Liverpool's culture weekend with the 08 ‘wow’ factor

May 31 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL will this weekend go into “overdrive” as the number of Capital of Culture events reaches a crescendo with Sir Paul McCartney’s Anfield concert tomorrow evening.

With sunny weather expected to hit a 21C high today, tens of thousands of shoppers are also expected to flock to the city’s new Liverpool One development for its first weekend.

The city’s cultural highlights include:

The Klimt exhibition at the Tate, which opened to the public last night;

Former Beatle George Harrison’s widow, Olivia, and the Liverpool Culture Company presenting a special screening of Concert for George at Fact tonight;

Stella McCartney unveiling her autumn /winter 08 collection at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts tomorrow.

Other major events include the last night of Roger McGough’s adaptation of Moliere’s 17th-century comedy, Tartuffe, at the Liverpool Playhouse tonight, and Eric’s – The Story of A Liverpool Club on BBC Radio 2 tonight at 7pm.

Sir Paul’s Liverpool Sound concert tomorrow will cap a week that will have seen events in the city associated with all the former Beatles, apart from Ringo, who opened Culture year.

Yesterday, Yoko Ono called in to see an exhibition of John Lennon’s art in the foyer of the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo building.

Last night, council leader Cllr Warren Bradley said the weekend was the perfect curtain raiser to a summer packed full of events that will include the Tall Ships arrival and The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

On Thursday, the Saga Rose, with 600 passengers aboard, will berth at Liverpool’s Cruise Terminal, followed by the arrival of the Ark Royal – one of the jewel’s of the Royal Navy’s fleet – on Friday at 1pm.

Cllr Bradley said: “It is fabulous to see a city that has offered so much in one week.

“I went down to Anfield to see the last-minute preparations and the stage is massive, people will see it on Sunday and be in awe.

“This weekend is a great curtain-raiser for the summer.”

Officials at Liverpool One are this weekend also hoping to beat Thursday’s opening day, when more than 200,000 visitors packed into the shopping centre.

The street entertainers who contributed so much to the enjoyment of the day were so popular that Liverpool One chief Executive Joanne Jennings has decided to keep them on this weekend to thrill new shoppers.

She said: “We had a wonderful day that exceeded all our expectations and our retailers, too.

“And the many street artists involved really helped build the fabulous sense of occasion that contributed to the brilliant turnout from the public.

“Liverpool One is so much more than just a shopping experience. It’s about bringing the streets of this part of the city back to life – something I feel we have done in grand style.”

The artists set to perform over the weekend include Cirque Bijou, whose unique blend of street and circus theatre will see them prowling the streets of Liverpool One in outlandish costumes to entertain shoppers returning once again to the city centre.

They will be joined by Europe’s most extravagant balloon artists, Baloonatic, who will be proving there is more to balloon sculpture than sausage dogs.

Martin King, director of tourism at The Mersey Partnership (TMP), said: “It’s been a phenomenal few days – and there’s so much more to come.

“In terms of attractions, events and activities for visitors we have gone into overdrive.

“The Klimt exhibition was always going to be a highlight of 2008 and the response to this week’s preview and official opening have been fantastic.

“Liverpool One really is transforming the region’s retail offer, and that’s before it’s fully open in September.

“Sunday at Anfield promises to be another memorable highlight of 2008.

“Next week, we see the arrival of 600 passengers aboard the next cruise ship to call at Liverpool, the draw for the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament and a host of other events which underline the City Region’s appeal as a world class destination during Liverpool’s Capital of Culture Year.”

FOR tickets for “Concert for George” call 08717 042063. Don’t miss Monday’s Liverpool Daily Post for a special eight-page commemorative supplement on Sir Paul’s Anfield concert.

AMONG the highlights of this weekend include the first chance for the public to see Tate Liverpool’s Gustav Klimt show, the first comprehensive exhibition of the Viennese artist’s work staged in the UK, which opened yesterday.

It is expected to be one of the highlights of Capital of Culture year, with major paintings and drawings were flown in from across the world for the exhibition, which features more than 200 artworks and runs until August 31.

Entrance is by timed ticket only, priced £8.

It is also the first weekend of Liverpool One, open until 7pm tonight and 5pm tomorrow.

Roger McGough’s acclaimed adaptation of Tartuffe finishes its run at the Playhouse tonight before beginning a London run.

Meanwhile, the first Beatles-related event of the weekend takes place tonight with a special screening of A Concert for George at Fact, a Culture Company tribute to George Harrison that his widow Olivia will be attending.

Tomorrow is the Liverpool Sound, with Sir Paul McCartney performing at Anfield with support from Dave Grohl, the Kaiser Chiefs and the Zutons.

BBC Radio Merseyside will provide a live broadcast of the concert – on FM, digital and the internet – from 5pm. BBC2 will broadcast highlights after the concert ends at 10.30pm. Tickets still available at www.liverpool08.com.

Before the show, an audience of “A list celebs” is promised as Sir Paul’s daughter Stella McCartney hosts a presentation of her Autumn / Winter collection at LIPA on Sunday at 1pm. There will be surprise live musical performances, and the presentation will be followed by a champagne reception.

Tickets are sold exclusively through Cricket with all proceeds going to LIPA. For more information telephone 0151 227 4645 Ext 22.

Finally, the Liverpool Comedy Festival continues, with shows from Simon Amstell tonight and acts including Frankie Boyle and Jimmy Carr later in the week. Visit www.liverpoolcomedyfestival.com.

Advice for gig at Anfield

GATES open at 5pm. The concert is due to finish at 10.30pm.

Limited parking is available near to Anfield, but concert-goers are recommended to use public transport or park in the city centre car parks and then get the bus to Anfield.

Buses 17 and 217 from city centre Queen Square bus station operate every 15 minutes from two minutes past the hour until 6pm when it changes to 6.02pm, 6.32pm and 7.32pm from stand 8.

The last bus back to the city centre leaves at 11.36pm.

Bags will be searched on the way into the concert, and food, drink, cameras, sound recording devices, air horns and knives will be confiscated.

Food and drink can be bought within the ground.

The stadium is non-smoking.