With over 20 acts already announced for this year's MTV Liverpool Music Week festival sponsored by edc by Esprit, we are pleased to announce the first wave of acts for this years free show agenda, featuring some of the UK's hottest bands of the moment, this year's line-up is better than ever and there's still plenty of acts to be announced over the coming weeks.

We are pleased to announce the return of Noah & The Whale, one of the many highlights from last year's festival and a band that will be returning after a very busy and successful 2008, so successful in fact that they're currently riding the wave of success after their Top 10 hit '5 Years Time' this summer.

Another Chart success who will be performing this year is Wiley. Following his smash hit 'Wearing My Rolex' which reached No.2 in the UK charts, he is currently collaborating with Lily Allen, Mark Ronson and The Prodigy, as well as keeping busy promoting his forthcoming album.

MOBO nominee Sway joins the MTV Liverpool Music Week line up. This hip hop rapper's reputation arose from underground to mainstream after coming into the public eye by winning a MOBO Award in 2005 for Best Hip Hop Act, defeating heavyweight hip hop artistes 50 cents and The Game to collect the award, definitely one to catch while you can!

Indie rockers The Holloways will be performing on the back of their October UK tour. In 2007, the band stormed sold out shows across the UK with singles Dance Floor, Generator and Two Left Feet pumping out on the radio airwaves. With new album 'Tales from the Tarmac' due for release in early 2009, MTV Liverpool Music Week will be the first chance to hear new material. Liverpool Music Week wouldn't be the same without celebrating some of our own local talent, and we are pleased to announce the return of The Maybes? following a busy summer performing at some of the UK's hottest festivals including Glastonbury and Reading.

The band will be performing tracks off their debut album "Promise" and are always one of the most energetic bands of the festival. They will be joined by special guest John Power. Singer songwriter for the La's and Cast, and one of Liverpool's most enigmatic frontman John returns with his band, for what promises to be one of this years festival highlights.

Returning for a 3rd successive year is Eugene McGuinness, only this time the 22 year old singer songwriter makes his first appearance with a full live band, performing tracks from his forthcoming self titled debut album.

Another Liverpool lad who will be closing out this year's MTV Liverpool Music Week Festival as well as finishing off his UK tour on home ground is Sonny J, a faceless artiste that is intriguing the music world with his unique and distinctive sound. With hit single 'Can't Stop Moving' setting the chart alight, this will be a fantastic way to end the festival

In keeping with MTV Liverpool Music Week's ethos of 'no genre restrictions', we welcome MOBO award winner Soweto Kinch.

Sure to be one of the festivals most popular events, this will be Soweto's Liverpool debut. This young musician has gone on to become one of the hottest jazz musician's in the world and has scooped many accolades including MOBO Winner for Best Jazz Act 2003 / 2007, BBC Radio Jazz Award Winner for Best Instrumentalist and Best Band, and his debut album 'Conversations With The Unseen' nominated for the Mercury Music Prize.

This musician's talents show no boundaries and we are excited about this coup for MTV Liverpool Music Week and indeed for our European Capital of Culture year. All of these acts will be performing at 2 of this year's main host venues, Bumper and Alma de Cuba.