Smithdown Weekender returns this May Bank Holiday Weekend for another unforgettable 4 days of live music, arts and DJ's

FROM Friday, 3 May to Monday, 6 May 2024, the weekend remains completely free, giving local and upcoming acts the opportunity to perform to full crowds, alongside some great local established acts.

A range of styles and acts will perform in venues stretching from:- Penny Lane to Gainsborough Road, with main stages for bands located in the Handyman Bar and Brewery. A reunion with Tramp Attack and Strange Collective will throwback to the original Smithdown Festival, along with more recent favourites including Mamadou and the Lekette, and the Liverpool Indie Choir complimenting debutants such as:- Me and Deboe.

It's not just bands though, and further down the road, Black Cat will have a range of incredible singer / songwriters performing during the day. And when the sun goes down, there'll be DJ's to take audiences into the early hours - with the Queensway Collective DJ's taking over the Friday, night slot; a unique and inclusive organisation providing a platform for underrepresented groups in the electronic music scene.

Kicking off the Monday, tradition, the Hangover Quiz will be followed by a stage takeover from local Americana Act Motel Sundown. Heading towards the Penny Lane end of Smithdown, there'll be Bean There with:- 'Alter Egoes' a spoken word night hosted by:- Plazzy Bags. In between:- Frank's, The Beeswing, Nomad and Big Lola's have yet to announce their programme of events.

This time next year, Smithdown Road Festival will be 10 years old, so keep a look out for news, as the festival returns bigger than ever before, with family-friendly areas created to celebrate an event that throughout the years has seen acts including Space, Craig Charles and Kraft Kuts.

Although free in each venue, donations will be taken for:- 'The Whitechapel Centre,' which is a charity that has supported the event since day 1. If you are unaware of this amazing charity, The Whitechapel Centre is the leading homeless and housing charity for the Liverpool Region.

For more information on line up and venues check out:- SmithDownWeekender.Com, and follow the event on:- Facebook and Instagram.

Your chance to help protect the future of the Mersey Estuary

KNOWSLEY Safari and Mersey Gateway Environmental Trust are inviting wildlife lovers, of all ages and abilities, to a free family friendly BioBlitz, taking place at Spike Island in Widnes, on:- Saturday, 27 April 2024, from:- 11am to 2pm. The BioBlitz event forms part of the City Nature Challenge, an annual, global community science competition to document urban biodiversity.

There is no requirement to book and the fun event will see participants become:- 'nature detectives' during an interactive team effort to spot as many creatures as possible in and around the Mersey Estuary, from to bugs and birds, to plant and mammal species.

Knowsley Safari and Mersey Gateway Environmental Trust experts will be providing advice and tips during the BioBlitz, including how to record wildlife sightings using iNaturalist; an app which enables millions of conservation keen people around the world to identify and log native plants and animals.

Phil Blackburn, Conservation Engagement Coordinator, Knowsley Safari, says:- "The Bioblitz is a fun and educational way to gain insight into the wildlife on our doorstep. Adults and children alike will enjoy this real scientific experiment, where findings are analysed by conservation experts. We hope as many people as possible come and share the experience of this environmental scavenger hunt, while connecting with nature."

Stephanie Harrison, Conservation Officer, Mersey Gateway Environmental Trust, says:- "The Mersey Estuary is a biodiversity hotspot, rich with native wildlife. Whilst it's important we preserve the natural environment of this special landscape for future generations, we should also have fun, spending time outside and learning new things. The Bioblitz means we can do all those things."

For further information about the Mersey Gateway Environmental Trust please visit:- MGET.Org.UK and you can also follow them on social media using:- @mgenvtrust.

For further information about Knowsley Safari's commitment to conservation, please visit:- KnowsleySafariExperience.Co.UK.

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