Easter, St George's Day and a bank holiday weekend - it's a cracking month ahead
BLACKPOOL PLEASURE BEACH | SOUTH SHORE | 2 APRIL - 27 NOVEMBER
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. With 10 rollercoasters here there’s something for everyone, including the UK’s first double launch roller coaster, ICON, the classic Big Dipper, Valhalla and the Revolution. Guests can turn their world upside down on Infusion and experience the thrills of the bobsled run with Avalanche. Visitors wanting something a little more sedate can enjoy Nickelodeon Land, the River Caves, Alice in Wonderland and the world’s first Wallace & Gromit ride, Thrill-O-Matic.
Ocean Boulevard, Blackpool FY4 1EZ (Advance e-tickets start at £35 for children under 12 and £40 for adults and 12+ from Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
EASTER EGG HUNTS | SPEKE HALL | 11-18 APRIL
Treat your little ones to a world of adventures at Speke Hall on the Easter adventures in nature trails. Trail packs cost £3 each and are filled with fun activities. Once you've finished, collect your Rainforest Alliance chocolate egg or an allergen-free alternative at the end (where available). You don't need to pre-book, just turn up and get ready to explore Speke's garden and woodland. We reckon this will be just as much fun for the accompanying grown-ups.
JACK & THE BEANSTALK | EPSTEIN THEATRE | 13 - 24 APRIL
The rags to riches story of a boy who sells the family’s cow for a handful of beans, getting him into a lot of trouble with his poor mother. Join Jack on his gigantic journey up the beanstalk as he discovers geese with golden eggs, a magic harp, and a close encounter with a very hungry giant. But he’ll need to tread carefully as the villainous Mrs Fleshcreep is hot on his heels, determined to stop him in his tracks.
85 Hanover Street, Liverpool, L1 3DZ (Tickets priced from £14 at Epstein Theatre)
KUNICHIKA: JAPANESE PRINTS | LADY LEVER | 15 APRIL - 4 SEPTEMBER
This stunning new exhibition of prints by Toyohara Kunichika (1843-1900) is an exciting follow up of the gallery’s 2017 popular exhibition Edo-Pop. Born in Edo (present day Toyko), Kunichika was one of the most important 19th-century printmakers in Japan. Kunichika embraced modern subjects and his prints reflected the great social and political change in Japan at the time. Drawn from a private collection this exhibition is a must-see and the first outside Japan to focus on the work of Kunichika.
Port Sunlight Village, Wirral, CH62 5EQ (Pay what you think your visit was worth, more info at National Museums Liverpool)
EASTER AFTERNOON TEA | ST LUKE'S | 16 APRIL
St Luke’s Bombed Out Church and Cuthberts bring you an eggstravagant afternoon tea event complete with magic from Michael Wolf. Enjoy a glass of bubbly on arrival, with a sensational selection of sandwiches, cakes, and Easter decorated themed desserts. Scones, clotted cream and a selection of tea comes courtesy of Liverpool Tea Warehouse. Booze hounds will be happy with gins from Liverpool Gin Company and Turncoat plus further spirits, wine, and beer.
Leece Street, Liverpool, L1 2TR (12:30pm, tickets £12.50 children, £32 adults from slboc.com)
MAKING IT | ROYAL COURT | 20 - 30 APRIL
Backstage in a faded Liverpool social club, seasoned cabaret diva and aspiring actress, Bev, prepares for her final ever gig. While she awaits a life-changing phone call, Bev takes us on a hilarious journey through her rollercoaster of a career, introducing some weird and wonderful characters on the way. Starring Catherine Rice and Andrew Schofield, this comedy two-hander lifts the lid on the world of show business, shines a spotlight on fame, and asks what "making it" really means.
1 Roe Street, Liverpool L1 1HL (Tickets from £12 at Royal Court)
ENGLAND & ST GEORGE | ST GEORGE’S HALL | 24 APRIL
Not actually on St George’s Day, but we can’t think of a better way to celebrate the patron saint than with the St George’s Hall Orchestra. Edward Peak and the orchestra in residence, L'Orchestra dell’Arte, take to the Concert Room for a celebration of the St Georges and the very best of English music. Featuring the work of Elgar, Sullivan, Handel, Delius, Parry and Vaughan Williams. Special guests are the St Peter’s Singers.
