The old thread seems to have got lost somewhere, so I thought I'd start a new one for news and discussion on next year's event.

This article from today's Daily Post is interesting, and I actually quite like the idea -

Mathew Street festival to be held in Mersey Tunnel entrance

NEXT year’s Mathew Street festival could be held at the entrance to one of the Mersey tunnels.

The move would see the showpiece event’s outdoor stages set up at the Liverpool end of the Birkenhead tunnel, in Old Haymarket.

Culture officials believe it is a perfect place for bands to play as the stages are in a natural bowl.

There would also be room for thousands of music fans to watch the festival from nearby St John’s gardens and William Brown Street, where the Liverpool Nativity was held on Sunday.

Liverpool’s Culture Company and Merseytravel have been discussing the idea for some time and today both gave the plans their backing.

Security and public safety issues must still be ironed out and a final decision will be made next year.

Creative head and deputy chairman of the Culture Company Phil Redmond said: “The Mersey tunnels, particularly the entrance facing St George’s Hall, are part of every Scouser’s DNA.

“The opportunity to create something really special over the Mathew Street festival weekend will be one of the real surprises we have promised for 2008.

“The fact that Merseytravel has stepped up with this offer is another great indication that, by working together and pooling our existing resources, we can make the world sit up and take notice.

“Liverpool is, always was and will continue to be an outstanding centre of creativity and innovation – the real Capital of Culture.”

More here - http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2007/12/18/mathew-street-festival-to-be-held-in-mersey-tunnel-entrance-64375-20265318/

Further down the article, Joe Anderson states that he thinks Everton Park and St. George's Plateau should be looked at. I think Everton Park is probably a little dis-connected from the city centre to work properly. But St. George's Plateau, St. John's Gardens, William Brown Street, and the tunnel entrance area sounds like a good, workable location for an event of this size.

The old thread seems to have got lost somewhere, so I thought I'd start a new one for news and discussion on next year's event.

This article from today's Daily Post is interesting, and I actually quite like the idea -

Mathew Street festival to be held in Mersey Tunnel entrance

NEXT year’s Mathew Street festival could be held at the entrance to one of the Mersey tunnels.

The move would see the showpiece event’s outdoor stages set up at the Liverpool end of the Birkenhead tunnel, in Old Haymarket.

Culture officials believe it is a perfect place for bands to play as the stages are in a natural bowl.

There would also be room for thousands of music fans to watch the festival from nearby St John’s gardens and William Brown Street, where the Liverpool Nativity was held on Sunday..

The "Nativity " stages looked in a perfect location............

http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/7784/20071216200716dec0034ah6.jpg


But if Merseytravel would allow a stage to be built over the mouth of Queensway that would be spectacular......

http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/1938/20070708trip07ferrymay0ce8.jpg

Good idea but it needs to be pointed out that it makes sense to stop traffic when this is in progress. The Culture Company are prone to miss little details like that.

In the King's Dock thread, Woody raised a good point that the locations should be revealed as early as possible to hopefully avoid any cock-ups like last year. Are there any thoughts about where the stages, funfair, and other attractions for this year's Mathew Street Festival should be located?

Chris, This years event has to be bigger and more varied than in past years. I would like to see the PHIL , Country music, Jazz added to the mix of "tribute bands". As for stage locations, ACC Piazza, Chavasse Park, Mersey Tunnel, Williamson Sq, Derby Sq., Pier Head ( a part will be open in AUG ), Town Hall, Strand, Salthouse Dock. The fun fair I would put in Dale Street. Headline bands should be at the ACC Piazza..

^^

It has to be the biggest MSF ever held yet, a lot of the building work and roadworks/rodblocks are finished, and look at the 50,000 crowd outside St Georges hall, at night to see there isn't a health and safety issue.

We now have
1) Kings dock area
2) Strand near the rear of RLB, no roadworks or construction site there, as in previous event
3) Lord/Church/Clayton sq, no paving works
4) St George plateau/Will Brown st...say no moooer.
5) Tunnel entrance a new idea
6) Mathew/Sth John/Castle st no paving works.
7) Would Chavasse park be ready by then...!

3) Lord/Church/Clayton sq, no paving works

I could be wrong but there's something at the back of my mind that I remember that the shops along the main shopping areas do not want the stages/funfair/anything else in front of their stores as the crowds can put people off who just want to shop. As such, they support the festival, and the increase in business it provides when it is just slightly away from their stores, but they don't want it on their doorstep.

7) Would Chavasse park be ready by then...!

I'm sure it said in the Echo a while ago that Chevasse Park was due to be open by September. Given the MSF takes place at the end of August, I wonder whether it could be completed a few weeks early, and the MSF could be like it's official re-opening?

I do like the suggestions posted here of having stages spread across the city. If this is to be the biggest MSF ever, you need to ensure there is sufficient capacity in the city, and having events spread out across the city centre will help achieve that.

How about a Caribbean / World in One City stage around Hope Street - the Notting Hill Carnival takes place on the same weekend.

No way would CVhavasse Park be used. The timeline is too tight by far. The same applies to the Pier Head.

They could use the Kings Dock plateau, Clayton Sq, William Brown Street.

