The Jackson's to star in new look Mathew Street Festival
Local stars like Holly Johnson and the Lightning Seeds also on the bill
The Jacksons will play at the Pier Head as part of the new-look Mathew Street Festival celebration during the August Bank Holiday.
Liverpool Celebrates, which has partnered with The Mathew Street Festival team to bring the iconic event back to the city, has announced a bumper headline lineup as tickets went on sale Friday.
Holly Johnson, lead singer of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, will perform iconic hits including Relax, Two Tribes and The Power of Love on a huge opening night at the Pier Head.
Johnson will be joined by the Lightning Seeds, Space, China Crisis and local emerging stars for a night of music celebrating Liverpool artists.
The Jacksons, who now comprise of brothers Jackie, Tito and Marlon Jackson, will headline the Saturday, joined by a spectacular 10 piece live band, on a colossal day of music.
The Jacksons will perform legendary tracks such as Blame It On The Boogie, I Want You Back, ABC and Can You Feel It after Boyzlife - the Brian McFadden and Keith Duffy supergroup - rock the Pier with acclaimed Boyzone and Westlife number ones.
Jonny Bongo, of the popular worldwide Bongo’s Bingo event, will also bring his Festival Experience to the Dock with N-Trance also set to take the stage for a lively set.
Performance slots have been left open on the Saturday to offer local talent the opportunity to perform on the same stage as The Jacksons.
On Sunday, honouring the legacy of Mathew Street Festival, the Cavern Club Beatles will headline alongside tribute acts for Abba, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen and The Doors.
The Cavern Takeover on Bank Holiday Monday features Adele, The Who, Elton John, Oasis, The Rolling Stones and Dios Salve A La Reina - God Save the Queen - a celebrated Queen tribute act who have been flown in from Argentina to feature at the festival.
Steven Fletcher at Liverpool Celebrates said:
“We are proud to announce a lineup which not only pays tribute to The Mathew Street Festival but also welcomes iconic, international groups such as The Jacksons back to Liverpool as well as a brilliant blend of local talent.
“The Jacksons are returning to the city for the first time in almost 50 years while Dios Salve A La Reina were show-stoppers at the last Mathew Street Festival in 2013.
“There will also be opportunities for emerging artists to perform at the festival, and we will be hosting opportunities for performers to earn the chance to take to the main stage across the weekend."
Daniel Sanders of Liverpool Celebrates added:
“We hope we have put together a lineup music lovers from the city and beyond can be proud of and we are so excited to welcome people into Liverpool for this celebration."
“Liverpool Celebrates are delighted by the reaction of both the public and venues across the city since we announced the tribute to the Mathew Street Festival and we believe this lineup will deliver a bumper August Bank Holiday weekend of fun, music and memories to Liverpool City Centre.”
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