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City Sings Gospel at the Albert Dock
THE Albert
Dock is gearing up to host the Waterfront Gospel Music Festival,
supported by the Liverpool Culture Company, (www.liverpool08.com)
on 16 June 2007 and 17 June 2007.
A soulful weekend of gospel music,
rap, hip hop and reggae - the festival will celebrate the 200th
anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade and
Liverpool’s 800th birthday.
This event at the Albert Dock is the highlight of a soulful gospel
singing season – the Amazing Grace Festival.
Organised by City Sings
Gospel, part of Anfield-based Urban Gospel Arts Centre, Liverpool
Lighthouse, the music season launched in February 2007 with an
advanced screening of the film Amazing Grace, based on the life of
anti-slavery pioneer William Wilberforce.
Since then a range
of choir events have taken place across Liverpool, with the focus of
the season taking place at the historic Albert Dock from 16 June
2007 to 17
June 2007.
On Saturday 16 June 2007 a gospel music concert will kick off the
Waterfront Music Festival outside the Albert Dock’s Mersey Maritime
Museum from 12 to 6pm.
Performing artists include DJ Fitz (BBC
1Xtra), Liverpool’s renowned Love and Joy Gospel Choir, gospel
producer and artist Dwayne Tryumf and Nigerian-born worship leader,
radio presenter and musician Muyiwa. Sarah Rea, Marketing Officer at
Liverpool Lighthouse describes it as an event that is not to be
missed and one that will bring local choirs together to perform
alongside high profile national artistes.
Face painters and
street entertainers will continue the celebrations throughout the
Albert Dock on 16 June 2007, celebrating the rich diversity of gospel
music and culture.
On Sunday 17 June 2007 a Transatlantic Memorial Service will be held in
Canada Dock on HMS Albion for 500 guests.
This historic event will
celebrate the lives, music, faith and legacy resulting from the
Transatlantic Slave Trade.
Guests will include Liverpool Lord
Mayor - Cllr Paul Clark, Liverpool City Council Chief Executive -
Colin Hilton, Leader of Liverpool City Council - Warren Bradley,
Archbishop of West Africa - Reverend Justice Akrofi, Alabama State
Senator - Vivian Davis Figures and Chairman of Love and Joy
Ministries - Tani Omideyi.
The service will feature choral and gospel music, hymn singing,
readings, musical renditions, a minute’s silence and a special act
of remembrance for the estimated millions of slaves that died at
sea. Liverpool will also be linking up with commemorative events in
Ghana and Alabama, enabling a joint declaration to be formed across
the Atlantic.
Graham Cook, Director of the Albert Dock Company said:- “The
Albert Dock is very honoured to host such an important commemorative
event at the city’s Waterfront.
We’re looking forward to marking the
200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade
and Liverpool’s 800th birthday with a weekend of gospel music that
all our visitors can enjoy.” |
In
the footsteps of Dickens
BRITAIN'S
favourite gay author is set to make a rare appearance at St George’s
Hall. Armistead Maupin – who last year was voted the country’s
most popular author in the Big Gay Read – will read from his new
novel, ‘Michael Tolliver Lives’, and talk about his life and
work, at a special event organised by Liverpool’s gay arts festival, Homotopia, on
4 July 2007.
Often compared to Charles Dickens, Maupin will appear in the newly
refurbished Small Concert Room – the same venue where Dickens took
part in the famed ‘Penny Readings’ in the mid-19th century.
His Liverpool appearance is the first date in a national tour, and
the only major event outside London. Best known for his series ‘Tales
of the City’, which was adapted for television, Maupin is widely
regarded as one of America’s greatest living gay writers.
Gary Everett, Homotopia Festival Director, said:- “I am
thrilled that such a high profile author has agreed to attend this
special one-off event and give a reading at the festival.
Armistead Maupin has also kindly agreed to attend several community
events in the day, before taking part in what promises to be a
glittering occasion in the grand surroundings of the Small Concert
Room.”
Amongst the community projects that Maupin will visit while he is in
Liverpool is the Armistead Centre – the gay health project that was
named in his honour.
Homotopia, which is supported by the Liverpool Culture Company,
celebrates its 4th birthday in 2007. Although it is responsible for
events throughout the year, the main focus of the programme is in
November. The festival celebrated a massively successful year in
2006, with audiences of more than 6,500 attending a wide selection
of events in genres including theatre, film, art, and heritage.
Councillor Warren Bradley, Leader of Liverpool city council, said:-
“Homotopia is a fantastic example of a homegrown arts festival
that has developed into a major event on Liverpool’s cultural
calendar. It’s a great reflection of the vibrancy of the
city’s arts sector.”
Tickets for the Armistead Maupin event are on sale now, priced at £6
each, available from Unity Theatre, (0151) 709 4988; or News From
Nowhere, (0151) 708 7270.
Doors open at 6pm, the event begins at
7pm.
Southport's Charity
Fun Fest 2007
THIS years
Southport's Charity Fun Fest annual event aimed to provide an
afternoon of fun, whilst raising a little money for local good
causes. Amongst the attractions this year was an ice skating rink,
beat the goalie, limousine rides around town, vintage fire engines,
bouncy castles and slides, a climbing wall, fairground rides, live
music, various displays and a tug of war contest.
The good causes that have benefited financially from the day in
previous years include Southport PHAB club, the Royal British
Legion, Queenscourt Hospice, the North West Air Ambulance, St John
Ambulance, Southport Rotary club and others. This year is no
exception....
The event is organised by local volunteers, in association with the
local media and other local companies and organisations. The money
was raised by asking for donations for using some of the many
attractions we had on offer.
Speaking after this year's event, co-organiser James Grundy said:-
"We would like to thank everybody who came along and made the
event a success again. That's the stallholders, the facepainters,
tug of war teams, the bands & singers, St John Ambulance, Round
Table stewards, West Lancs. Dog Display Team, the attractions: the
ice rink, the limos from MD Travel, bouncy castles, fairground rides
and all the people who came along to enjoy the day out."
Next year's event takes place on Saturday 7 June 2008, 11am to 5pm
on Princes Park. If you would like to get involved, please contact
James Grundy via emailing him at
jamesgrundy@hotmail.com. |