They arecpretty far away from each other, which for H & S terms is a good thing.

In terms of retaining an atmosphere and public convenience, it's less favourable.

Derby Sq will be a building site by then too.

Mathew Street budget increased to £750,000
Mar 7 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

FUNDING for this year’s Mathew Street Festival has almost doubled to prevent a repeat of last year’s embarrassing cancellation.

The Culture Company has budgeted £750,000 for the August Bank Holiday festival – compared to the £400,000 it set aside for last year’s ill-fated event.

The budget is set to be officially ratified after a meeting of the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) which has to approve large public events.

The Daily Post understands the Culture Company will request permission from SAG to put stages at Derby Square, Water Street, Chapel Street, Tithebarn Street, Williamson Square, and the Mersey tunnel entrance at Byrom Street.
Last year’s outdoor Mathew Street was cancelled at the last minute because of health and safety fears, leading to a huge

outcry and claims it was the city’s worst PR disaster in years.

Discussions to organise this year’s event started soon after the scaled-down indoor event went ahead last August.

The company that compiled the report that killed off the festival on safety grounds – Capita Symonds – have been brought in as safety advisors, the Daily Post understands.

Former events manager Lee Forde, who resigned last year and later claimed the £400,000 budget would not have allowed for a safe festival, last night said he felt vindicated by the decision.

“I think this proves that what I requested and what I said was necessary, it has been borne out by them undertaking that this year.

“I am really pleased to see the event happening, and I am glad to see that an adequate budget has been put in place.”

Around £480,000 ended up being spent on last year’s festival, even though it did not feature outdoor stages.

After the council published its contentious report into the cancellation of the festival, council leader Warren Bradley vowed the Mathew Street festival would definitely go ahead this year.

Last night, Cllr Bradley said: “We’ve been working extremely closely with all of our partners over the last few months to finalise the plans for this year’s Mathew Street Festival.

“I am very satisfied with the progress but at the moment we are not in a position to confirm the exact details of the festival.”

Deputy Labour leader Cllr Paul Brant said: “I am pleased that additional money seems to have been found, as the Labour party has been raising concerns that Mathew Street was under-funded this year.

“However, we will be requesting confirmation that there are no cuts to other parts of the 08 programme given the financial crisis that the council is experiencing.”

A Culture Company spokesman said: “The budget will be confirmed once the Safety Advisory Group have met.”

Mr Forde added: “The money is needed because of the requirements to put on a safe event with six stages in the city centre without a large open space – in those circumstances, costs increase.”

He said the money would need to go towards CCTV, signs, security staff, and creating escape routes among other festival expenses.

“There is an increase in infrastructure and man power to produce a safe event for the people of the city.”

“Pressure was put on employees to do something that was impossible. I said it was impossible to do it for £400,000, so I do feel vindicated by this.”

Martin King, director of Liverpool’s official tourist board The Mersey Partnership (TMP), said detailed planning for this year’s Mathew Street festival was well advanced.

“For us, as the Tourist Board promoting the destination all over the world, it’s one of the major attractions in the whole Capital of Culture programme.

“In previous years, together with International Beatles Week events, Mathew Street has attracted thousands of extra visitors to the city and we look forward to seeing them back for a great event this year.”

I normally avoid this like the plague but that mersey tunnel stage is calling me by name already.

:cheers:

The Daily Post understands the Culture Company will request permission from SAG to put stages at Derby Square, Water Street, Chapel Street, Tithebarn Street, Williamson Square, and the Mersey tunnel entrance at Byrom Street.

I think these streets/areas are good choices for locating the stages. Each street/area has a good capacity to hold the crowd in front of each stage, meaning more people can enjoy the acts on each stage. More importantly, the stage locations are fairly well spread out. Although the fun fair will inevitably appear on another street (probably Castle Street, Dale Street or Victoria Street), there will still be a good few 'empty' streets in between the stages, into which people can disperse as they move between stages, increasing the capacity of the event as a whole. With the crowds this event is likely to attract - probably record-breaking numbers this year - capacity is a key issue, and they seem to have considered this when deciding where to locate the stages.

I've always liked the idea of creating an event space between the Royal Liver and Cunard bdgs as well. With that wank of a canal spewing across the whole Pierhead now I suppose it could become an option for the 'waterfront'?

I've always liked the idea of creating an event space between the Royal Liver and Cunard bdgs as well. With that wank of a canal spewing across the whole Pierhead now I suppose it could become an option for the 'waterfront'?

Doubt it mate, they'd have to shut the Strand and anyway there'll be one in Water Street.:)

I wonder what kind of media attention the event will attract this year, outside of the local media I mean? Last year's cock-up not counted, the MSF is an event that grows in size every year, and with it being Capital of Culture year, surely it deserves a bit of media exposure as well? The Notting Hill Carnival gets a mention every year, why not the MSF too?

^^The Notting Hill Carnival is an event with real cultural and historical significance.

The MSF can be fun but its hardly that. How much coverage do huge events like the Bulldog Bash (heavy metal/biker types doing their thing) or the Beetle Bash (people who like VWs gathering together, drinking beer and watching has-been bands) get? And probably loads more meetings I've not heard of.

