New alternative music and arts festival OUTER WAVES arrives in Liverpool this May!

Liverpool’s new boundary-pushing, alternative music and arts festival, OUTER WAVES, has revealed its full lineup ahead of its debut on 24th-25th May 2025. Set to take over venues across the North Docks, including Invisible Wind Factory and Make Liverpool, the festival promises a bold programme of experimental music, boundary-pushing visual art, and innovative collaborations—filling a long-missing gap in the city’s cultural landscape.

Leading the Saturday lineup are Ex-Easter Island Head, renowned for their hypnotic, percussive minimalism, while psychedelic legends GONG will close the festival on Sunday with their genre-defying cosmic sounds. Joining them are internationally acclaimed artists including Mandy Indiana, AJA Ireland, Hyperdawn, Abstract Concrete, and Smote. The festival also champions homegrown talent, with performances from A Lesser Version, nil00, Silverwingkiller, Algernon Cornelius, Coughin Vicars, Those Holy, NZanZu, Liminal Project, Transmission Towers among many others.

In addition to the live music, OUTER WAVES will feature DJ takeovers from Strike a Pose and Queensway, bringing a mix of underground sounds and high-energy club culture to the festival’s late-night programming.

The festival’s visual arts programme is equally ambitious, featuring The Wandering Library’s Zine Exhibition, ASIMETRIA, Kromavision, and the Onomataposter exhibition, which explore alternative storytelling, experimental print, and the intersection of DIY music culture and design.

A festival spokesperson commented:"Liverpool has a rich musical and artistic heritage, but we felt there was space for something truly different—a festival that prioritizes experimentation, collaboration, and underground creativity. OUTER WAVES is about celebrating the artists who push boundaries, giving them a platform to connect with audiences in new and unexpected ways. This festival isn’t just another event—it’s about creating a movement that has been missing from Liverpool’s cultural calendar."

With its forward-thinking ethos and genre-blurring lineup, OUTER WAVES Festival is set to become a vital new fixture in the UK’s independent festival scene.

Tickets are on sale now.