HUNDREDS of bands, tens of thousands of people and three days of almost non-stop music.

Liverpool Sound City organiser Dave Pichilingi described the fourth year of the event as the “most successful to date”.

It followed gigs by major bands such as The Kooks, The View and a re-formed Cast, appearing along with more than 100 up- and-coming local bands in memorable local venues including the city’s famous bombed-out church, the cathedral crypt and St George’s Hall.

Despite changes to the format of the city-wide festival from four days to three, the introduction of wrist bands for entry to gigs, and the economic climate, the organiser of Liverpool Sound City said it had been “phenomenal”.

Mr Pichilingi said they were already preparing for 2012, even as they wind down from this year.

He said: “We had 360 bands at 30 venues across the city. We have been measured before on footfall and it was around 30,000. I know we have been up on that this year.

“Without a doubt, we will be back next year. There’s a lot of winding down before all that, but already I’m thinking how can we improve for next time.”

He also aims to continue to expand the festival to “make it the South by South West of Europe”.

The event has widened its international dimension – having already held Sound City events in Norway and Dubai – with an increased attendance of almost 2,500 at its global conference at the city centre Hilton, attended by keynote speakers and delegates including Seymour Stein, the record industry legend who signed Madonna.

Mr Pichilingi said this had provided one of the most unusual moments of the festival, during a civic reception. He said: “It was surreal being in the town hall with the Mayor, council leader Joe Anderson and Seymour Stein telling these stories about Madonna and Talking Heads.”

But he said some of the most memorable parts of the 2011 festival was seeing bands “setting up and performing on the streets”.

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