THERE is not much point doing the Leaving of Liverpool thing this weekend if you are into ships, shanties and sailors.
You might as well belt out the tune with some burly men in jumpers down on the docks as the mercury rises just in time for the return of the Liverpool International Mersey River Festival.
Tens of thousands of people will once again beat the now familiar path to the the waterfront for one of the city’s most popular annual events which begins on Friday (June 5) and runs until Sunday.
Rebecca Ferguson, Craig Charles broadcasting live on BBC radio, helicopters, air displays, tall ships, yachts, canal boats and raft races. Then there’s the International Canoe Polo Tournament, street theatre and military tanks.
Add on the first ever Northern Boat Show and the first ever BBC Six Music Day. It’s all on the bill and and 99 percent free.
You can even join the Armed Forces if you get really carried away.
The Northern Boat Show is billed as “a stunning line-up of power boats, cruisers, narrow boats and sail boats exhibited featuring some of the biggest and most popular brands in the marine world”. The land-based part of the exhibition is free but there will be a £5 entrance fee for the pontoon access.
Music on the Waterfront, which this year is working in partnership with the Albert Dock, has three stages – Pier Head, tMann Island Basin and the Hartley Quay Stage on board Tall Ship Morgenster.
The music kicks off on Friday as the city plays host to the first BBC Music Day. The Main Stage will see BBC Radio 6Music DJ Craig Charles bringing live music starting from 4pm and running until 11pm. He will be joined by special guests throughout the set.
Saturday’s Main Stage, from 1-8pm, is hosted by Smooth Radio and includes acts such as Collabro, Sam Bailey, David Gest and Kym Marsh. Ian Prowse will take to the Tall Ship stage and Liverpool Signing Choir will perform at Mann Island Basin.
Sunday’s Main Stage from midday to 7pm, has home grown talent as the theme, so that’s Rebecca Ferguson, The Hummingbirds and KOF. Mezzo-soprano Danielle Thomas and the Royal Marine Band of Scotland will perform on the other stages which will see acts on there from midday to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.
For full details of the programme, visit www.liverpoolonthewaterfront.co.uk.
Friday 5 June
Main Stage:
4pm: Resonate and LIMF commissions
5pm: LIMF showcase
6pm: BBC Introducing New Mersey Sounds
8pm – 11pm: Craig Charles Funk & Soul show on 6 Music
Saturday 6 June
Main Stage:
1pm – Hannah Boleyn
1.25pm – Lee Broderick
1.50pm – Kristyna Myles
2.15pm – Beatie Wolfe
2.40pm – Leddra Chapman & Lee Broderick
3.10pm – Alistair Griffin
3.40pm – Thea Gilmore
4.10pm – Diane Shaw & Jo Lloyd
5.05pm – David Gest & Kim Marsh
5.50pm – Nell Bryden
6.25pm – Kenny Thomas
7pm – Sam Bailey
7.40pm – Collabro
Tall Ship Stage:
12.00pm - Sail Trainees from Dublin
1.30pm Irish Dancers
1pm - Gerry Murphy
2.45pm - Irish Dancers
3.30pm - Chris Boland (Irish Festival)
4pm - Ian Prowse
Mann Island Basin Stage:
12.30pm - Naimh Jones
1.15pm - Liverpool Signing Choir
2.30pm - Resonate
4.15pm - Formby Brass Band
Sunday 7 June
Main Stage:
12pm - The Ambition
12.30pm - Paddy Clegg
2pm - Scally Wag
3pm - Connie Lush
4pm - The Hummingbirds
5pm - Acer Murphy
6pm - KOF
7pm - Rebecca Ferguson
Tall Ship Stage:
1.00pm - Tom Spence
1.45pm - Mark Pountney
2.30pm - Angel and Ebony
3.30pm - Danielle Thomas
4.00pm - Victoria Sharp
Mann Island Basin Stage:
12.00pm - Sing me Choir
1.00pm - Royal Marine Band
2.15pm - Skylights
3.15pm - Choral Pavilion Choir
4.15pm - Formby Brass Band
