We all love Liverpool but what does Liverpool love?
A question asked by Josh Boyd, Managing Director or Orb CIC and the inspiration behind a new festival launching this summer called “Liverpool Loves”. From morning raves to Irish inspired parties, it plans to celebrate the best the city has to offer. It sounds as if there is truly something for everyone in this attempt to capture the Liverpool spirit and turn it into a huge celebration. We met up with Josh to find out why the people of Liverpool should be excited by this. Hold on to your neon, it is time to party.
In your own words, what is “Liverpool Loves Festival”?
Liverpool Loves is a massive celebration that takes place at the Pier Head from 6th – 8th August and showcases the best of our city region under four core themes of Business, Culture, Food and Wellbeing.
It’s been dubbed as “The People’s Festival” – we’re employing locally, contracting local companies wherever possible and all profits will be reinvested back into a start up fund for aspiring local business people. It’s hugely exciting for the city – a festival that’s a must-attend, created for Liverpool, by Liverpool.
Sounds great, what can people expect over the few days?
On Thursday 6th August we’re holding a business event with a difference with some fantastic key partner organisations. We’re putting people at the heart of the event – with a series of seminars and networking events that focuses on the needs and wants of small business owners and entrepreneurs.
On Friday 7th August we’re hosting an event under the title “Liverpool Loves Ireland”. It’s a ticketed night that brings a whole host of amazing acts together for a raucous gathering of Ceili music, dancing, food and Guinness. Lots of surprises for this one!
For Saturday 8th August people can expect a real festival atmosphere down on the Pier Head, which features an exciting cultural programme that’s jam-packed with a brilliant music programme curated by Bold Management, street theatre, art, comedy and more. It’s all free for people to come along and celebrate their city region with us. We’re championing independents for Liverpool Loves Food so there’ll be a great offer of street food and local restaurants, a producer’s market, loads of local craft beer, cocktail specialists and anything else in between. There are some big Independent Liverpool favourites here. This is a festival that has something for everyone, so the “Liverpool Loves Wellbeing” programme brings together a host of exciting activities for all the family. With morning raves from Morning Gloryville to chill-out sessions with Bikram Yoga as well as loads of things for kids to get involved with.
What was your inspiration for this?
We’ve created and worked on some fantastic projects over the years – setting up Liverpool Pride in 2010, co-creating Brazilica Festival and working to re-brand a food and drink festival called Farm Feast, on the Wirral last year. Liverpool is renowned for its amazing events and festivals and we couldn’t be more proud to be from here.
Personally, we wanted to create a festival with the essence of what we’re truly about. A one-stop shop experience of our passion, personality and dynamism as a people. We also wanted to establish a platform for businesses, arts and culture organisations and unsung heroes to get on board and promote what they do under one giant Liverpool umbrella. It’s a going to be great!
Do you hope for this to be a yearly thing?
This is definitely going to be an annual affair. We’re looking for local organisations that want to get involved to contact us about opportunities with Liverpool Loves. It’s an open door and there’s still loads of ways people can join in.
We’ve had an unbelievable level of support for this and now it’s over to the people to shout about this festival, come along on the day and get behind our city.
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