Cult Magazine - LJMU Journalism

CULT

SCOUSE BANGERS

TOP 10 SONGS TO COME FROM LIVERPOOL

LIVERPOOL’S

NIGHTLIFE

THE CITY THAT LOVES A PARTY

60

YEARS OF MERSEYBEAT

DELVE INTO LIVERPOOLS MUSICAL HISTORY

C U L T’s Contents

Day in the life of a Dairy Farmer

Top 10 Scouse Bangers

Shea Doolin:representing Irish culture in Liverpool

Did Covid ruin the Liverpool Busking scene?

Celebrate 60 years of Mersey Beat

7 Famous Musical Monuments

Liverpool’s only bicycle tour

Sam Olyott releases ‘what my mother said’

Liverpool’s Famous Nightlife

Dylan Ware: talks of Wispmother’s American dream

Ferry Cross the Mersey

The Titanic and its Ties to Liverpool

The Scouse Phoebe Bridgers- meet Georgia Johnson

8 Muscians to give a listen

How the Arts and Theatre industry suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic

Liverpools Best View Points

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Whats coming up in Liverpool Page 17

Ibegin my day around 6:30am, I tend to get up straight away, skip breakfast at this stage and make my way outside. Within 2 mins of being outside, and I turn on the milking parlour along with the radio inside it to keep me going (I find the music helps settling the cows). During the morning singsong the cows are let down out of the sheds into the parlour, I can milk 6 cows at a time. The cows are very used to being milked so the process is very smooth, and they walk into their positions, where they get breakfast (meal). The amount of meal is given accordingly to their milk yields. The meal also helps them relax and let down the milk. It takes an hour and a half to milk my entire herd. Once they have been milked, they are put into a collecting yard and then put back into their house (which has been scraped and freshly bedded for them.) The parlour is also hosed down and system is washed out after milking is finished.

In total I have 140 cattle, 70 of which I milk and the others which are baby calves and replacement dairy stock.

Once the milking has finished, I put in their silage using a telehandler, they get fresh silage every day. After the cows

a

Stephan Graham is a 22 year old dairy farmer from a small town called Ballinamallard in couny fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Stephan grew up spending all day everyday on his family run farm.

And plans to continue his fathers Legacy in farming

have been fed, I proceed to feed younger cattle and calves, then when all the cattle are fed, I eventually get my breakfast. I generally eat my dinner around 1pm. For my lunch I eat meat along with vegetable and always potatoes as these are a staple part of every meal for us!

When I am driving the tractor, I always listen to something, whether It be the ra

dio or Bluetooth music. I often work alongside my father, however every day tends to be different, as some tasks require us to work away from each other.

I became a full-time farmer the day that I finished my GCSEs (16 years old), however I played an active role in the family farm years before this.

Every year, farmers must do an annual herd test for tb, and in the area I live the outcome of this test is generally bad as we are in a high-risk area. If some animals come back as reactors the department of agriculture take them away and we are compensated, however this compensation usually isn’t enough. Last year was challenging as we lost 11 cows to TB, I found it very difficult parting with them as each animal had been reared from birth with us. This puts a lot of emotional and financial strain on the business but is unfortunately one of the things that must be done.

The milk is collected by dale farm (our local creamery) every other morning where it is then processed and sold.

I tend to do no other work other than milk the cows on a Sunday, this is when I will relax. I enjoy Saturday nights when I go out with my friends to the local pub where we have the craic, catch up over drinks and play pool.

Occasionally we do use milk from our own cows, but we generally buy it from the local shop. At 6:30 o’clock in the evening I start to milk the cows again where the morning process is repeated. The time I finish my day varies, on average it is around 8 but this can vary throughout the year due to change in seasons and weather. For example, in summertime when the weather is good, we tend to work late and possible throughout the night to get the silage in if the weather is going to become bad.

A Day in the Life of D a i r y F a r m e r

Cult. TOP TEN

BANGERS

(Wednesday 15th March 2023)

Penny Lane .............................. The Beatles (Parlophone)

Ferry ‘Cross The Mersey ..... Gerry & the Pacemakers (Colombia)

Dreaming Of You ........................ The Coral (Deltasonic)

Hippie Hippie Shake .... The Swinging Blue Jeans (HMV)

Strawberry Fields Forever ....... The Beatles (Parlophone)

Love of the Loved ...................... Cilla Black (Parlophone)

There She Goes .............................. The La’s (Go! Discs)

Liver Birds ................................ The Scaffold (Parlophone)

Alison ............................................. Elvis Costello (Stiff)

Valerie ......................................... The Zutons (Deltasonic)

Ruby-Leigh Smith

Shea Doolin: Representing Irish Cutlure In Liverpool

By Jessica McGillivray

Shea O’Dubhlainn, professionally known as ‘Shea Doolin’, is a local singer who performs in many of the Irish bars across the city weekly. The self described ‘Scouse Irish’ singer has amassed over 6 thousand monthly listeners on streaming platform spotify and is constantly growing his audience. His setlists consist of well known Irish songs and football songs developed and sung by fans of his favourite football club Celtic which is a Scottish club with deep Irish roots.

