LightNight Liverpool reveals full 2019 programme

LightNight Liverpool has revealed its full programme of events giving culture fans a peek at what they can experience during next month’s event.

The late-night arts festival – which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year - takes place on Friday, May 17 at 50 locations across the city centre.

Seven new commissions, exploring the festival theme of ‘ritual’, will be showcased at various locations, including a stunning immersive sound and light installation which will take place in the commuter tunnel at Moorfields Station as part of arts organisation Bido Lito’s 100th anniversary celebrations.

The work, developed by artist Sam Wiehl with an accompanying soundtrack mix by Forest Swords, will encourage the public to consider a creative future based on Artificial Intelligence.

Meanwhile Ad Finitum: The Invisible Choir & Death Café is an atmospheric concert featuring eclectic and dynamic new choral arrangements by composer and musician Rory Ballantyne.

The concert, in Liverpool Cathedral’s Lady Chapel, will be followed by a Death Café where audiences are invited to share and discuss their perspectives on death in a friendly and informal setting - with cake.

Bido100 and Merseyrail present RITUAL 2.0

And The Great British Baraat will see Movema, Milapfest and the Bombay Baja Brass Band join forces for a joyous celebration of the ritual of Indian marriage in a unique mass street-dance in Church Street.

This year’s LightNight includes 100 mostly free events across areas from the waterfront to Baltic Triangle, city centre, St George’s Quarter and Hope Street.

The various geographical locations are all connected by Merseyside Transport Trust's special LightNight Bus which runs at regular intervals between 6-11pm.

Between 5.30pm and 10pm, Liverpool Arab Arts Festival and Liverpool Arabic Centre are inviting visitors to drop into a traditional Arabic ‘Living Room’ situated within the splendour of Liverpool Town Hall.

Celebrate the differences, and commonalities, of domestic life in Western and Middle Eastern cultures with traditional Arab hospitality including music, storytelling and Yemeni biscuits and tea (until 8.30pm).

Liverpool Town Hall

Meanwhile Victoria Gallery & Museum hosts a Cave Rave where visitors can immerse themselves in the mysterious ritual culture of Stone Age people. Lanterns will light the way into an atmospheric ‘cave’ dwelling where you will be invited to join the tribe and be led through an initiation ritual by a shaman.

Make your own cave art on the recreated cave wall using the oldest known natural pigment in the world, ochre.

St George’s Hall is hosting one of the seven LightNight commissions, as well as events like a Big Brass Singalong at 7.45pm when Liverpool Walton Band and the Salvation Army invite people to join in with tunes from Amazing Grace to Sweet Caroline.

Programmes of performances and events take place in venues including Liverpool Central Library, Tate Liverpool and various LJMU and University of Liverpool buildings throughout the evening, while the Bombed Out Church will become a food hub with live music.

And there’s Donna Summer Fever at Constellations in Greenland Street as artist collective Projectile Vomit draw on the traditions of the old Gaelic festival of Beltane, one of four seasonal festivals which traditionally took place between the spring equinox and the summer solstice, to create a ‘made up pagan ritual for the modern day’.

Liverpool LightNight takes place on Friday, May 17 from 5pm until late. Pick up a £3 guide from city centre arts and cultural venues or visit the website HERE