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A year's worth of culture in
just 1 summer
LIVERPOOL'S season of events
celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Beatles track:- 'Summer of Love'
is taking shape.
Organisations across Merseyside have submitted more than 60 events; totalling a
year's worth of culture in just over 5 months.
These will form part of 67-17 - '50 Summers of Love' a programme which marks the
summer of 1967, and the subsequent summers, which were landmarks in modern
culture. Liverpool played a central role in the outpouring of creativity in
1967, as the year saw the release of The Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely
Hearts Club Band, the publication of one of the world's most popular poetry
anthologies The Mersey Sound and the opening of the Metropolitan Cathedral; all
of which will form part of some of the activities taking place.
50 Summers of Love runs from Wednesday 12 April until early Sunday, 3 September
2017 and will showcase the incredible creativity which can be found in the City. Here
are some of the events taking place over the 20 weeks:-
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The Metropolitan Cathedral is planning a series of special events to mark their
Golden Jubilee. The Solemn Jubilee Mass will take place on June 4 and other
events include Voices of The Metropolitan Cathedral, which will bring together
members of the public to create a special listening trail of memories from the
Cathedral's history, and a Flower Festival which will see the Cathedral's iconic
interior transformed with stunning floral displays. It will also welcome The
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra who will perform 'Gloria!' conducted by
Sir James MacMillan CBE, in the unique surroundings of the Metropolitan
Cathedral.
►
Bluecoat is working with the Metropolitan Cathedral to present The Liverpool
Mass; a very special tribute to the work of one of the pioneers of electronic
music, French composer Pierre Henry. The French musique concrète composer was
commissioned to create this electronic mass for the opening of the Brutalist
building in 1967, but did not complete it. Fifty years later it will be performed
as a live mix by Henry's sound design partner and engineer Thierry Balasse, a
unique performance using 40 speakers designed especially for the circular space.
►
Liverpool International Music Festival celebrates its 5th birthday this year and
returns to Sefton Park from Friday, 21 July to Sunday 23 July 2017. The theme of 2017 is
Remember The Times and will celebrate, explore and showcase pivotal music
moments which were the springboard for various genres such as hip-hop, house
music and pop.
►
Liverpool Arab Arts Festival (8 July to 16 July 2017), the UK's biggest annual
celebration of Arab arts and culture, will be staging around 35 events
throughout the 50 Summers of Love period. These include a joyful public
celebration of Eid on Lodge Lane (Saturday, 8 July), an Arab extravaganza of live
performances at the World Museum (Saturday, 15 July), a concert by world renowned
Palestinian singer, writer and performer Reem Kelani in the Philharmonic Hall
Music Room (Saturday, 15 July), and the hugely popular LAAF Family Day at Sefton
Park Palm House provides the high energy finale on Sunday, 16 July 2017.
►
The UK's largest metropolitan festival Sound City is planning some spectacular
musical events to bring to Liverpool for the Summer of Love 2017. Sound City are
set for a mighty return on Thursday, 25 May to Sunday, 28 May 2017, for its 10th
Anniversary celebration, which promises to be a huge musical happening featuring
the best in live music, art and culture. Already confirmed for Sound City 2017
is global music legend John Cale who will take the stage in Liverpool with the
only European performance of:- 'The Velet Underground and Nico' Album. Additionally,
from the Wednesday, 27 July to Sunday 30 July, there will be four spectacular and
unique nights of music coming to Liverpool Waters and a musical spectacle for
all the family in Penny Lane on the August Bank Holiday Weekend. The full
details of all the live shows are to be imminently announced, with some huge
names already confirmed.
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The Atkinson, a creative hub in Southport, will join the programme with a nod to
Summers of Love in their Southport Festival which takes place 5 May to 7 May and sees a
whole host of music, literature, comedy and music activities staged. A free
Vintage and Makers Fair on Saturday 13 May will showcase some of the best crafty
creativity on offer in the North West.
►
To mark the 50th Anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of male homosexual
acts in England and Wales, National Museums Liverpool will host Coming Out; a
major exhibition exploring sexuality and gender identity since 1967. Taking
place at the Walker Art Gallery and running from Friday 28 July, the exhibition
will include works by artists:- David Hockney, Steve McQueen, LINDER, James
Richards and Sarah Lucas among others, as well as new acquisitions to the
Walker's collection.