^^

True, perhaps the Notting Hill Carnival wasn't the best example. The point I was trying to raise though is that it is a localised event (albeit attracting people from further afield) that achieves national media coverage. Even if the MSF isn't (yet) at the point it deserves national coverage each year, it's certainly heading that way, and in view of this year's event likely being record-breaking and it being Capital of Culture year - something of both national and European significance, perhaps the event deserves a little more than only local coverage, if only for this year.

Any event that gets 300000+ people on the street certainly has potential. I have been to the Notting Hill carnival a few times and think it's over-rated and being sardined in Portobello Road ain't nice. I have had more fun at Lewes bonfire night (it's a bit anti-papist so don't tell any of the catholics that get on here).

The problem with the MSF is that it's naff - just like yellow submarines and superlambananas. However, it takes a great city to produce such monumental naffness primarily for local consumption. That is impressive.

it has massive potential, but I just can't stand it, the way it has evolved into a tribute band festival in recent years.

I think the festival is already quite diverse, the problem is that at least 90% of the pie consists of Beatles tribute acts. Personally, I'd love it to showcase a musical free-for-all where everyone brings their own instruments and plays whatever comes into their heads!

it is not really the beatles tributes, as tiresome as it is having so many of them it is all the other Abba and Chicago or whatever copybands that seems to have been attracted (or invited?) to get involved.

I think they should concentrate on new and up and coming bands, maybe even opportunities for those from other cities! I would also like to see more affiliated stuff, like master classes and 'how to's' about getting on in the music industry, some more conferences and stuff, timed so that the attendees could still visit the events and stay for the whole period.

From the Echo -

http://videos.icnetwork.co.uk/icwirral/tuesp5big.jpg

SIX SITES earmarked for outdoor stages at this year’s Mathew Street Festival were revealed today.

Culture organisers said last year’s alcohol ban was likely to be lifted so festival-goers can enjoy a drink in parts of the city centre.

Beatles’ bands will play on a stage in Derby Square while cover bands will entertain the crowds at the Birkenhead tunnel entrance.

Water Street will host country and rock acts and a stage at the junction of Tithebarn Street and Exchange Street East will feature local bands.

Merseybeat groups will perform at the corner of Tithebarn Street and Hatton Garden and the winners of the youth Streetwaves competition in Williamson Square.

The final decision will be made by Liverpool’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) which must approve large public events. It was SAG’s concerns which set in motion the train of events which led to last year’s outdoor festival being cancelled.

Ged Gibbons, a former Liverpool events manager who has been seconded to the Culture Company from St Helens council for 2008, is working on festival plans.

He said: “The Strand will remain fully operational and Lime Street and Queen Square bus station will be open.” In previous years festival stages have been sited on The Strand and on neighbouring streets, including Chapel Street and Water Street

More here - http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/04/01/revealed-mathew-street-08-100252-20701689/

And the dubstep will be where...?

NEW LOOK FOR '08 MATHEW STREET MUSIC FESTIVAL

Liverpool will be the UK capital of live music this August Bank Holiday, with a radical new programme for the Mathew Street Music Festival.

For the first time in its 16-year history, the annual event – Europe’s biggest - will feature:

* Six outdoor stages across two days in Liverpool city centre
* A new main stage near to the Queensway Tunnel
* A new Mathew St Fringe Festival - featuring original bands indoors
* New themes for all six stages – including Soul, Diva, Brit Pop and New Bands
* Huge LED screens on three stages

Over 80 hours of live outdoor music has been programmed for Sunday-Monday, August 24-25 with 95 bands performing from as far as USA, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, France, Italy, Finland, Poland, Turkey and Scotland.

More than 30 indoor venues have also signed up to host live bands over the weekend from as far as Australia, Chile, Russia and Indonesia.

The outdoor stages will operate from 11am to 6pm on both days, with indoor venues offering live music from 12 noon until the early hours.

Highlights of the weekend will include a 42-piece orchestra from the Czech Republic and a 32-piece military band from Brazil accompanying two Beatles tribute acts.

Cult heroes 'Chas and Dave' will be appearing on the main stage on Sunday, with 90s chart topping band Right Said Fred and award-winning blues legend Connie Lush on the Diva Stage on Monday.

(Don't get me wrong. Connie Lush, love her but Chas and Dave and Right Said Fred? Puuurrrrleeeeeassse :nuts:)

Joining them on the Diva stage, which will be hosted by Liverpool super-club Garlands, will be stars from BBC TV’s Saturday primetime show - The One and Only - will be appearing, including the winner Katy Setterfied as Dusty Springfield.

The ‘08 festival will also be promoting the best of Liverpool’s current music scene from hiphop to indie to psychedelic folk rock at Williamson Square, on both days, and crowd favourites on the Pub Rock and Merseybeat stages on Monday.

And the new Mathew St Fringe Festival will feature nine venues programming original bands from Liverpool.

There will also be a new European dimension thanks to a Streetwaves competition for unsigned bands organised by the Liverpool Culture Company via the Cities on the Edge programme with Marseilles, Bremen, Gdansk, Istanbul and Naples.

