LIVERPOOL city council's new pavement pods will soon hit the streets, and what better place to experience the council's exciting, new 'work of art' than at Tate Liverpool.

For the next two weeks, the new 'e-port' project will be on show at the city's seaport. Tate Liverpool, Albert Dock. The pavement pods offer a glimpse into what the future holds for Liverpool's pavements, opening up a whole new world for local residents and visitors to the city. 

By 2007, tourists could be stopping off at one of the city's pods from Allerton to West Derby, or Arbercromby to Woolton, to find out about the history and culture of the exact part of Liverpool they are in, and its location in relation to the rest of the city. 
They could embark on their own hi-tech history trail of the city, and will even be able to log on to the city's website and browse through over 90 million images, via the city's on-line, digital archives.

Located at the heart of Liverpool's communities, the pods will also allow local people who do not have access to computers to contact the council, on-line, round-the-clock, and send free e-mails and text messages.

ROCK LEGENDS TO ROCK THE DOCK

TWO famous rock bands are to add to the line up of the Liverpool Summer Pops that will add the flavour of classic seventies70s rock bands DEEP PURPLE and PINK FLOYD in the Liverpool Kings dock arena. 

Rock giants Deep Purple, who have sold over 100 million albums in an extraordinary career spanning four decades - will become the first musical act to play the Big Top Arena on July 1 - the only Northern date on a short tour of the UK.

Moreover, after their hugely successful Pops show last year, the Australian Pink Floyd show will make a welcome return to the Pops, on July 13, playing their only major Northern date of the summer.

Summer Pop’s promoter Chas Cole said:- "They're Dave Gilmour's (Deep purple guitarist) favourite band! It is certainly the only way to hear all those amazing Pink Floyd tracks live. They are the original and still by far the best Floyd tribute on earth. Close your eyes, and they are Floyd."

Councillor Mike Storey, leader of Liverpool City Council, said:- "These are
another two shows which add to the musical diversity of the Liverpool Summer Pops. This year's event looks set to be a scorcher!"

A CELEBRATION BY GEORGE!

LOCAL people will have the chance to find out what is going on under the wraps at St George’s Hall – on St George’s Day.

The Hall is currently undergoing an £18m refurbishment and its exterior is covered in scaffolding and a giant wrap.

But on April 23 – St George’s Day -there will be the chance to visit the Hall and find out what is happening with the work on the hall and take part in a great free day’s entertainment from 10am to 4pm 

In partnership with the Friends of St George’s Hall, the day, which will be opened by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Jack Spriggs, will feature performances by Merseyside Opera and Oriel Choir as well as talks by local historian Steve Binns. 

In addition there will be opportunities to watch short video extracts of dance work by locally based artists and pioneers of dance, Irene Dilks and Elroy Josephs and performances by Merseyside Dance Initiative’s Street Dance Group, Hope St. Ltd. Physical Theatre Students and Bisakha Sarker with Chaturangan (Indian Dance and music) alongside presentations about the development of the Hall.

And no event featuring St George would be complete without a dragon – or in this case several dragons

The Hall has a commissioned a book for children called ‘St. George’s Dragon’. Garlic Press will publish the book about a Chinese Dragon who lives in St. George’s Hall; the book will be written by Arabella McIntyre-Brown and will be illustrated by 30 local children. 

An open competition in local schools to find the 30 illustrators has been held Not only will there be a small prize for the winners but they will each be commissioned to produce an illustration for the book. All entries will be exhibited on St. George’s Day with visitors to the Hall taking part in choosing their favourites. 

The Hall is also hosting the National Fine Art and Decorative Design (Wirral Junior Division) as they too work with entrants for a national competition with a Dragon theme. They are previous winners of the National Junior Award

Councillor Mike Storey, leader of the City Council said:- “St George’s Day has been an event which has often been overlooked in the past . In Liverpool, however, for the past three years we have staged an event to mark the day at St George’s Hall and with the refurbishment taking place we have got something for the whole city to celebrate and this year it promises to be a great day.”

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