THE PIER HEAD Village is due to return to the city this summer.
The three-month summer festival will open on June 30, and it’s expected to be bigger than 2016.
The event will this year be managed by Bold Management in partnership with Sound City, who in 2017 celebrate their 10-year anniversary.
The music festival brand will also be programming the first ever Sound City Bar. The bar will feature countless opportunities for new and emerging-local-talent, alongside some more well established bands and artists. Also confirmed, as media partners are Made in Liverpool and Global Radio’s Heart FM.
The Pier Head Village will officially open on Friday June 30 and will deliver a programme of world-class entertainment, locally-sourced street food and artisan markets, high flying thrill rides and activity based family entertainment, offering a complete day to night summer experience designed to entertain all ages.
Liverpool Art Fair at the Village will deliver a purpose -built art gallery on the Pier Head, which will showcase high quality affordable art from the region’s top artists.
Alongside the Sound City Bar, other new features for 2017 include The Village Beach Bar and Restaurant, by day a child-friendly hub and meeting point for all of the thrill rides and attractions on the north side of the Pier Head. Pre-sunset it switches to a chilled out sunset bar, with laid back beats, cocktails and a Mediterranean vibe until the sun goes down.
Weekends at the Village Beach Bar will be taken over by “Sunset Sessions”, curated by Impeccable’s Andy Carroll, for the first time Liverpool you will see the original and now legendary sunset DJs of Ibiza including Alfredo and Richard Norris – from noon till late every weekend throughout the summer.
Martin O’Shea, managing director of The Pier Head Village, said: “We piloted the Pier Head Village last year, with a very short lead in time, and are delighted to have been awarded the opportunity to return by Liverpool City Council. We are so passionate about our city and really want to bring the fun-filled family entertainment reminiscent of our favourite summer holidays as kids, while providing top quality, ultra-modern concepts for all ages.
I’m absolutely delighted to have secured the best possible production partners in Liverpool Sound City.”
Dave Pichilingi, festival director for Sound City commented:
“The Pier Head Village will be the longest festival we have ever curated and is the perfect next step as we celebrate our 10th birthday in the city. Martin and I, and both our respective teams are fully focused on bringing something really special and uniquely Liverpool to the Waterfront this year with art, culture – and of course music – at its heart. The Pier Head Village will totally set the mood for the summer and we are really looking forward to helping make it really special.”
Lucy Byrne, founder of Liverpool Art Fair commented: “We have long championed local artists and now we can give them a shop window on the waterfront to showcase their work to both local art buyers and international visitors, The Pier Head Village saw 650,000 visitors in it’s first year and we are excited to meet and talk to both enthusiastic art collectors and new buyers taking their first steps in to owning a one-off piece of original art.”
In the south side of The Pier Head Village, visitors will be able indulge in retail therapy in over 30
independent market stalls in The Artisan Village and Farmer’s Market, delivered by the Artisan Network, to sample locally sourced produce and street food, purchase fresh flowers and souvenirs seven days a week.
A collection of thrill rides is confirmed, only seen in the largest European festivals, these attractions will set the pulse racing like never before. Alongside the thrills is The Village Bounce, an inflatable village as well as crazy golf, the return of the Total Wipeout and the Rugged Warrior assault course.
The Pier Head Village will be announcing additional new features and its programme of events for 2017 in the upcoming months. The festival will run from June 30th until 10th September. For more information go to www.pierheadvillageliverpool.com or follow all of the updates with hashtag #PierHeadVillage
Key Dates:
June 30 – Sunset Sessions opening night with Andy Carroll and special Balearic Guests including Richard Norris and Nancy Noise
July 2 – Dance Competition with Morris Dancers from 30+ regional dance companies
July 9 – Dance Competition with Majorettes from 30+ dance schools
August 27-28 – Beatle Weekender August Bank Holiday Festival in partnership with The Cavern
Talent Competition Competitions all summer
