SOUNDTRACK OF A CITY: WHY LIVERPOOL STILL LEADS THE WORLD IN MUSIC
There are some moments when you realise how blessed we are as music fans to live in Liverpool. Some other inferior places across the country are trying desperately to cast themselves as leading music cities but, and I mean this is the nicest possible way, they are having a laugh. We are and always will be the world’s greatest music city. Not only do we continue to produce incredible talent year on year, we are also the place which produced the greatest band ever. Everyone is set to be reminded about this again with the release of the McCartney album and all the talk of the up and coming Beatles films.
Of course we are about far more than our music heritage as a report produced last week highlighted. Commissioned by the City Council and funded by the Combined Authority, The Liverpool City Region Music Economy: Toward a £1 Billion Sector is the most comprehensive analysis ever undertaken of the region’s music industry. It paints a picture of a sector that is significantly larger, more productive and more globally competitive than previously understood. The report shows a sector supporting more than 7,200 full-time equivalent jobs, generating £406 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) and delivering a total annual economic impact of £780 million.
Unsurprisingly the report evidences that one of our strengths is in the live music sector and this summer we are showing that off in grand style. We branded this summer as Liverpool Music Month and the Summer of Music because we wanted to raise awareness nationally and internationally of the fact that every year Liverpool immerses itself in music. We are fortunate enough to be home to an incredible range of music events and festivals that encourage people to come and enjoy music here in a city which isnt just the home of modern music but also just happens to be the best place to party in the whole of the UK.
I was reminded of all of this again at the weekend when the city centre was suddenly flooded with people of all ages wearing hats and cowboy boots – and that was just my sisters. Liverpool was once renowned as the Nashville of the North (indeed if you look this up you will find that a well respected, very handsome fella from Bootle once wrote a book with that very title) and for a day at least you could easily imagine you were in that famous US City. The reason for all this strange attire was that country superstar Zach Bryan was in town playing his only English date outside of London. If you aren’t into country music you may not know the name but he is huge and the crowd at Anfield was massive and from the voices around town included lots of travelling fans as well as locals. Anfield is very much on the summer stadium gig circuit now which is great for us locals who have over the last few years enjoyed the return after 50 years of The Rolling Stones, the first ever visit of Bruce Springsteen, and of course the week when Taylor Swift took over the city.
Anfield is now getting ready to host My Chemical Romance and then one of the biggest bands in the world in the form of Foo Fighters. I’m not sure many of the audience at Zach Bryan will be at either of these shows but this incredible diversity of the music offer is part of what makes Liverpool special.
Just look at what is coming up this week. On The Waterfront comes back for its fifth edition and once again rejoices in an absolutely stacked line up with something to cheer up the grumpiest person you can think of. It all kicks off with Paul Weller. That name alone is enough to send people of a certain age into a frenzy but based on the last few Weller shows I’ve been to his fandom isnt just reserved for oldies like me. He is a music genius and has the respect of musicians from all genres and all generations. If you haven’t seen him before you are really missing out. If you are a fan I’ll see you down the front for A Town Called Malice. Get there early to see Wirral lad Miles Kane strut about on stage and whip the crowd up with his own brand of guitar mayhem.
Local heroes Red Rum Club headline on the Friday fresh from some massive gigs in the US including a prestigious show in LA. They are simply one of the best live bands around and it is going to be a special night on the gorgeous waterfront setting on the Pier Head as the sun goes down. Fair play to the promoters too who have been a brilliant line up of local artists as supports on the night including Keyside, all set to be the city’s next big guitar band, and the wonderful Kowloons who I saw deliver a blistering set to a jam packed venue at Sound City a few weeks ago.
Saturday sees the return of Cream Classical with a special show celebrating 10 Years of what I have always see as the best time you can without being subject to arrest! They have the usual parade of DJ greats including Todd Terry and Seb Fontaine as well as guest vocals from the likes of legendary Alison Limerick.
I cant say I’m a huge fan of Snow Patrol who headline the Sunday but the beauty of music is we all like different things. I know these Irish lads are a big deal and no doubt it will be another busy night. Local outfit Circa Waves are providing the support and they are definitely worth going out for. Main man Kieran Shudall and his band mates are responsible for some of the most interesting music to come out of the city over the last decade.
If all that wasn’t enough Saturday and Sunday also sees the return of the mighty Africa Oyé. After a year off this incredible party returns to Sefton Park with another incredibly strong line up. Oyé is I think one of those amazing events that we have got used to it just being there and being brilliant every year that we have maybe taken it for granted. It not being around last year has hopefully made is all aware of what an absolute asset it is to the city.
It is the UK’s largest celebration of African music and culture and we are so lucky that it takes place in our city. Music is of course at the heart of the festival but like all the best events it’s about much more than the headliners. Oyé as anyone who has ever been will know, is a proper community celebration where people come together, hang out, eat some nice food, have a drink, and just enjoy being together.
There’s a slight change this year as Oyé has had to adapt and bring in ticketing and a fence to ensure everyone is safe. So it may look a bit different but you can guarantee that Oyé will still be a weekend of amazing music and all round good vibes.
Kev McManus
