Threshold V: Third Wave of Acts for Festival of Music and Arts

Threshold V: Third Wave of Acts for Festival of Music and Arts

It's two months to go until Threshold launches its fifth annual festival in The Baltic Triangle of Liverpool. The festival will take over 7 venues in the district on 27th-29th March, with some of Liverpool's and the UK's finest grass-roots music and arts.

The programme is taking shape, people loved last year's flowing festival feel and we aim to match and even better that atmosphere in March." - Chris Herstad Carney, Threshold Producer

With an already strong line-up of 20 acts released, Threshold has revealed 21 more for their third wave of acts, which includes London born rapper, Akala.

Akala

MOBO award-winning hip hop artist, writer, poet and educator ‘Akala’ fuses his unique rap/rock/electro-punk sound with fierce lyrical storytelling. Inspired by the likes of Gil Scot-Heron and Saul Williams, Akala has developed a stellar live show with his renowned drummer/award-winning music producer Cassell ‘TheBeatmaker’ (Plan B, The Streets) headlining 6 UK tours as well as touring with the likes of Jay-Z, Nas and Damian Marley, M.I.A. and Christina Aguilera to Siouxsie Sue, Damon Albarn’s ‘Africa Express’ and Richard Ashcroft, appearing at numerous UK / European and US festivals (Glastonbury, Big Chill, Wireless, V, Hove and SXSW)

Etches

Liverpool based Etches return to Threshold after a great year playing selective gigs locally and nationally including The Kazimier, Hoxton Bar and Grill and The Great Escape festival. Their style of understated electronics, ear-catching melodies and intricate arrangements, has won them airplay on XFM, BBC Radio 1 and Amazing Radio.

K.O.G and The Zongo Brigade

A 9 piece band put together by K.O.G (Kweku Of Ghana), fusing afrobeat with funk, ska, reggae and a host of other popular genres.

The music is based on the clever merging of indiginous rhythms of Africa with genres of mainstream music, effectively like an energetic mix of tones and grooves accompanied by afro­soul vocals live on stage.

Natalie McCool and Silent Cities 

Threshold has always aimed to bring different artists, media and organisations together and this year is no exception. Liverpool Music Award winner Natalie McCool will join electronic duo DROHNE and superb ethereal singer songwriter Silent Cities, for a veritable love triangle of musicianship.

Natalie, whose video of mash-up cover of Nightcall/Real Hero recently passed 2 million views on Youtube has released the collaborative single 'Daydream' with Simon Maddison (Silent Cities) on the brand new Rebel Soul label Voltasix.

We, The Undersigned

WTU excite the crowds with an explosive mix of horny, funkalicious afrobeat with a side of reggae. With a sound characterised by euphonic three-piece vocals, conscious rap-poetry, relentless horns and a ferociously funky rhythm section, WTU has developed a significant loyal following of Cosmic Warriors. The band has also enjoyed many acclaimed support performances for such internationally renowned acts as The Apples, Youngblood Brass Band, Toots and the Maytals and The Skatalites.

DJ Rasp

Hailing from the Northwest of England, DJ Rasp has become one of Europe's premier and most respected hip-hop DJ's, and a true “champion” turntablist. With accolades including 2014 UK Battle for Supremacy title, 2013 IDC UK Champion and numerous times as a DMC Online World Finalist, Rasp's illustrious career has so far included support slots with The Sugarhill Gang, Nightmares on Wax, Action Bronson and a staggering number of artists of similar stature.