Liverpool prepares for Mathew Street Festival boost
Enjoying the Mathew Street Festival in LiverpoolIT BEGAN in a single street as a small event designed to celebrate Liverpool’s pop heritage. Today, the Mathew Street Festival has grown to become not only the city’s largest annual event, but one of the biggest free music festivals in Europe.
Now in its 19th year, the festival has gradually extended its reach to take in five stages across the city, from Water Street to the Queensway Tunnel.}
Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for culture and tourism, Cllr Wendy Simon, said: “The excitement is mounting and there’s definitely a buzz in the city as residents and visitors prepare themselves for more than 60 hours of live music.
“We’re getting more and more hits on our Facebook and Twitter pages every day, with people telling us how much they’re looking forward to the festival .
“It’s all about celebrating music of all tastes, with a distinctive Liverpool twist, and the 19th Mathew Street Music Festival is set to be bigger and better than ever.”
Music fans are being urged to “Band Together” to help fund the Mathew Street festival. The festival will remain free – but music fans are being asked to show their support with a £3 wristband to help finance it.
Restaurants, hotels and bars are looking forward to an increase in trade over the weekend.
Ethan Allen, music director of Rubber Soul, on Mathew Street, said: “The Mathew Street weekend is always busy for us.
“We have great live bands on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. We get visitors from all over the world. Entry is free, and if the last few years are anything to go by, we’re expecting a very busy weekend.”
The streets of the city will be filled by thousands of music fans and musicians, including many from overseas who will be spending the Bank Holiday weekend lapping up music of all sorts.
There is no Beatles stage as such, but Jon Keats, entertainment manager for The Cavern, is hosting the 53 Number Ones stage in Derby Square on Monday. It will celebrate Liverpool’s chart-topping singles, which features a host of Fab Four songs.
He said: “I think the fact that we have had so many number ones from the 50s to the present day speaks for itself.
“There’s so much to choose from, spanning so many eras of the Liverpool music scene. The Merseybeats will be playing all the Frankie numbers which should be fun.
“We even have a special appearance from Ken Dodd singing his 1965 classic, Tears – that’s me doing my Doddy impression, by the way.
“So many Beatles classics on the one stage is never a bad thing. We’re closing the stage with a special George Harrison tribute, to mark 10 years since he died.”
For more information from the Liverpool Daily Post visit www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk
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