Liverpool City Council, working together with the directors of Mathew Street Festival Ltd, have co-programmed the new-look festival for the city’s year as European Capital of Culture.

The outdoor stages on Sunday for the 2008 Mathew Street Music Festival are:

* Main Stage – located on Byrom Street - by Queensway Tunnel entrance
* Beatles Stage – located on Derby Square
* Streetwaves Stage – located on Williamson Square
* Pub Rock Stage – located on Tithebarn Street (at Avril Robarts JMU building)
* Merseybeat Stage – located on Exchange Street
* Guitar Hero Stage – located on Water Street – (at Drury Lane)

On Monday, the Pub Rock will become the Blues/Soul Stage; Merseybeat will become Brit Pop; Guitar Hero will be Diva; and Streetwaves will be themed as New Bands.

The official programme for the Mathew Street Music Festival 2008 is due out by the second week of August.



Better than last year without a doubt.

:cheers:

Cheers for the post Babbs, looks 100 times better than 07, this is one of my favorite week ends of the year. I usually bring into town a few Mancs, who always enjoy the music and atmosphere.

See.............www.mathewstreetfestival.com for complete line up on all 6 outdoor stages for both Sunday & Monday.

The roundabout at the Mersey Tunnel entrance has been removed, I think for MSF.


http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/3729/p1020433ix2.jpg

The roundabout at the Mersey Tunnel entrance has been removed, I think for MSF.


I'm sure I heard that was for La Machine somewhere? Can anyone confirm this either way?

^^

NWT said it was for La Machine, and if La Machine is to head for William Brown Street, they may well be right. However thinking about the MSF, if a stage is positioned in the mouth of the tunnel, the area for the crowd in front of the stage is going to be right where the roundabout was. Therefore, it's probably a case of it being removed for both events, however the MSF will make use of the freed up space before La Machine does.

I thought I'd seen that somewhere thanks for that,that makes sense.

From the Echo -

A real fab week four all

Aug 19 2008 by Samantha Parker, Liverpool Echo

BEATLEMANIA will hit Liverpool tomorrow as tribute bands from all over the world pour into Liverpool for Beatle week.

In the run up to the Mathew Street Festival on Sunday four days of Beatle-based events and performances will take place across the city.

Thousands are expected to flock to Liverpool from 40 countries to take part in the event, which is organised by Cavern City Tours.

Not to be missed by Beatles fans and general music fans alike, over two hundred bands will participate, with live entertainment together with a convention, art exhibitions, concerts, flea markets, guest appearances, interviews and autograph sessions.

Organiser Bill Heckle said: ““We have been organising the Beatles Festival exclusively since 1985. It has been amazing watching it grow from a two day celebration into a week long series of events. It is incredible that the popular appeal of those four Scousers continues to grow.

“We are about 15% up on last year which must be the 08 factor. I applaud the Culture Company for managing to get direct input from Ringo in January and Paul, Yoko, George Martin, and Olivia in June.

“It is great that the Beatles have played such a vital role in not only helping us to get the Capital of Culture Award but they have also played a fully active role in celebrating the year.”

On Saturday the focus crosses the water to the Wirral where bands will be takings to stages within Birkenhead.

A privately hired ferry will transfer fans to Birkenhead for more details visit www.cavern-liverpool.co.uk.

On Sunday The Mathew Street Festival kicks off with two days of live music in the home of the Cavern Club.

Mr Heckle added: “Beatle week is the biggest annual tourist event on Merseyside and without it the Mathew Street festival would not have the same international flavour about it.

“Indeed the very first Mathew Street festival was a Beatle week event. It is startling how the Mathew Street festival has gained its own impetus and identity over the years.

“We are very proud of our pivotal role in it. There are 68 bands travelling from over 20 countries to participate in Beatle week and for many playing in Liverpool is the highlight of their careers.”

From here - http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/08/19/a-real-fab-week-four-all-100252-21556554/

From the Echo -

Countdown to Mathew Street Festival

Aug 21 2008 by Catherine Jones, Liverpool Echo

We’re ready to rock

FINAL preparations were taking place today for this weekend’s Mathew Street festival.

For the first time the music extravaganza will feature six stages packed with bands over two days.

There will also be a full programme of music in indoor venues alongside a new Mathew Street fringe.

The event inolves three big screens, 25 generators, 10 miles of audio cable, half a million watts of amplification, 500 speakers, 500 microphones, 15 trucks, 150 security and 250 “crowd management” staff , 250 temporary toilets, more than a mile of fencing and a cleansing team of 20 vehicles and 100 staff.

Eddy Grant, Liverpool Culture Company's major events manager, said: ''The new locations have set us some interesting challenges, and handling hundreds of thousand of people is always a huge responsibility.''

Merseytravel today urged people to leave their cars at home and take public transport to the event.

The Wallasey tunnel will remain open all weekend, but the Birkenhead tunnel will close from 10pm on Saturday until 6.30am on Tuesday with the festival’s new tunnel stage set up at the Haymarket entrance.

Five other stages will also be put up – in Derby Square, Williamson Square, Water Street, Exchange Street East and the Hatton Garden junction.