Shea’s passion for music and his heritage is displayed in every performance he gives, he always brings loads of energy to his gigs whether it is his first or third of the day. When asked how he got into performing he stated ‘I got into performing in school when I was just discovering music. Different bands and artists and just wanted to be able to play the tunes they was playing so I learnt guitar.’

Singing and playing guitar however are not Doolin’s only talents as he revealed he

embraced his Irish heritage in music even at a young age ‘I also played Irish trad as a kid with the tin whistle and flute.’ Irish trad music is a genre of folk music developed in Ireland, the music came to Ireland over 2,000 years ago with the Celts and has been passed down through generations with many learning the music by ear as the tunes had not been written down.

Irish pubs and bars play a huge part in Liverpool’s nightlife and are popular with residents of all ages ‘There is a demand for Irish music in the city’ Shea stated. ‘With Liverpool being a port City and being close to Ireland itself a lot of us scousers have a strong Irish heritage and the city is a massive student city with multiple universities and a huge influx of Irish students.’

With being a regular performer in the city Doolin has received a great amount of exposure which has led to him being offered gigs all over, including offers to play at Celtic supporters conventions

in Dubai and Jersey. Shea has followed his team Celtic around the world and has had the opportunity to play in huge venues in front of huge crowds of football fans. ‘One of my favourite gigs would have been Berlin in front of 1000 celtic fans. Also playing in Madrid and Dubai was good too.’

Doolin has built a career as a musician and continues to grow and accomplish more year in and out, when asked what his plans are for the future he responded ‘My future goals are to genuinely just be happy with what I’m doing. I could never carry on with something I’m not happy with.’

Did Covid Ruin The Liverpool Busking Scene?

By Mollie Savage.

It can be argued by many of the buskers across the city centre, that they would agree that three years ago, Liverpool was a hot spot for the up and coming musicians to play in the streets and make a decent wage. However, as a passer by myself, in recent months, it has been noticed that less and less people are handing their spare change to those that pefrom their talents on the streets.

I spoke to one of the buskers, Jamie Hutchenson. Orignally from Scotland . He has Lived in Liverpool for almost a decade. He said: “I used to be earning about £300 a busk after a couple hours...I’m now earning pennies or enough to cover travel expenses.”

He has noticed that after 2020, because people were not carrying cash around

with them and proablby because of the cost of living, “no one carries cash around with them anymore.”

He has also argued that because of lockdown and the rise of TikTok “Everyone wants to be a musician” That is why town is so full with buskers, because of the spotlight other buskers have had on the social platfrom

Another Busker, I had the chance to talk to was Kama. Kama had lived in Liverpool the last couple years and recently seized the oppurtunity to move away from the city as for he was making more money in the likes of Leeds and Newcastle.

Earlier in March, he recently busked again with a fellow bukser named Mia Kirkland - this was her first time playing in Liverpool. Kama made it very clear that it will be “a

very long time” until he returns to the city as for, the few hours they were out for “didn’t go very well.” But the city will always have a place in his heart.

It is becoming more common and noticable that many buskers have started investing in the likes of using a card reader whilst they are out in Church Street.

One busker in particular, that used to be in Liverpool all the time but he recently moved away and is now busking in the likes of London is Steve.

Who is Steve? Steve was the busker that you would normally catch sittting down, playing his guitar and his puppets playing the songs with him. He gathered large crowds, people are often very fascinated by his unusal set up - he’s often nicknamed the pupppet guy/man.

Whilst I never got the oppurtunity to speak to him, other buskers such as Jamie and Kama have said that the use of the card machines are “pointless.”

Jamie said “No one taps them, that is why I have never bothered getting one.”

Kama has also previously attempted to use a card machine for his set up, but it never or rarely got used.

There is the possibility that maybe Liverpool is just stingy for their money. Other major cities like Newcastle and London have had litte agnst against the busking scene.

Some have argued that smaller towns do better for money. Harry King, orginally from the Wirral, moved to Edge Hill Univeristy in September last year and has only once come back to the city centre since moving to Ormskirk for

university. He’s said he is making more money there most days than he ever did busking on a busy Saturday in town. When the world temporarily when cashless because of the virus, people were not carrying mony to give to the buskers. However still Three years on, many are stil not able to rely on what is suppposed to be their full time job.

