Town rocks to a day of music

Aug 13 2007 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

Eclectica Music Festival, St. Helens, held on the 11th August 2007

THOUSANDS of people took advantage of the fine weather to gather in the centre of St Helens for the town’s third free summer music festival. Liverpool legends Echo and The Bunnymen headlined the day-long Eclectica festival, performing their only gig on Merseyside this summer.

They were supported by Sheffield band Little Man Tate, and John Power, formerly of Cast and The La’s.

Organisers were also able to salvage one of the outdoor events which traditionally forms part of the Mathew Street fest- ival, with the Streetwaves show- case for young Merseyside-based musicians kicking off the festivities.

It is estimated a total of 15,000 people attended the event, held in Victoria Square outside the town hall on Saturday. Organiser Gary Maddock said: “We had fantastic weather for it and it couldn’t have gone any better. We wanted to take the event up a few gears and this year’s pro- gramme saw a real development quality-wise. Echo & the Bunnymen were superb and put on a quality show. It was a great finale to a great day.

“And because we were the only outdoor stage left on Merseyside, it gave us an opportunity to host the Streetwaves showcase for young talented musicians.”

St Helens contacted the Liverpool Culture Company after the Mathew Street festival got into difficulties, and offered to incorporate the Streetwaves 2007 event into the Eclectica music festival.

It offers a chance for talented musicians, aged 14 to 25, to take their first steps in the music industry, get advice from indus- try professionals, and obtain live performance experience.

Other acts included The Poems, a Glasgow-based folk rock band, and local bands The Acrylics, Giant Root Attack and The Lancashire Hotpots.

The event is run by St Helens council in association with the Citadel Arts Centre and Love Music, Hate Racism. The Citadel Arts Centre hosted an official Eclectica after-show party immediately after the gig.

alanweston