2026 Programme - Liverpool WaVeS

2026 Performers & Programme

Liverpool Waves ‘FREE’ International
Music & Marching Band Festival

July 3rd, 4th & 5th 2026

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Schedule of events for the weekend festival will appear here soon!

Our 2026 performers

Following our successful events in 2024 and 2025, we are pleased to have great cast of musical entertainment for our 2026 event.

Great FREE entertainment for everyone

The Beat Goes On

Portland, Oregon, USA

The Beat Goes On is an international award-winning all-adult marching band based in Portland, Oregon, USA. Founded in October 2011, the band is committed to delighting Northwest, National, and International audiences while reliving the best parts of the marching band experiences and creating indelible memories. Previous appearances include major events throughout North America and on three other continents.

The band (which includes a dance team, color guard, and twirling squad) is renowned for its upbeat attitude, feel-good musical selections, and emphasis on audience interaction. Though its musical tastes are eclectic, TBGO features a high-energy, brassy, rock and roll style – we may be a marching band, but we’re more likely to play Bruno Mars than John Philip Sousa! TBGO’s feel-good style carries over into stage shows that feature high energy, low (but G-rated!) humor, audience sing-alongs, and tunes that show off more of our musical range. The band’s wide range of musical genres has a proven appeal to everyone from grandparents to teens. Learn more at www.tbgo.org.

Kitami Fuji High School Wind Ensemble

Kitami City, Hokkaido, Japan

Hello! We are the Kitami Fuji High School Wind Ensemble, commonly known as ‘Fuji Brass’.

Our school is in Kitami City, Hokkaido, in the north of Japan.

We practise hard every day in the hope of bringing joy to as many people as possible through music.

It is our great pleasure that our music travelled across the sea and allow us to perform here in this historic city of music.

We hope you will enjoy our music very much.

On the day, we are sure to show you our best stage. Please do enjoy yourselves!

The Fuji Brass Band tour is part supported by "The Great Briitish Sasakawa Foundation"

The Blaise High School Performing Arts Troupe

The Blaise High School Performing Arts Troupe is a talented ensemble of students from Years 8–10, bringing together young performers with a shared passion for music, dance, and drama.

For this year’s festival, the troupe presents an original performance exploring life in Bristol—its vibrant communities, diverse cultures, and the experiences that shape the people who call it home.

Batala Mersey

Batala is an international samba reggae music project originating from Salvador de Bahia in north-eastern Brazil. It was founded in Paris in 1997 by Giba Gonçalves, a notable Brazilian percussionist. Today, Batala celebrates 46 bands in 17 countries and a worldwide membership of over 1,500 percussionists.

Wirral Girls Swing Band

Wirral Grammar School for Girls Swing Band has been performing under the direction of Gill Townsend for many years.

The band is a traditional big band, performing a wide variety of musical styles ranging from big band classics to contemporary pop songs. The ensemble regularly performs within the local community and recently appeared at the Floral Pavilion for the school’s Jazz Night, as well as at the Gladstone Theatre for a film music-themed concert. Every two years, the band also undertakes a foreign music tour; last year they visited the Netherlands, performing in Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Leiden.

Next year, the band will travel to Austria to perform in Salzburg and the surrounding area.

We are delighted to be returning to perform at the Liverpool WaVes Festival. Enjoy the music!

The Happy Tuesday's

Tuesday Night At The Vic is a weekly get together of like minded ukulele players. The Victoria Hotel in Waterloo is the third venue for the group, moving there earlier this year following the closure of our former home at the Blues Bar in Crosby, the group having moved there from Stamps, another bar in Crosby, where the group was started nearly ten years ago. The evening is open to anyone who wishes to take part in the playing and singing or simply sitting and listening; all ages and abilities are welcome, there is no membership or audition. Come along and join in.

Showstoppers and the international band

This year Showstoppers Band (Liverpool) have invited some members from “Kitami Fuji Brass” and “The Beat Goes On” to join them on stage for a truly international performance.

In the style of Showstoppers Band we look forward to playing along side our international guests as we play a selection of music from stage screen and TV.

The band is still active in the community and supports various events with their music.

If you would like to enquire about Showstoppers please look us up on social media:

The Pagoda Chinese Youth Orchestra

The Pagoda Chinese Youth Orchestra (PCYO) is the first and largest Chinese youth orchestra in Europe. Founded in Liverpool in 1983 by community elder Mr. K.H. Li, it offers young people the opportunity to learn and perform traditional Chinese music in an inclusive, intergenerational setting.

Wirral Grammar schools combined big band

The Halcyon Syncopators

The Halcyon Syncopators is a community big band who play big band, vocal and dance music from the 1930s to the 1960s.

Based in South Liverpool, the band rehearses on alternate Thursdays. There are no auditions or fees. We are also part of CPC Music (Child, Parent and Community Music) Saturday morning music school.

White Rose Highland Dancers

The White Rose Highland Dance Company was formed in 2018 in Yorkshire, England. Bringing together dancers from all around the globe, promoting Highland Dance in many events both nationally and internationally, in events such s the Belfast International Tattoo, Eksjo, Sweden International Tattoo and festivals in Chengdu, China.

Dancers participating in the Liverpool WaVeS International Music and Marching Band Festival, come from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and will perform traditional Highland Dances throughout the Liverpool City