It’s still a mystery to why Liverpool has fallen so hard for the buskers that rely on the people of the city in order to make a living.

Many have movd in the last 6 months, like Kama and Steve.

Or are we just a stingy city? There’s plenty of other cities, big and small where buskers are thriving off.

The name for Records, Amplifers Transistor Radios Also Pianos and Organs

CRANES

Celebrate 60 Years of Mersey Beat

N E M S

WHITECHAPEL AND GREAT CHARLOTTE STREET

The finest record selections in the North

Open until 6-0 PM each day. (Thursday and Saturday 6-30 PM)

It has been sixty years this April since the release of Liverpool band Gerry and the Pacemakers’ first number one single, How Do You Do It, marking the birth of the Merseybeat music genre.

Merseybeat was a music scene and sound that emerged from Liverpool in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The sound was characterised by its upbeat tempo, jangling guitars, and catchy melodies, and it was influenced by a mix of rock and roll, skiffle, and R&B. Merseybeat was also defined by the bands that became synonymous with the scene, such as The Beatles, The Searchers, and Gerry and the Pacemakers.

In 2023, the 60th anniversary of Merseybeat marks six decades of the music that changed the world.

The Merseybeat era was born out of a rich fusion of cultural and social influences. Liverpool was a bustling port town with a thriving music scene, and many young musicians were inspired by the skiffle craze that swept across the UK in the late 1950s. Skiffle was a style of music that combined folk, jazz, and blues, and it was played on homemade instruments, such as washboards and tea-chest basses. Skiffle was accessible and democratic, and it inspired a generation of young people to pick up instruments and start playing music.

In those days, Liverpool to New York had the shortest shipping route of anywhere in the UK, and so it was a large draw for imports. The city’s sailors would bring back records from the United States, introducing local musicians to the sounds of Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Elvis Presley. Merseybeat bands took these influences and blended them with their own unique style, creating a sound that was fresh and exciting.

The Merseybeat scene exploded onto the national and international stage in the early 1960s, thanks in no small part to The Beatles. The Fab Four were discovered by Brian Epstein, a local record store manager, and he helped them to secure a recording contract with EMI. The Beatles’ first single, “Love Me Do,” was released in 1962, and it quickly climbed to the top of the charts. The Beatles’ success paved the way for other Merseybeat bands, and soon, groups like The Searchers and Gerry and the Pacemakers were also topping the charts.

The music and fashion of Merseybeat era had a profound influence on the youth of the 1960s, and it helped to usher in a new era of cultural and social change. Merseybeat bands inspired a generation of young people to start bands of their own, and the scene paved the way for other British musical movements, such as the British Invasion

and Britpop.

The Cavern Club, the cradle of Merseybeat, is holding an event to celebrate the sound on 13th April, with some artists from the Merseybeat days playing, including Tony Crane of the Merseybeats, and Ray Ennis of the Swinging Blue Jeans. Some VIPs are also expected to attend, though these will not be announced in advance. One of the organisers of the event, Gary Murphy, who has played alongside the aforementioned musicians, said “the 60s was a very special time - not just musically - but it was also a time for change. I worked with Gerry Marsden, and the idea of the ‘63 charity gig that we’re doing... well it’s 60 years since The Beatles and Gerry had the first hits, so what we’re doing is we’re doing a cancer concert to raise money for cancer for Holistic Care... The idea is to raise money for cancer, but also to celebrate 60 years of Merseybeat.”

Tickets are available to purchase from the Cavern Club’s website, and cost £20 each.

Ruby-Leigh Smith

7 famous musical monuments

By Cassie Ward

Cilla Black in Matthew Street

Erected in 2017 on Matthew Street as a tribute to Cilla Black who once worked at the Cavern Club as a cloak girl. Real name Priscilla Maria Veronica White was born in 1943 and died from a stroke in August 2015 at the age of 72. She was an English singer, television presenter, and actress and was famous for the TV show ‘Surprise Surprise’ and numerous pop songs such as ‘Love of the Loved.’

The Beatles at the Pier Head

Arguably the most famous statue in the city, the statue of the Fab Four was built on Liverpool’s waterfront in December 2015, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the bands last gig at Liverpool’s Empire Theatre. The bronze 1.2 tonne sculpture was kindly donated by the Cavern Club and sculptured by Andrew Edwards and is also recognised as the city’s most famous selfie stop.