► Flower power will take centre stage at the Knowsley Flower Show which is the
largest free horticultural show of its kind in the North West. This year it will
take place on Sunday, 6 August 2017, 11am to 5pm. Affiliated to the Royal Horticultural
Society, the show has a wide variety of attractions on offer including a giant
Floral Marquee, a host of entertainment including dog obedience displays, circus
skills, a Craft and Communities and Charities marquee, Geraud Farmers market,
children's fairground rides plus live music and performances spread across Court
Hey Park in Huyton.
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Milapfest, Liverpool's Indian Arts Organisation, will be staging a classical
Indian dance show, on 12 May 2017, at The Capstone Theatre, which will feature world
renowned Kathak dancers Nirupama & Rajendra. Milapfest return again in July with
Indika, Europe's largest festival of Indian arts featuring the biggest names in
music and dance for one week from 21 July to 28 July 2017, at The Capstone Theatre.
►
Liverpool Pride Festival, the region's established annual celebration of all
things LGBT returns for 2017 for its eighth consecutive year. The theme for this
year's free event is International Love. Liverpool Pride has grown to become one
of the City's major annual events to celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender communities through a City wide celebration where everyone is
welcome.
► A summer solstice on Wednesday, 21 June 2017, in Princes Park will be hosted by
Squash Nutrition. It will be a celebratory community get together marking
midsummer's day, with dawn breakfast, yoga, wild food walks and family
activities taking place from sunrise to sunset on the longest day of the year.
► The Rock 'n' Liverpool Marathon and ½ Marathon is back for 2017 taking place
on 27 May to 28 May 2017 and it will be embracing the music and culture of 1967. Expect live
music along the course which will play music from the era, with a focus on The Fab Four. The musically themed race is also famous for its bling and this year's
marathon, half marathon, 5k and one mile medals will all embrace the 60's
Summer of Love theme.
► Taking place, on Saturday, 5 August 2017, 1pm to 5pm, the
3rd Knowsley Feelgood Festival
promises to be a fun, family, cultural event aimed at promoting health and
wellbeing and a healthier lifestyle with lots of activities planned including
fitness taster sessions, creative session for people to try including drawing,
painting, knitting, complementary therapies, live music and performances plus
lots of interactive health stalls. It takes place in part of the grounds of
Court Hey Park.
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► Africa Oye is the UK's largest celebration of African music and culture, and
takes place each year in Liverpool's Sefton Park. 2017 is Oye's 25th Anniversary
year, so expect a "festival of headliners", featuring artists who have worked
with Oye in the past 25 years.
The Comedy Trust, the brains behind the annual Liverpool Comedy Festival, will
not only be celebrating their 15th Birthday, in 2017, but are also busy planning
some exciting events as part of the 50 Summers of Love celebrations in the
wonderful and fabulously funny City of Liverpool.
Inspired by the changes that took place in 1967 in Liverpool, Open Eye Gallery
will host the Affecting Change exhibition from July to September which works
with the next generation of photographers in the North West to look at the
people and groups who are changing the City now. Their work will connect us to
the stories of how Liverpool is still changing and evolving today.
There will also be 2 very special commissions taking place as part of the
programme, details of which will be announced in the coming weeks. The first
will feature an exciting series of special events celebrating the impact and
influence of The Mersey Sound. The 2nd commission focuses on the 50th
anniversary of the release of Sgt Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band and will see
unique cultural events take place in tribute to the seminal album.
Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said:-
"The Summer of 1967 was a hotbed
of cultural creativity and it seems as though 50 years on, nothing has changed.
This is 1 of the 1st of a series of announcements about the 50 Summers of
Love programme, and already, the number of organisations from across the region
who want their events to be part of the season has been staggering.
It's not only the quantity of events; the quality is outstanding. From major
sporting events and free, family friendly festivals right through to incredible
music commissions and even a flower power revival; there really is something
for everyone. This season is all about celebrating creative ambition and
diversity and it's great to see our partners across the region embracing the
City's theme, rising to the challenge and proving once again that our cultural
sector really is second to none."
