Battle declared as NW rivals vie for musical supremacy

Apr 22 2008 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

Beatles

TEAMS representing Liverpool and Manchester regularly go head-to-head on the football field.

Now the two cities are about to do battle in another arena – a contest to find which one has made the greatest contribution to music.

Liverpool and Manchester have both been nominated by Arts Council England to represent the north-west of England in the competition for the prestigious title of the country’s Most Musical City.

In other words, it will be a match between the Beatles and the Zutons on one side, and the Smiths and Oasis on the other.

However, other forms of music have not been forgotten, with both the cities’ orchestras of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the Halle taken into account.

Jenny Frost of Atomic Kitten is spearheading the campaign for Liverpool to win the public’s vote, up against other big names including London, endorsed by Suggs of Madness, Birmingham backed by Jamelia, Newcastle supporter Sting, and Leicester legend Engelbert Humperdinck.

Other cities competing to win are Brighton, Bristol, Colchester, and Sheffield.

Michael Eakin, executive director North West of Arts Council England said: “Obviously I’m going to sit on the fence on the choice between Liverpool and Manchester – but what isn’t in doubt is that together they really are the beating heart of music in England.”

As well as finding the nation’s favourite musical hub, Most Musical City will also help unearth new talent by inviting unsigned bands and solo artists to register online for the chance to play in front of 5,000 festival-goers at this year’s End of the Road Festival.

Mary-Alice Stack, development manager at Arts Council England said: “Music is at the centre of our culture, one of our greatest exports and an endless source of debate. Strong contenders for the title of Most Musical City are Manchester, Liverpool and London, but with the winner to be decided by public vote, the competition is wide open.”

People can register their support and vote for their Most Musical City at www.mostmusicalcity.co.uk.

The competition > > >