It means roads will be closed and diversions put in place, while the traffic flow will be reversed on Victoria Street during the day on Sunday and Monday.

Meanwhile Merseyside businesses have welcomed the return of the major music festival after last year’s event was axed over health and safety concerns.

The Hard Days Night Hotel today announced it was holding an exhibition featuring original paintings by animator Ron Campbell and photographer Bill Zygmant.

The display runs from Friday until Monday.

Continues here - http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/08/21/countdown-to-mathew-street-festival-100252-21577442/

Looking ahead, it seems the bad weather may just break, and it should be a bit calmer over the weekend. Not summer by any stretch, but just dry, which is much better than what we've had recently.

Although not part of the Mathew Street Festival, the floating stage in Salthouse Dock will be used as part of the Albert Dock festivities.........

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/TallShipsRaceJuly08110.jpg

From the Daily Post -

Festival weekend: this is our time

Aug 22 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL will this weekend cement its reputation as a major music destination, the city’s council leader Warren Bradley said last night.

Creamfields will celebrate its 10th anniversary by becoming a camping two-day festival for the first time.

While the free Mathew Street Festival returns after its cancellation last year, with six city centre open-air stages on Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.

Last night, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said last year’s cancellation of the Mathew Street Festival had been devastating for bars and restaurants, which are pleased to see it back this year.

Chris Burgess, chairman of the FSB’s Liverpool branch, said: “We’re delighted the Mathew Street Festival is now back on track and have no doubt that small businesses will make a massive contribu-tion to what promises to be a truly world-class event.”Š

Cream have spent a record £3m on its festival at Daresbury to celebrate a decade of dance.

The event will have a daily capacity of 40,000 and the music stops at 4am on Sunday morning and at 11pm on Sunday night.

Founder James Barton last night said: “This is the biggest Creamfields in terms of it being a landmark 10 years but also the size of the show, the fact that it is two days instead of one and the talent we’ve booked.

“Creamfields has always had a strong tradition of booking live acts and this year is no different.

“Some people are saying it’s the best line-up we have ever booked.

“It has a lot of amazing things about it – it certainly is the most complete line-up we have booked.”

He said he was particularly pleased he had managed to book Kasabian and Ian Brown, who headline alongside others including Underworld, Fat Boy Slim, Tiesto and Pete Tong.

Research has shown the new two-day format is attracting more people from London, Scotland and even Australia who plan to visit the region for the whole weekend.

Continues here - http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2008/08/22/festival-weekend-this-is-our-time-64375-21584029/

Rocking ..........mad busy and noisy :banana:

A few images ,

Tunnel Stage..................

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/MathewstreetFestival24-8-08sunda-4.jpg


http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/MathewstreetFestival24-8-08sunda-2.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/MathewstreetFestival24-8-08sunda-5.jpg

Security was tight around the mouth of the tunnel, and I was told that no one from "over the water" managed to smuggle their way through the ring of steel :lol:...

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/MathewstreetFestival24-8-08sunda-6.jpg

Superlambanana Stage..........

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/MathewstreetFestival24-8-08sunday08.jpg

The "Law" was busy, enjoying themselves:lol:.......


http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/MathewstreetFestival24-8-08sunday00.jpg


http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/MathewstreetFestival24-8-08sunday10.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/MathewstreetFestival24-8-08sunda-1.jpg

Great photos Woody. For some reason I got the impression from the reports that the Queensway stage would actually be situated in the mouth of the tunnel (or as close as was practical anyway).

Looks like a good crowd, and hopefully the event will attract even more people tomorrow.

I thought that, too and was very disappointed - once you have seen one non-Mersey tunnel stage set you have seen them all.

We went down Mathew Street yesterday afternoon - it was like being amongst sprats squirming in a net. Way too crowded but everyone was good natured.

From the Daily Post -

The beat goes on at Mathew Street festival

Aug 25 2008 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

The beat goes on at Mathew Street festival

TENS of thousands packed into clubs and on to Liverpool’s streets as the Mathew Street festival burst into life.

For the first time, the music extravaganza features six stages of bands playing everything from Elton John classics to new tunes by homegrown acts over two days.

The sun shone as spectators brought their packed lunches and deckchairs out to St John’s Gardens for a grandstand view of the Tunnel Stage.

Fake That! were among the entertainers keeping a massive crowd enthralled while yards away the Streetwaves Stage featured up-and-coming acts in Williamson Square.

Families and music lovers, like Lynn Clare and her three-year-old niece, Honey Hawkins, were revelling in the atmosphere.

“It’s absolutely fantastic, she said. “The weather has been kind and this is Liverpool at its best.”

After the non-event last year, visitors such as Mark Berry, from south Liverpool, have a massive appetite for the festival.

He said: “There’s something different everywhere you turn and having a big Sunday seems to have worked because it’s packed.”

The sheer scale of the street festival is mind-boggling. There are three big screens, 25 generators, 10 miles of audio cable, half a million watts of amplification, 500 speakers, 500 microphones, 15 trucks, 150 security and 250 “crowd management” staff, 250 temporary toilets, more than a mile of fencing and a cleansing team of 20 vehicles and 100 staff.

