relevance. We are utterly thrilled that both Nile and the band have agreed to join us this year.
“There really isn’t a live music show quite like CHIC, and we can’t think of anyone better to open this milestone year.”
[edit – August 1] Speaking on Twitter ahead of his Liverpool return, Nile Rodgers said: “This is the kind of show where we really get a chance to play so many songs it’s mind boggling. I can’t wait. CHIC says thx in advance.”
This is the kind of show where we really get a chance to play so many songs it's mind boggling. I can't wait. @CHICorg says thx in advance https://t.co/lI9B74V0Hy
— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) July 31, 2017
[edit – October 12] Nile Rodgers has cheekily whet the appetite of his many fans by inviting Sir Paul McCartney to join him at his Liverpool gig for Music Week.
Speaking on Twitter, Rodgers said: “Alright, alright we’ll play #Liverpool. Now will you do a show with us? I promise I know all your songs.”
Over to you, Macca…
Alright, alright we'll play #Liverpool. Now will you do a show with us? I promise I know all your songs@PaulMcCartney @nilerodgers @chicorg pic.twitter.com/CpR1hq3Tgg
— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) October 12, 2017
Also joining the bill on the first wave of announcements are London electronic duo Mount Kimbie.
Their date at the Invisible Wind Factory on Friday October 27 is the first date of their tour promoting forthcoming new album Love What Survives featuring the likes of King Krule and James Blake.
Motown-infused London quintet Childhood play The Buyers Club on November 1, indie darlings Gengahr play The Magnet on November 30 while New York’s hip hop artist Princess Nokia is also on the LMW bill on November 3 at the IWF.
Meanwhile, Japanese Breakfast, the solo project of Michelle Zauner of Little Big League, will play EBGBS on October 31. Zauner has released two studio albums, Psychopomp and 2017’s Soft Sounds from Another Planet.
LMW organisers have revealed this year’s closing party will take place on November 4 across three rooms at Liverpool Guild of Students with British grime MC AJ Tracey, acclaimed songwriter Perfume Genius and electronic artist Zola Jesus the first artists the first to be announced.
The closing party headliner is to be revealed in the coming weeks.
CHIC
Finally, Liverpool Music Week‘s Breaking Out series, which features the best in new music, will take place in the new home of EBGBS.
Brian Wilson, Scott Walker, The Gories and more legends featured in our live reviews section
Having previously hosted Let’s Eat Grandma, The Big Moon and Dream Wife, the 2017 edition is similarly impressive with the first acts announced including Girl Ray (Oct 30), Goat Girl (Nov 2), Spinning Coin (Oct 29), and Little Cub (Nov 1).
Liverpool Music Week runs from Thursday October 26 until Saturday November 4, 2017 across the city and as is customary will also feature the very best in Merseyside’s new music community.
Liverpool Music Week 2017
Editor’s comment: “When Mike Deane talks about the journey he’s been on while steering his LMW vehicle (and believe me, the festival is very much Mike’s baby) he’s unable to quite put into words what a rollercoaster of emotion, love and passion that goes into his project. He lives and breathes Liverpool Music Week. He ponders carefully over every aspect of the festival. The minutiae is everything. He cares about his staff, the artists, the venues, the structure, the artwork, the production, and everything else in between – but most of all he cares about Liverpool music’s community and how LMW fits into that. It’s why LMW is so well loved. This 15th anniversary festival billing says so much about what Mike has put into the festival – and I think Liverpool’s music community will see that shining through with ten quite magical days across Merseyside. Get ready for the Good Times… Aaahh freak out!” – Peter Guy
Further details and line up additions will be revealed in the coming weeks, with festival wristbands on sale 10am Thursday August 3.
CHIC tickets are: £40, £45, £55adv while £65 will allow a full LMW wristband giving access to all shows.
Tickets available from: www.liverpoolmusicweek.com
UPDATE:
Zola Jesus has shared a new video for her recent single Exhumed taken from her upcoming album Okovi, which is due September 8 via Sacred Bones.
As well as this, Zola Jesus will release her Stridulum LP on September 8, which collects the previously released Stridulum and Valusia EPs together as one volume.
Zola Jesus plays LMW closing party at Liverpool Guild on on November 4.
Check out our special Liverpool Music Week playlist for your listening pleasure.
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