To see the latest information about 50 Summers of Love visit:-
50SummersOfLove.co.UK, or follow #CultureLpool, on Twitter or
follow 'Culture Liverpool' on Facebook.
What They Say...
"2017 is set to be a very special year in the life of our Cathedral and we
are delighted to be able to mark our Golden Jubilee with some wonderful events,
many of which are in collaboration with our cultural partners across the City. I
hope as many people as possible will join us and help us make this a truly
celebratory fiftieth anniversary." Canon Anthony O'Brien, Dean of the
Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King
"As usual we like to do our own take on the City's wider cultural theme.
2017 is no different. Expect a number of interesting, exciting and surprising
performances that revolve around the theme of Remember the Times." Yaw
Owusu, Curator Liverpool International Music Festival
"The '50 Summers of Love' programme is a fantastic way for all of
the Liverpool City Region attractions to work together to promote the fantastic
arts and cultural offer we deliver for tourists and visitors. We attract over
500,000 visitors a year to our galleries, museum, Ancient Egypt Gallery, library
and theatres but we hope that being part of this programme will encourage more
people to visit us, the coast and The Gormleys, to see what else this culturally
diverse region has to offer and to spend time discovering what is, just a train
ride from the City itself." Emma Lloyd, Principal Manager Programmes -
The Atkinson
"It's great to join together with our City region partners to deliver a
spectacular season of events under the 50 Summers of Love banner. The hopeful
message of Sgt. Pepper and 1967, that experimentalism and visionary
breakthroughs in art can be the peaceful catalyst for cultural change, reflects
our own messages about the importance of art and culture in bringing people
together and making positive change. 50 Summers of Love provides a platform for
us to share our work with an even bigger local, national and international
audience, and we're so looking forward to being part of it." Taher
Qassim, Chair of Liverpool Arab Arts Festival
"Knowsley are delighted to be celebrating Liverpool's 'Summers of Love' in
our weekend of events at Court Hey Park during the first weekend in August. We
hope people are inspired to attend both of these family cultural events and even
to start growing and entering this year's Knowsley Flower Show. We particularly
invite new exhibitors to try their hand at gardening as there is lots of help
and advice on offer and there are also some special themed classes to enter
embracing '50 Summers of Love'. The Schedule of classes will be printed soon.
And, as 1967 was the year that Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and All you
Need is Love were released, visitors will be treated to some live Beatles themed
music and will see lots of colourful Summer of Love décor throughout Court Hey
Park." Councillor Steff O'Keeffe, Knowsley Council's Cabinet Member for
Public Health, Wellbeing and Customer Service
"We are so excited to be a part of this historic and colourful celebration.
Our event fits right into the theme of the summer which will honour an important
part of Rock 'n' Roll history." Stacey Campbell, Vice President of
Global Events for the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series
"It's wonderful timing that Oye's 25th Anniversary gets to be celebrated
alongside the 50 Summers of Love festivities in the City. It marks a milestone
in Liverpool's music and cultural scene and it's a programme of events I'm proud
to have Oye associated with." Paul Duhaney, Artistic Director of Africa
Oye
"There's so much to celebrate this year and we're thrilled to be a part of
the 50 Summers of Love programme for 2017. It's so exciting from a comedy
perspective to explore how the medium and its theme and content have evolved
over the last 50 years and how we can represent that retrospective within our
Festival." Sam Avery, Artistic Director of The Comedy Trust
"This is a really extraordinary event; gathering together with friends and
neighbours in Princes Park to watch the sunrise at 4.45am is something very
special. It's an event which celebrates community, togetherness and sharing and
we are happy that it is part of the 50 Summers of Love programme." Clare
Owens, Squash Nutrition.
"We're proud to be marking the 50th Anniversary of the Summer of Love with
our major exhibition; Coming Out. We'll reveal more than two years of research
by the Walker Art Gallery into LGBT history and visual culture, using our own
collection and Arts Council Collection. We look forward to celebrating with the
rest of the City with a programme of events and performances." Sam Vaux,
Marketing and Publications Manager at National Museums Liverpool.
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