Scores of tribute acts were joined by Cockney favourites Chas ’n’ Dave, and today I’m Too Sexy stars Right Said Fred are on stage.

Bands from across Scotland, USA, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, France, Italy, Finland, Poland and Turkey will all be performing.

For the first time this year, a Liverpool nightclub is running its own stage.

Garlands DJ Lez Calvert and resident Diva Angie Brown have joined Cher and Elton John tribute acts.

Club promoter Barry McDonald is hoping the party atmosphere the club has developed a reputation for in Ibiza will translate to the streets.

From here - http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2008/08/25/the-beat-goes-on-at-mathew-street-festival-64375-21598002/

This photo was taken on Sunday. You can view more images here : Mathew Street - pics (http://www.liverpoolstreetgallery.com/thumbnails.php?album=lastup&cat=0)

Mathew Street Festival 2008 - Byrom Street
http://www.leverpoole.co.uk/1.3/webpics-lsg/mathew/080824-byrom-st-043b.jpg

Click on the thumbnails to open a larger image.

Dale Street
http://www.leverpoole.co.uk/1.3/webpics-lsg/mathew/th/080824-dale-st-005.jpg (http://www.leverpoole.co.uk/1.3/webpics-lsg/mathew/080824-dale-st-005.jpg)

Byrom Street
http://www.leverpoole.co.uk/1.3/webpics-lsg/mathew/th/080824-byrom-st-047.jpg (http://www.leverpoole.co.uk/1.3/webpics-lsg/mathew/080824-byrom-st-047.jpg)


Tony
.......................................................
Liverpool maps and photographs (http://www.leverpoole.co.uk/)

Brilliant Tony thanks.:cheers:

had a good time down at the festival, courtesy of one of our regular forumers today!

Nice one!

From the Daily Post -

Festival’s back and it’s better than ever

Aug 26 2008 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

THE Mathew Street Festival came back with a resounding bang this weekend, attracting hundreds of thousands into the city centre over two days.

This morning, stages are being collapsed and streets cleaned after what is thought to be Liverpool’s most successful music festival of all time.

A spokesman for the organisers said: “It is believed to be the best and biggest festival in terms of numbers and it has far exceeded all expectations.

“We have never seen so many people on the city centre streets.”

And last night Liverpool City Council leader Warren Bradley said the city was already looking at ways of making next year even bigger.

Cllr Bradley said: “The Mathew Street Festival is back with a bang.

“It goes from strength to strength and it’s now one of the most important dates on Liverpool’s cultural calendar, not just for Liverpool, but for those who visit the city.”

He is now in the process of attracting support for private sector financing to make 2009’s festival bigger still.

For the first time this year, the festival had six outdoor stages across two days and added a new main stage near to the Queensway Tunnel, a Mathew Street Fringe Festival, featuring original bands indoors and huge LED screens on three stages.

Crowds also flocked to Derby Square, Williamson Square, Water Street, Exchange Street East and the Hatton Garden junction.

Tribute bands like Argentinian act God Save the Queen left about 15,000 new fans sure they had seen the real thing, while 90s act Right Said Fred proved they were still “too sexy”.

At Exchange Street East, Steff Morris, who travelled in from Rhyl, North Wales, said: “The atmosphere is brilliant and the acts have been brilliant – Tina Turner was the best I’ve seen.”

Gillian and Ivan Corts brought their daughter, Erin, down from Blackpool for the day, but the family were not expecting the festival at all.

Mrs Corts said: “I’ve been amazed. Our first impressions of the city have been blown out of all expectations – there’s just such a happy atmosphere.”

Standing close by at the Water Street stage were Andy and Maureen Pelling, from Sussex.

Mr Pelling said: “This is our 40th anniversary and we thought; ‘what could be better than this?’

“We’ve stayed in one of the dock-front hotels and are really waiting to see our friend play on stage later today in Absolute Bowie. It’s been a celebration for us.”

Stephen and Rebecca Fennessy, at the Derby Square stage, had travelled up from London for the weekend.

Rebecca said: “We came two years ago and it was great. This time it seems even bigger. There’s none of the ‘aggro’ you can expect at the Notting Hill Carnival in London.”

Stephen said: “There’s always a good atmosphere here and it’s just about having fun with good tunes.”

Warren Tarrant, originally of Heswall, Wirral, travelled in from Warrington with his partner Julie Robinson. Like many, they had brought their own deck chairs and food to enjoy the day.

Mr Tarrant said: “It’s much bigger this year, but the atmosphere is still brilliant.’’

MERSEYSIDE police said a total of 18 people were arrested over the two days of the event.

Thirteen were for drink and disorder related offences, one for possession with intent to supply, two for security staff working without licences, one for recall to prison, and one for being wanted on a warrant.

From here - http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2008/08/26/festival-s-back-and-it-s-better-than-ever-64375-21602578/

After last year's fiasco, it seems that things are well and truly back on track. It seems everyone had a great time, and the comments from visitors to our city are particularly encouraging in terms of spreading a positive image of the city far and wide.

The only problem for me is that it really comes across as a "tribute act" festival.