Saint George's Place, Liverpool, L1 1JJ (3pm, tickets £17.50 from eventbrite. To encourage young music lovers under the age of 16, tickets will be available at the door on concert day for £8)
LIVERPOOL AGAINST RACISM | BALTIC TRIANGLE | 24 APRIL
More than 40 music artists and DJs will take to stages in the Baltic area of Liverpool in a show of unity against racism. Featured venues are Camp & Furnace, District and 24 Kitchen Street. The Christians, The Farm, Låpsley, John Power, Zuzu and MiC Lowry headline. Music pioneer Greg Wilson will take to the decks, as will Les Spaine who has been labelled as the most important British club DJ of the 70s, along with Liverpool-favourite Norman Killon. Rapper Koj and poet Levi Tafari are also set to perform.
Baltic Triangle (Tickets cost £5 per person per venue and can be purchased from the official Liverpool Against Racism site)
GAME CHANGERS | EDGE HILL UNIVERSITY | 26 APRIL
Meet four remarkable women in sport - Simone Magill, Everton and Northern Ireland footballer; Sue Smith, Sky Sports pundit and ex-England football international; Dawn Airey, chair of FA Women’s Super League and Channel 4; and Zainab Alema, pioneering rugby player and activist. The free event will feature a panel discussion about their inspiring journeys, experiences in life through sport, the current state of play and what they think the future holds for women in elite sport, followed by a Q&A.
The Arts Centre, Edge Hill University, (12.30pm, free entry, tickets from Edge Hill)
METRONOMY | O2 ACADEMY LIVERPOOL | 27 APRIL
Metronomy’s career-changing album The English Riviera is ten years old and to celebrate, the band have re-issued their much-loved album with previously unreleased bonus tracks. Through the tumultuous ebb and flow of the years, Metronomy continues to endure, and Joe Mount’s ability as a songwriter, arranger and producer shines through on the new album, Small World. The indie pop collective take to the road on the "Metronomy Forever" tour.
11-13 Hotham St, Liverpool L3 5UF (7PM, tickets £27.75 at O2 Academy)
KAVIRAJ SINGH | THE CAPSTONE | 28 APRIL
The "Music for the Mind & Soul" concert series is a flagship of Milap's performance work - an enchanting musical experience providing audiences with a window into Indian arts and culture. The first concert of 2022 features Kaviraj Singh, Kirpal Panesar & Milap's artist-in-residence Kousic Sen. Singh brings a fresh blend of modern British culture and classical Indian tradition to his music. Raised in a musical family, he showcases the beauty and intricacy of the Santoor; one of India’s most treasured stringed instruments.
17 Shaw Street, Liverpool L6 1HP (Tickets from £5 at TicketQuarter. A number of free tickets are available to those on minimum wage, email info@milap.co.uk)
FESTIVALS
WATERLOO BEER FESTIVAL | OLD CHRISTCHURCH | 29 APRIL - 1 MAY
100 real ales, ciders and perries available from microbreweries all around the UK. An indoor gin garden boasting an array of boutique gins, spirits, wine and prosecco. Food from Peninsular Pies. What’s not to love about this popular annual event? Entertainment includes live music, but if you prefer to sip your beers in peace then Friday daytime's “music-free session” is the one for you.
Waterloo Rd, Waterloo, L22 1RE (Day tickets £5 - £10 from eventbrite)
LIVERPOOL DISCO FESTIVAL | CAMP & FURNACE | 30 APRIL
The legendary Incognito are celebrating 40 years in the game with their new commemorative compilation featuring collabs with some of the planet's finest artists such as Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Jocelyn Brown and Carleen Anderson. Incognito’s 10-piece band will be performing all their hits plus classics from some of their favourite disco and jazz-funk artists. The LDF line-up also includes Kings of Tomorrow, Dimitri from Paris, Tama sumo b2b Lakuti, and more.
67 Greenland Street, Liverpool, L1 0BY (Tickets £18/£30/£40 from eventbrite)
SOUND CITY | VARIOUS VENUES | 30 APRIL - 1 MAY
The place to discover your new favourite band, Liverpool Sound City brings some of the most exciting breakthrough artists to this urban festival. This year’s line-up includes Self Esteem (pictured), The Lathums, Alfie Templeman, Yard Act, Everyone You Know, The Reytons, Matilda Mann, The Royston Club, Abbie Ozard and loads more.
Various venues (Day tickets £29.50, weekend tickets £55, from See Tickets)
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