Liverpool - UK's Most Musical City - it's official!
June 17, 2008 11:08 AM
Liverpool has surged to victory in Arts Council England's 'Take it away' search to find the UK's Most Musical City.
After six weeks of campaigning across ten cities and with thousands of votes cast, the home of The Beatles, Frankie Goes to Hollywood and The Zutons secured victory with 49 percent of the public's vote.
Almost forty years after Merseybeat, 2008's European Capital of Culture snatched the number one spot from Sheffield, which led online voting until the last week, and north-west rivals Manchester who finished third.
As the winning city, Liverpool will be represented by The Affection - an unsigned local band who will perform in front of 5,000 people at this September's End of the Road Festival in Dorset.
Gordon Ross, Music Co-ordinator for the Liverpool Culture Company which endorsed Liverpool's bid said: ''Liverpool's music scene is renowned the world over be it for The Beatles, The Real Thing and Cream or The RLPO and Simon Rattle - as 'The Beat Goes On' exhibition at World Museum Liverpool will testify, when it opens in July. This award is great news and should serve to encourage those seeking to build on that legacy. The city today has a phenomenal pool of talent and its exciting that now, more than ever, it has the venues, the studios, the promoters and the festivals to nurture new ideas and diverse artists who will carry on Liverpool's best musical traditions.''
Councillor Warren Bradley, Leader of Liverpool city council and Deputy Chairman of Liverpool Culture Company, said: ''Music is in Liverpool's blood - the port nurtured an ear for the exotic and its been inspiring musicians and entertaining the masses ever since. From the days of sea shanties and Merseybeat to classical and dance, music is a major reason why we are European Capital of Culture this year and why MTV chose to host it's European awards here this November. To win this national award - voted by the public - is the icing on the cake for our '08 celebrations.''
The nations' enduring love for the Fab Four along with new acts like The Wombats helped Liverpool beat off the challenge of cities including London, Birmingham, Bristol and Leicester which finished in a surprise fourth position thanks to strong support from fans of Engelbert Humperdinck who backed the city's bid.
During the Most Musical City search, unsigned acts from across the country were given the chance to perform at this year's End of the Road festival. From the online auditions submitted, a panel of music industry experts chose The Affection as Liverpool's best unsigned act. They will perform at the festival alongside two additional competition winners - Electric Tape Recorder from runners-up Sheffield and 'Best of the Rest' act Bianca Bohl from London.
Michael Eakin, Executive Director, Arts Council England, North West said: "With both Liverpool and Manchester in the running for Most Musical City, there was always going to be strong competition. I am delighted to see the title awarded to Liverpool during Capital of Culture year, where the city has shown the world something we, in the North West, have already known for some time - that Liverpool is a world-class destination unsurpassed for its hospitality, art, creativity and culture. Congratulations go to Liverpool, Most Musical City."
With the success of bands such as the Arctic Monkeys Sheffield led the competition from the start and looked like upsetting favourites London, Manchester and Liverpool. While London remained unloved in eighth position, rivalry between the two north-west cities saw a surge in voting which confirmed Liverpool as the nation's favourite.
Most Musical City Final Result
Liverpool
Sheffield
Manchester
Leicester
Birmingham
Brighton
Bristol
London
Colchester
Newcastle
For more information go to www.mostmusicalcity.co.uk
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