Paul McCartney: 08 is going to be great

Sep 27 2007 Liverpool Daily Post

SIR PAUL McCARTNEY has predicted Capital of Culture year will be 'great' after confirming he would be playing in the city in 2008.

Opening the event held to launch the 08 programme, the former Beatle, speaking via a video message, said; "I'm very excited about Liverpool being European Capital of Culture in 2008.

"We have a fantastic series of events which are sure to get you very excited too. I've very proud of the city and I look forward welcoming you all and showing you a good time.

"It's going to be a great year."

Sir Paul will headline the Liverpool Sound gig to be held at Anfield on June 1.

Earlier today, the Liverpool Daily Post revealed that Ringo Starr will be headlining the opening weekend for the city’s Capital of Culture celebrations.

The Liverpool Culture Company will today lift the lid on its plans for more than 110 events next year which will form a major part of the 300-plus events taking place in 2008.

Ringo will appear on top of St George’s Hall in the "People’s Opening" on the opening night’s celebrations on Friday, January 11.

The spectacular will use surrounding buildings and streets in an aerial, light and pyrotechnic extravaganza.

The day after he will be joined by the former Eurythmic Dave Stewart, Ian Broudie of Lightning Seeds fame, and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in Liverpool the Musical on Saturday, January 12.

It will be the first event at the new 11,700-capacity arena which is part of the new Arena and Conference Centre (ACC) at Kings Dock.

The musical aims to tell the city’s story, and will be the second night of opening celebrations.

Many celebrities attended the launch party at the Tate Liverpool, Albert Dock, as well as journalists from across the country.

Last night, Ringo said: "I’m coming to Liverpool to see what you’re doing in 08 and looking forward to being part of the opening weekend.

"I’m going to stand on the top of St George’s Hall so you can all see me, and the next day we’re going to play in this huge concert that’s going down in the new arena. How great is that?

"And we’re going to have a lot of fun. What could be better? Liverpool, European Capital of Culture 08 – yeah. Peace and love.’’

Liverpool was crowned Capital of Culture on June 4, 2003.

Since then, a team of 100 staff has been put together to help make its 12-month reign the biggest in the history of the title.

Today’s announcement will be the second major unveiling of events following a launch last year when a taster was revealed.

City officials said today’s announcement was not the final bill, and more events and artists would be announced as details were confirmed.

Council leader Warren Bradley said: ''Liverpool's cultural offering in 2008 is one that will be a hard act to follow, and underlines why people have labelled us for so long as the centre of the creative universe.

"The quality and variety in the programme is a product of a city that has taken the question of what culture means in our modern life to its heart.

"The answer will showcase Liverpool and Britain at its very best – stimulating all the senses as well as the mind.

"This is culture by the people, of the people, for the people.

"I've no doubt being European Capital of Culture will change how Liverpool thinks and how the rest of the world thinks of Liverpool.''

Major spectaculars already announced include the return of Liverpudlian conductor Sir Simon Rattle to perform with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

In addition, there is the start of the Tall Ships Race in July, with more than a million people expected to come and watch, and also the finish of the Round the World Clipper Yacht Race.

More than 50 international festivals in art, architecture, ballet, comedy, cinema, food, literature, music and theatre are planned.

And the Open Championship will be returning to Royal Birkdale, Southport, sealing Merseyside’s reputation as the Golf Coast.

Old favourite the Mathew Street Festival promises to come back with a bang and appeal to a broader base with the first inclusion of Afro-Caribbean music, after this year’s embarrassing cancellation.

The Summer Pops also looks likely to be bigger and better than ever, with a month-long festival of music at the new arena in July.

The UK’s first exhibition of the work of Austrian painter Gustav Klimt, including his Beethoven frieze, is to be held at Tate Liverpool.

And the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra will perform a series of Vienna-themed concerts, and provide music for two "spectacular" Viennese balls at the city’s newly-restored St George’s Hall.

Labour leader Joe Anderson, said: "It’s great to see iconic figures participating in the year’s culture celebrations. Clearly, they have made a major contribution to popular culture not just in Liverpool but throughout the world.

"However, I was expecting something a bit more unique with more of a wow factor because more than £112m is being spent.

"We were promised 14,000 jobs and as long as that is delivered that will be the biggest wow factor for Liverpool."