JLS, Soul II Soul, Neil Young, Little Mix, The Christians, Connie Lush, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Eliza Doolittle, Martha Wainwright and Union J. All coming to a stage near you.
But is it really them, or are they all tribute acts? After all it is Liverpool, and it is August Bank Holiday.
Not a bit of it. As the Mathew Street Festival is banished to a delirium tremens treatment camp in the sky, the line up for the Liverpool International Music Festival is revealed
And this time they know its for real, even if some of it is X Factor real. Think Bryn Terfal and not Bryn Tefal.
Liverpool will “live up to its reputation as a leading music city, when it plays host to diverse global acts” it says here - with mayor Joe Anderson going further and saying it will rival the Edinburgh Festival.
Back to reality: Soul II Soul play Sefton Park
LIMF ( an acronym that looks better written down than if you try to say it) will see some pretty big hitters descend on the city from 18 August to 22 September. Much of it is TBC at the moment.
However, they haven't entirely thrown the baby out with the bathwater with the Mathew Street exorcism - there is still the shedload of Beatles related stuff that you have come to know and love - and you will have to stick your hand in your pocket to see some of it.
Here's the story so far.
Sefton Park
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On Friday 23 August the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and chief conductor Vasily Petrenko will perform.
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On Saturday 24 August the The Beatles Years will play host to acts covering music from 1962 to 1970. There will also be performances from up and coming artists from across the region.
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On Sunday 25 August a World Music focus will bring the sounds of jazz, reggae, folk, Latin and African to the park. Trinidadian Soca Megastar, Machel Montano will perform along with award winning British Indian singerNavin Kundra. There will again be music from the city’s up and coming acts.
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Monday 26 August ends on a high as Family Pop sees legendary act Soul II Soul, who have sold 6.8 million albums, wow crowds.
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Also on Monday 26 August, It’s Liverpool Legends of Liverpool will see The Christians headline alongside Connie Lush and Deaf School.
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Throughout the weekend there will be food stalls, a children's fairground and other family activities.
Pier Head
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On Saturday 24 August Turn Up the Radio will see some of the biggest names in music perform, including JLS, who are dropping in as part of their Farewell Tour along with Little Mix, Eliza Doolittle and Union J.
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Two stages will be in use on Sunday 25 August with a Party at the Pier themed day with well known artists organised by Juice FM performing alongside the likes of The Hummingbirds and Chelcee Grimes. And acts paying homage to artists such as Queen, Adele, Robbie Williams and Coldplay will also perform
Eliza DoolittleThe Sefton Park events are free, but the stages at the Pier Head are ticketed. Tickets for ALL the acts on Saturday will cost £20 per person, plus booking fee. On Sunday, entrance to both of the stages will cost £5 per person.
Also part of LIMF will be
International Beatle Week from 21 – 27 August organised by Cavern City Tours,
A fringe festival which will see more than 100 events taking place in pubs and clubs across the city.
The first ever Summercamp festival hosted by Camp and Furnace which combines top acts such as Ghostpoet and Martha Wainwright, on 24 and 25 August
The second Liverpool Music Awards.
Three events by internationally acclaimed opera and concert singer Bryn Terfel. The first is a night of songs from musicals on 9 September, the second and third will take place on 20 and 22 September with a beautiful performance of Puccini’s Tosca, with Vasily Petrenko as conductor. All these events take place in Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
The LIMF Academy which will work with and inspire young people who are interested in getting into the music business
More events are still being finalised with announcements to follow.
Yaw Owusu, curator, said: “The response from artists and music industry insiders has been fantastic – everyone has been keen to get involved in this new-look festival, working together to make it a success.
“Liverpool is synonymous with music – particularly great live music – and the LIMF programme will showcase the very best local and international acts have to offer which will be really inspirational for the thousands who take part in the event.
For full details of the line-ups to date and to buy tickets, visit here.
