THEY will come from far and near, descending on Liverpool city centre in their hundreds of thousands with one interest in common – music.

Visitors to this year’s Mathew Street Festival, taking place this Sunday and Monday, will find six stages filled with 95 bands from all over the world.

The free two-day event is marking its 18th birthday this year with more than 80 hours of live music and a fringe festival in venues across the city centre.

And this time round it aims to include music fans of all ages with the launch of a new family-friendly stage at the Albert Dock.

It will feature a diverse programme of local, family friendly talent, including a selection of the legendary Mersey Beat artists.

Juice FM Undiscovered will provide an opportunity for local, unsigned and original artists to perform on the British Waterways Floating Stage.

No Mathew Street Music Festival would be complete without a Beatles tribute or two providing the lead in a Beatles Sing-a-long, which will round off the perfect family day out at the Dock.

Jeremy Roberts, chair of Albert Dock Tenants Business Association, says: “Albert Dock is delighted to once again be celebrating Mathew Street Music Festival.

“We are also pleased to be working with Merseycats to add some of the legendary Mersey Beat bands.”