Albert Dock to Celebrate Mathew Street Music Festival With A Family Stage

LIVERPOOL'S world famous Albert Dock will celebrate one of the biggest music parties of the year with the creation of an Albert Dock Family Stage in Salthouse Dock.

Following the success of the Albert Dock Stage in 2008, the Albert Dock Tenants Business Association is delighted to create this unique water-side event on Bank Holiday Monday 30th August, working closely with the organisers of the Mathew Street Music Festival to add a family stage for the weekend when Liverpool welcomes to more than 300,000 people at Europe’s biggest free city centre, annual music festival.

The Albert Dock Stage will have a diverse programme of local, family friendly talent; organisers are working with The Merseycats charity to bring a selection of the legendary Mersey Beat Artists to perform. While the ‘Juice FM Undiscovered’ will provide an opportunity for local, unsigned and original artists to perform on the British Waterways Floating Stage. No Mathew Street Music Festival would be complete without a Beatles Tribute or two providing the lead in a ‘Beatles Sing-a-long’, which will round off the perfect family day out at the Dock.

Albert Dock is the home to the world famous Beatles Story; so it is the natural home of an additional family stage for the famous Mathew Street Music Festival, on the day the Beatles Story will add a little magic to the event.

‘Juice FM Undiscovered’ will be judged by a panel of music media experts; from Juice FM including Dan Roach from the Evening takeover and Tom Byrne from the A Train and Jade Wright Liverpool Echo’s very own music expert who is part of the Liverpool UNESCO City of Music bid.

Jeremy Roberts Chair of Albert Dock Tenants Business Association Said:- “Albert Dock is delighted to once again be celebrating Mathew Street Music Festival, providing a family zone; ideal for young families to enjoy the biggest and best celebration of culture in the City. We are also pleased to be working with Merseycats to add some of the legendary Mersey Beat bands to our programming. The unsigned and original, local talent will come in the form of the ‘Juice FM Undiscovered’ with of course a few Beatles inspired artists along the way; it will make for a brilliant day out.”

Cllr Wendy Simon, Liverpool City Council cabinet member for culture and tourism, said:- ‘’This year’s Mathew Street Music Festival is set to be the best yet in variety of acts and genres across our outdoor stages and indoor venues and it’s a great boost to have the Albert Dock businesses working together to offer a great programme of music over the weekend. The floating stage was a big hit in 2008 and I’m sure it’ll have people dancing and rocking in the dock once again.’’

Gill Hall Programme Controller at Juice FM said:- “The Juice FM team are so excited to be bringing a new music element to Mathew Street Music Festival, how amazing for local young talent to be given an opportunity to perform in front of a home crowd at the Albert Dock. The search for talent will be happening on air throughout August and in a number of heats taking place at the Albert Dock bars during the countdown to Mathew Street, finishing with 2 hours of local talent where the winners of ‘Juice FM Undiscovered’ will get to perform at the Albert Dock on the British Waterways Floating Stage.”

Albert Dock are working with their partners to ensure a safe, family friendly Mathew Street Festival stage, making for a great day out for all the family.

Merseytravel proud to support Liverpool Pride

ON Saturday, 7 August 2010, the Liverpool Pride event takes place in the city centre and joining the Pride march will be 3 officers from Mersey Tunnels police. Merseytravel, who own and operate the Mersey Tunnels, are partners and co-sponsors of the free event and the police officers are keen to join in and support the march.

Neil Scales, chief executive and director general of Merseytravel said:- “Merseytravel is delighted to be one of the official partners of Liverpool Pride 2010. This is an important and valuable addition to the city’s cultural landscape and many thousands of people from across the region are expected to descend on the city to join in the celebration. Merseytravel and Merseyrail want to encourage as many people as possible to travel to the festival by public transport and hopefully take time to enjoy some of the fantastic attractions we have to offer.”

The Pride march will start from St Georges Plateau at midday and take in Liverpool’s gay quarter and parts of the city centre. Dale Street will be closed from Vernon Street to Castle Street from 0600 to 2230hrs to allow for the Pride street party including music, cabaret and street entertainers embracing the rainbow circus theme.

There will be some disruption to bus services around the city during the event - for up to date information please call Traveline on:- 0871 200 2233 or visit the Merseytravel website.

Lord Mayor’s Liverbirds are Go!!!

LIVERPOOL’S Lord Mayor is launching her official charity appeal with the help of a flock of feathered friends.

Councillor Hazel Williams is to support Mencap Liverpool, Help 4 Heroes and the Alder Hey Imagine Appeal (Neurosciences and Surgical Department) and she has specially commissioned a flock of 100 ceramic Liverbirds to help raise much needed funds.

Councillor Williams said:- “Everyone is aware of the essential work these charities do and I’m sure people will support them as much as they can. I want to raise as much cash as possible for them during my Mayoral Year. I think these wonderful Liverbirds are a great way of generating extra essential funds. The Liverbirds are a symbol of Liverpool that everyone identifies with and now people can own their very own specially commissioned mini-version.  They will make great gifts – especially for people who may have left the area and don’t get to see their favourite bird on a regular basis – they will literally fly off the shelves.”

The beautiful, sleek, ceramic Liverbirds were designed in Liverpool by MacKenzie and fired in a traditional Staffordshire bottle kiln.  And there are versions available for supporters of both footie clubs - they are available in Liverpool Red and The People's Blue and there’s even a stone-coloured model for neutrals.

The City of Liverpool-crested Liverbirds will be available from Liverpool Town Hall priced £25.  They form part of a limited edition run.