Went to LIMF (Liverpool International Music Festival) at Sefton Park this weekend. I managed to win tickets as this year you had to pay £5 for each day or £10 if you wanted VIP. They put a big 10 foot fence around Sefton Park to stop people from going in that didn't have tickets. £5 isn't a lot at all for a music festival but it's stupid because when LIMF started it was the biggest free festival in Europe.
I don't think it was that good this year considering you have to pay to get in. It's definitely been a lot better in the past. They had the main stage which had some big names like Example, Wiley, Basement Jaxx, Ray Blk then had 2 DJ tents with DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Trevor Nelson. In the past they've had well more stages all around the park with loads more to do. There was just food stalls around charging extortionate prices for food and drinks as you weren't allowed to take your own alcohol in. You got your bag searched and a bit of a rubbish metal detector - people still managed to take stuff in, it was pointless really!
Saturday 21st July 2018
Example
Example had a rant about the VIP section at the front - how it's stupid that people had to pay extra to be close to the stage but there were people just sat on the floor not and not getting involved. Like the people not in the VIP area were enjoying and having a better time than them and they paid less but were further away. Afterwards he had a proper rant on his twitter here you can see the thread.
I totally agree that VIP sections right at the front of the stage is stupid as you should fight for your place there. Just cos you can afford it doesn't make you a real fan to be right at the front especially if you're not going to sing and dance. Let the real fans that want to be there be close! It was free last year and you only had to pay to be in the VIP bit at the front of the stage.
Wiley
Jax Jones setting up
I went with my mum at like 5:30pm on Saturday. I only wanted to see Example who was on at 6pm and was really good. He did a half an hour set with all the classics. Everyone was loving him and put on a good show! I would definitely like to go see him properly. We stayed and seen Wiley as well he was really good!
Sunday 22nd July 2018
Went to LIMF yesterday at like 3ish with Sarah after doing overtime in work. We got there just as Rae Morris was walking off the stage but heard as we were walking down. I was gutted I wanted to see her and she sounded so good!
Ray Blk
I love Ray Blk - she won the BBC sound of 2018 this year. So she's gonna be big especially with the past winners.. Adele, Sam Smith, Haim, 50 Cent, Years and Years and last years winner Sigrid who have all done amazing. Definitely listen to her if you haven't already!
Aurora
She was really weird.. wasn't a fan at what she was wearing and was saying she was sweating - I mean she was wearing about 10 layers.. Had a really weird hair cut as well. She's the girl that did the Oasis cover a couple of years ago for the John Lewis Christmas ad with the man on the moon. She didn't even sing that song which is the only song everyone would have known. No one seemed to know any of her songs and felt like she had the longest set!
Young Fathers
These were really fun - I wasn't familiar with any of their songs even though they won the Mercury prize in 2014 for their album Dead. I enjoyed them and will definitely be listening to that album!
Basement Jaxx DJ set
Everyone was loving Basement Jaxx - the sun was shining and everyone was just having a great time. They've got so many songs that you know but probably don't even realise it's by them! They definitely attracted the biggest crowd!
Under 14's weren't allowed in without an adult which definitely wasn't the case as it was full of like 13 year olds thinking they were at Glastonbury. We were right on the barrier on Sunday and when Basement Jaxx come on a load of young kids were behind us making moshpits and just pushing and shoving into us. Throwing drinks and just basically being idiots. On Saturday there were so many girls wearing heels and wedges all dressed up ready for a night out in town. Girls paying to get their make up all done up to basically stand in Sefton Park it was mad!
I love going to LIMF every year but I don't think getting people to pay for tickets is going to work. It was busy but it's definitely been busier when it was free. If you are going to charge people you've got to step up your game and make it worth while. Yes people have paid £5 to see the likes of Example and Wiley but they're not for everyone. In the past there was loads of little stages for new up and coming artists which didn't happen this year. I think there was a separate festival - part of the Smithdown Road Festival going on in the Palm House that had up and coming artists for free but that wasn't part of LIMF. Should let people take their own food and drink in or at least not charge £20 for a bottle of wine if you won't want people to take their own! We'll see next year what changes they make whether it goes back to being free or they might even take the ticket prices up!
