Free Liverpool grassroots music festival to return for 11th year in May

Smithdown Festival has announced its return to Liverpool.

Taking over venues in the city from Friday 1st to bank holiday Monday 4th May, the free community event brings live music and family-friendly activities to bars, cafés, and venues along Smithdown Road.

Going since 2015, this year will see the festival continue to champion grassroots music while continuing its fundraising for the Whitechapel Centre, the leading homeless and housing charity for the Liverpool region.

Handyman will be the festival's main stage, while Bean There Coffee, Black Cat, Luminous, and Beeswing join as other host venues, with activities at So Curious, Quaker Gardens, and Garmoyle Gardens to be announced soon.

Among the names announced so far are The Pintucos, Psycho Comedy, Flat Moon, The Bad Actors, Gintis, Seas Of Mirth, Dead Raze, Pete Bentham & The Dinner Ladies, and many more.

Outside the music, Smithdown offers plenty of activities, including the Big Bank Holiday Hangover Quiz with free chip butties for all participants, spoken word, and is In Analog!, an exhibition by Belgian artist Benjamin Schoos.

This year, the festival will also team up with Autism In Motion to curate a program of events for children with special educational needs, including a sensory disco, messy play, and more. 

Find out more about Smithdown Festival here. 

Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, Facebook, and YouTube for the latest music and events content.  

Header image credit: Smithdown Festival / Silent-K