Whilst there were loads of new bands playing as part of the "fringe" (awful name by the way), they needed to play up the new music element further to keep young people more involved.

I know of quite a few peeps between 25 - 30 who never go because they still associate MSF with the past, a very retrospective festival, with nothing new or cutting edge.

Nothing wrong in skiffle and tribute acts at all, but the new band stuff needs to be promoted more for MSF to be considered (grimace) "cool" enough to stop people going over to Manchester for Mardi Gras or London for Notting Hill.

the 'tribute' aspect really leaves me cold!

the 'tribute' aspect really leaves me cold!

Without them i think you'd have a much smaller event.

^^

Maybe, but remember sometimes it's better to have quality over quantity. Who needs all these tribute acts when you've got artists like Right Said Fred as your headliners? ;)

^^

Maybe, but remember sometimes it's better to have quality over quantity. Who needs all these tribute acts when you've got artists like Right Said Fred as your headliners? ;)

Fair enough, i only went down there on Sunday, as i was volunteering on the Monday, i was amazed at the crowd for Chas'n'Dave, the only other one i saw was at the Victoria monument and that was packed as well. :)

^^

My tongue was just a little in cheek with my previous comment. Although I didn't attend this year, I see no problem with the tribute acts, as they no doubt help to broaden the range of music on offer.

Self-soothing sneering apart - we're all way too cool on SSC (the irony of it :lol:) but the numbers speak for themselves. Maybe it's like football or rugby or cricket - lots of people can't see the point of those things but clearly others can. I have no idea why MSF is so successful, I'm just glad that it is.

Do any good bands play at this thing, or just snivelling tribute bands.

No offence we don't all want to see middle aged men, in fact I can't think of anything worse.

See there was a major riot at the Notting Hill Carnival,good old London hey,the press will be talking about this for years.:|

Do any good bands play at this thing, or just snivelling tribute bands.

No offence we don't all want to see middle aged men, in fact I can't think of anything worse.

A lot of unsigned bands play it you'll also get up and coming bands too,The Maybes? played this year and their new tune will feature throughout the season on soccer am,they've also just played the Leeds Festival so if you search hard enough you'll find somebody of interest usually.

Not all the tribute acts are paying homage to the 60s/70s - there were Kaiser Chief and Arctic Monkeys tributes too and two of the best acts there were Police Force and God save the Queen. I saw a couple of bands indoors last night doing their own material and not so good i'm afraid - loud and incoherant vocally. All in all - a great success and made you feel proud to be a scouser with all those tourists seeing the city in a mellow and happy light. Very liberating to just be able to walk through town carrying your pint - very surreal.

An estimated 600,000 turned up for this years festival making it the biggest yet according to the radio.:cheers:

See there was a major riot at the Notting Hill Carnival,good old London hey,the press will be talking about this for years.:|

2 hours of rioting and the place stank of p*ss this morning:

Notting Hill Carnival Riots 2008:

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Well I had great time at the Matthew street, bought a carton of wine and supped it all day! there was crowds of people all trying to get into tesco and small shops who were all doing a roaring trade.I got talking to some people from yorkshire who were having a great time themselves, I ended up at the stage outside the Newz bar they a stones tribute band on which were fantastic, don't know people have a go at tribute bands, some of them are brilliant, I just like live music though. I also went and saw bands in the Zanzibar so it wasn't all tribute, you can find what you are looking for if you look hard enough.


I thought it was brilliant that there was so many families and older people there, even better that the scally element seemed virtually non existent, they must have have all been at creamfields...brilliant!

Only 18 arrests I heard over the weekend, it was all in all a very well organised event.....for a change.

Not all the tribute acts are paying homage to the 60s/70s - there were Kaiser Chief and Arctic Monkeys tributes too and two of the best acts there were Police Force and God save the Queen. I saw a couple of bands indoors last night doing their own material and not so good i'm afraid - loud and incoherant vocally. All in all - a great success and made you feel proud to be a scouser with all those tourists seeing the city in a mellow and happy light. Very liberating to just be able to walk through town carrying your pint - very surreal.

Mathew Street needs the gimmic of tribute bands because they can't get the real acts as their either dead / retired or the original act costs the Culture Company too much. Any original artists we do get are washed up hasbeens from the 80's and 90's that appeals only to people over the age of 25.
Not every person attending Mathew St each year is necessarily a musician so doesn't really care about original acts that they've never heard of. So again a tribute to a big band or artist they know of gets them out and in the mood.

As for best tribute acts your forgetting Guns 2 Roses who were one of the best acts at Matthew Street 08 and the biggest crowd puller on the Guitar Hero (Water Street) Stage.
1pm on Sunday its was rammed!! 1000's turned up to see them.
I was lucky enough to be their photographer for their performance. And it was spot on and full of energy.

This tribute band are on another level to the other newer tributes who seemed to be pub playing part timers in comparission. Not to knock them but i checked their websites and although i thought they did a good job it looks like they've only formed just to cash in on a band or artist's current chart success.
Tributes to Queen, Guns N Roses, Hendrix etc are a different kettle of fish. Its music from a classic era that is no more and in some cases will never be again.

