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City Showcase Festival
Hailed Huge Success And Will Return In 2016
LIVERPOOL Loves has been hailed an
unprecedented success by organisers, attracting crowds of 27,000 visitors over 3
days of the inaugural festival.
The exciting weekend of activity took place at Pier Head Liverpool, set against
the stunning backdrop of the Three Graces; which forms part of the City's
prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Liverpool Loves was made up of 3 key events to celebrate all that is great about
this magnificent City:- Liverpool Loves Business, Liverpool Loves Ireland and
the headline event, Liverpool Loves festival day.
The event was the brainchild of Liverpool based Orb CIC, who have a strong
proven track record in staging major City events and festivals. Festival Director Josh Boyd from Orb CIC
commented:- "Liverpool Loves was borne from the idea that this City is
forward thinking, independent, and so unique to this country. It's a City that
continues to pioneer in all aspects of life; people, business and culture, and
we wanted to create a festival to represent the entire spectrum. The festival
became the perfect vehicle to showcase just how much the destination has to
offer. Liverpool Loves is for Liverpool, by Liverpool.
Each of the 3 days were testament to the bold, ambitious nature of this
City. Liverpool Loves was the 1st large scale, not-for-profit, public festival
run by a Community Interest Company (CIC). And it achieved exactly what we set
out to do; championing independent businesses, social enterprise, arts and
culture groups, grass roots talent, communities, and charities."
Liverpool Loves Business, on Thursday, 6 August
2015, officially launched the festival
at the Cunard Building, one of the iconic Three Graces. Themed seminars,
discussion panels and free business advice provided opportunities for business
owners and professionals to develop skills, connect with other entrepreneurs,
and inspire independents. A total of 16 sessions featured more than 30 speakers.
The business event attracted 700 delegates and hosted 18 exhibitors.
Liverpool Loves Ireland, on Friday, 7 August
2015,
welcomed over 400 concertgoers to a show at the Pier Head featuring traditional
music and dance. 6 acts from Liverpool and Ireland highlighted links between the
City and the Emerald Isle. The event was hosted by Liverpool historian Frank
Carlyle, headlined by Cream of the Barley, and featured Eleanor McEvoy, who has
the best selling Irish album in Irish history.
Liverpool Loves festival day, on Saturday, 8 August 2015, was the highlight of the
weekend, when the Pier Head was transformed into a dazzling landscape of colour
and entertainment. A family friendly programme spanning 12 hours included an
array workshops; music and dance performances; health and well being activities;
and festival food and drink; keeping 25,000 visitors entertained throughout the
day.
Liverpool's fascinating and diverse world
culture was represented through traditional dance, music, and art with
performers representing the communities of China, India, the Middle East and
Brazil with dragon dancers, Bollywood demonstrations, Arab Arts, and Brazilian
samba drum ensembles.
Martin O'Shea from Bold Management and BBC Radio Merseyside's Dave Monks curated
the soundtrack for the festival's Main Stage, whilst the Dovedale Social and
Merseyrail Sound Station provided a host of fantastic grass roots talent across
two further stages.
Organisers Orb CIC worked with over 35 organisations and contributors to deliver
Saturday's packed programme. More than 200 other businesses were represented on
the day through crafts, food and drink, and over 50 bands/artistes performed.
The festival gained huge levels of support from key partners in its inaugural
year, including The North West Fund and Campanile Hotels UK, part of Louvre
Hotels Europe. Backing also came from a range of further partners including
Mayor Of Liverpool Joe Anderson, It's Liverpool, Big Lottery Fund, Health @
Work, Mitchell Charlesworth, MSB Solicitors, Click Connect, Love Food Hate
Waste, Richmond Fellowship, Shelter, and Legacy Liverpool.
Josh Boyd added:- "We are overwhelmed by
the level of support given to Liverpool Loves in its 1st year; not only from
our sponsors, partners and contributors, but the support from the general public
has been fantastic. Attracting 27,000 visitors is no mean feat for any event, so
we cannot thank you all enough for making this festival your own.
Over £70,000 worth of work was awarded to local organisations and more than
680 local people were employed to work on Liverpool Loves as a direct result of
this investment. We have joined together as a City region to celebrate Liverpool
and in doing so we've shown the rest of the UK, and indeed the world, that this
is the place to work, live, laugh and love.
Watch this space for announcements about a bigger and better Liverpool Loves
2016, as well as a few surprises in the lead up to next year's event; 12 months
is a long time to wait! This is 'The Peoples' Festival' for Liverpool, by
Liverpool."
Keep up to date with the latest announcements at:-
LiverpoolLoves.Co.UK. Follow us on Facebook/Liverpool Loves
and Twitter @LiverpoolLoves.
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