River Festival sails back into city
• New-look River Festival returns next month
• Soul Queen Beverley Knight to perform at free concert
• Inaugural visit of Queen Elizabeth Cruise Liner
• RAF Flypast on Sunday 11 September
One of the UK’s biggest maritime festivals returns to Liverpool next month.
The full line-up for River Festival On the Waterfront has been revealed with highlights including a FREE outdoor concert by the UK’s Queen of Soul, MOBO award winner Beverley Knight MBE. The singer will be performing some of her much loved tracks including ‘Shoulda Woulda Coulda’ and ‘Greatest Day’, along with tracks from her new album ‘Soul UK’. The concert will take place at the Pier Head on Saturday 10 September at 7.30pm.
The week long celebrations take place from the 8 – 15 September 2011 and will be kicked off in majestic style with the inaugural visit from the new Queen Elizabeth cruise liner. A beautiful fireworks display will mark its departure at 8.50pm on Thursday 8 September. The largest transatlantic ocean liner in the world, Queen Mary 2, will sail into Liverpool’s cruise liner terminal for the day on Thursday 15 September, and again a fantastic fireworks display will signature its departure at 10pm.
From 8 – 10 September eleven tall ships, including ‘The Phoenix’ which was featured in an episode of Dr Who, will grace the Mersey giving visitors the opportunity to experience life on board. There will also be a chance to meet a young sailor from 100 years ago as he unpacks his sea chest.
The Waterfront will also come alive with aerobatic displays, stunning street theatre, a bistro village, colourful bunting, and rustic farmers market - all adding to the bustling atmosphere across the Albert Dock, Pier Head and the Cruise Liner Terminal, bringing a taste of New York to the third On The Waterfront programme.
Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for culture and tourism, Councillor Wendy Simon, said: “The Mersey River Festival was always hugely popular, and attracted hundreds of thousands of people every year.
“Since the last festival took place in 2005, our iconic waterfront has been transformed and is now looking more majestic than ever and the river festival will be a great occasion to showcase it to visitors from all over the world.
“This year’s event will be just as popular as it has something to suit all tastes, from soul music to sailing! In July, the opening of the Museum of Liverpool and the Reflection on the Waterfront event attracted tens of thousands of people to the Pier Head and I’m sure we’ll see just as many people out celebrating the return of this much-loved festival.”
The new look festival will also have an added element of glamour and excitement as the city hosts the finale of the P1 SuperStock Championships. The Race to Liverpool will take place on 10 and 11 September and will see brand new racing boats hitting the River Mersey.
Other watersports on offer include wakeboarding, canoeing and on 10 and 11 September the historical diving club will be on hand at the Albert Dock giving an in depth demonstration of diving equipment throughout the ages. Other nautical surprises include performances from the sea shanty singing Pirates of Menspants, the Bathing Belles Betty and Flo and an illuminated lobster!
Saturday’s concert, featuring Beverly night, isn’t the only musical offering taking place over the weekend. On Sunday 11 September sit back and enjoy the sounds of the Mersey with Beatles tribute band, Made in Liverpool. Sunday will also see performances from Liverpool Shanty Kings and the seventy strong Liverpool Community Choir, who will be entertaining audiences with songs from the 1920s up to the present day.
To see the full programme visit www.liverpoolonthewaterfront.co.uk
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