Guns 2 Roses have actually been endorsed by Axl Rose and Slash and in 2006 they played the Cavern Club with the real drummer from Guns N Roses, Steven Adler and sold it out 2 nights in a row. They tour the world and have appeared tv on numerous ocassions. This is one of the biggest tributes in the UK. www.guns2roses.co.uk (www.guns2roses.co.uk) As for the guy who used the term "snivelling tribute bands" Well just check out that crowd dude! The only people snivelling are the ones who can't get to the front lol. Prior to Guns 2 Roses hitting the stage their was a third of the crowd to what you see in my pics.

Hope you like them btw. Take care everyone x :)

http://a258.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/81/l_e842ea05edc0419918e9fe86aea50701.jpg
http://a687.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/6/l_bd9d87fecad82b6ddece0b6153ac7496.jpg
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http://a601.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/111/l_d4365d39c05135d313676e59b19cf148.jpg
http://a922.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/24/l_d3263663c02a26490b283b47568fd6c1.jpg

Hiya Nat..

This Liverpool act would blow them all away....no problem...no gimmicks..and no ripping anyone else off..catch me drift..eh.
And I took the pics and vids.....my own like yer know..girl...




http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/gedfleming/PHIL%20JONES/1-2.jpg

Great photos, Natalie - they really capture the atmosphere.

Great photos, Natalie - they really capture the atmosphere.


Thanks Joe..mate.:)

Great to have you back Ged.

Great to have you back Ged.


Cheers VT,I try to pop in now and again..been a bit busy like sorting pics and vids and getting out and about blah blah blah..new vids on me new HD cam doo daa down the Vaults in the Cunard building etc etc...now got to work out how to convert them to get them on to Youtube....:cheers:

I was being sarcastic.

I was being sarcastic.

Yes,I'm well aware of that..you must think I'm as soft as you look.

Some of us are genuinely glad to have you back mate. I didn't see Mr 'Showbiz' Jones at the festival as I see him most weekends anyway but a nice colourful close up pic. Some good updates on your site.

Some of us are genuinely glad to have you back mate. I didn't see Mr 'Showbiz' Jones at the festival as I see him most weekends anyway but a nice colourful close up pic. Some good updates on your site.


Oh I'm not back Ged..just passing through with my PJ pic to let all the Southern Liverpool people know that all is not as bad musically in Liverpool as people make out.Cheers mate.

Some of my pics from the weekend:

The Tunnel Stage:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v421/Martin_S/2008%20Mathew%20Street%20Festival/080824-1.jpg

Roxy Magic:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v421/Martin_S/2008%20Mathew%20Street%20Festival/080824-2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v421/Martin_S/2008%20Mathew%20Street%20Festival/080824-3.jpg

The Tunnel Entrance
I thought that they were actually going to use the entrance for the stage. In the end though, the huge crowds accommodated in the available space shows what a magnificent venue this is:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v421/Martin_S/2008%20Mathew%20Street%20Festival/080824-4.jpg

Marvin Ruffin on the Superlambana Stage:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v421/Martin_S/2008%20Mathew%20Street%20Festival/080825-1.jpg

Bay City, John MK and City on the Water Street Stage
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v421/Martin_S/2008%20Mathew%20Street%20Festival/080825-2.jpg

Right Said Fred (the real ones) on the Water Street Stage:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v421/Martin_S/2008%20Mathew%20Street%20Festival/080825-3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v421/Martin_S/2008%20Mathew%20Street%20Festival/080825-4.jpg

The Beatles (not the real ones) in South John Street
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v421/Martin_S/2008%20Mathew%20Street%20Festival/080825-5.jpg

Madonna (Vogue) on the Water Street Stage:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v421/Martin_S/2008%20Mathew%20Street%20Festival/080825-6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v421/Martin_S/2008%20Mathew%20Street%20Festival/080825-7.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v421/Martin_S/2008%20Mathew%20Street%20Festival/080825-8.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v421/Martin_S/2008%20Mathew%20Street%20Festival/080825-9.jpg

You certainly captured the performers' joie de vivre! I'm still trying to figure out how I got it into my head that the tunnel itself was going to be used as a stage set (health and safety issues not withstanding).

I can see myself in the first Guns 2 Roses picture, slightly obscured by a guitar headstock played by 'Slash'!
It was a good day down at the Guitar Hero stage, I'm a bit spoiled cos I saw the genuine GnR twice in the late 1980s but I did enjoy that tribute. They get a point deducted for accuracy though, cos the real Axl would make you wait two hours at least before hitting the stage!! :D

Suppose these ones just rose to the occassion then ;)

Not quite the MSF but we played at the Cavern last friday and tremendous it was too even if I say so myself. Being an avid and ardent Beatles fan, the venue and occassion being splendiferous.

Some pics here with more here (at the bottom) and about the history of our band since the late 70s/early 80s (at the top)


http://inacityliving.piczo.com/?g=45889252&cr=7

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http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/9263/geddrumscavernaq5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
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http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/9552/paulbassgeddrumscavernna2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/paulbassgeddrumscavernna2.jpg/1/w694.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img266/paulbassgeddrumscavernna2.jpg/1/)



http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/6791/siobhanvocalscavernyv9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
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