John Lennon in Matthew Street

The tribute statue to John Lennon stands just metres away from the famous Cavern club in Matthew Street. It was sculptured by the artist David Webster and was unveiled in 1997 to mark the 40th anniversary of the Cavern Club. The sculpture is said to be one of the most photographed statues in the city albeit it used to go ‘unrecognised’ before it received a makeover in the 1990’s.

Eleanor Rigby at Stanley Street

Designed and sculptured by the entertainer Tommy Steele, the statue is based on a character from the Beatles 1966 song ‘Eleanor Rigby,’ and was unveiled in 1982. When visiting, search the statue for a four-leaf clover, a page from the Bible, football boots, a comic book, and the sonnet. You can find Eleanor Rigby holding a copy of the Liverpool Echo newspaper. Contrary to public opinion, Eleanor Rigby is NOT a real person, the name being made up by Paul McCartney who wrote the majority of the song’s lyrics. The statue has recently been damaged and was found partially smashed, and the damage was revealed to be an ‘unfortunate accident.’

Billy Fury at the Albert Dock

Another statue sculptured by the artist Tom Murphy, this statue of Billy Fury was created in 2003, commissioned by ‘The Sound of Fury’ fan club. It is on display outside of the Piermaster’s house at the Albert Dock. Fury is remembered as one of the most famous artists in the history of British rock and roll, dying at the age of 42 after having a heart attack.

Ken Dodd at Lime Street Station

Located on the main concourse of Lime Street Station, this sculpture of Ken Dodd was erected in 2009. It was sculptured by Tom Murphy called ‘Chance Meeting,’’ the sculpture also incorporates an image of the late politician Bessie Braddock. The statue of Ken depicts him carrying a bag which contains a gestures hat, one of the diddymen, and a tickling stick.

‘A Case History’ at Hope Street

‘A Case History’ known locally as the ‘Hope Street Suitcases,’ was created by the artist John King and has been on display on the pavements of Hope Street since 1998- nearly 25 years. Each case is labelled with the person it belongs to, each one being from the Liverpool region. If you look closely, you may be able to find the cases that belonged to Liverpool’s most famous band.

Liverpool’s Only Bicycle Tour

Ruby-Leigh Smith

Dale Roberts has recently become the owner of Liverpool Cycle Tours, a tour company which, unlike other tours in the city, operates entirely via bike. The company offers several types of tours, including a Beatles-themed one, and tours can be undertaken on a manual bicycle or an electric one.

Dale started in the tour industry in 2016, and has worked also on the Magical Mystery Tour, which is based on the Albert Dock. I myself have been on a tour with Dale, and found him good fun and very informative.

Dale got into Liverpool Cycle Tours at a tourism meeting, when the then-owner invited him on a tour. After a 16.5 mile tour on an electric bicycle, Dale says he “fell in love with it.” He was already a tourguide by this point, “but this tour blew me away, I thought it was the best I had been on.”

It was only in February this year that Dale took over Liverpool Cycle Tours, but already he is making real progress. Liverpool is abuzz with excitement for the Eurovision Song Contest, which is taking place in May, from the 9th to the 13th. St. George’s Hall is decorated, tickets have been sold and hotel prices have skyrocketed. It promises to bring an extreme amount of financial growth and tourism for the city. Liverpool Cycle Tours has something very exciting planned: “I’m proud to say that after much talk with our council and Culture Liverpool we have decided that the best way to cater for the Eurovison crowd and really mark the occasion is to design a tour specifically for Eurovison. Complete with music while riding and more music focused locations, spending more time around The Cavern Quarter and also on the waterfront... as a city I think we are expecting most of the action after Eurovison rather than during it. When you think

about it, the hotels are full of people visiting for Eurovison tourism rather than Beatles or football tourism. We expect that once our Eurovison tour is opened up to the public it will really kick off then!.. So we do expect for it to be crazy.”

At the time of investing in Liverpool Cycle Tours, Dale was already helping the company to look for a buyer. He noticed how the city was investing in its cycle paths and pedestrian zones - Skelhorne Street, right by St. John’s Shopping Centre and Liverpool One is a prime example of this new development. Following this, he took the leap, “I was already in contact with Liverpool Cycle Tours and was helping them to find a new buyer, so I decided to take a leap and be that person.” However, Dale’s interest in the company did not lie only in the tourism side, but also in sustainability: “I support our bus tour industry, they do a great job and will continue to do so, but I hope to encourage tourists (and the tour industry) to choose an option that is best for us as a city, and best globally too. I believe, like many people do, that we need to urgently make better decisions for our planet and for future generations, and we need to act quick and play our part.”

When Dale first started out in tourism, there was only only 62 tours in Liverpool, according to TripAdvisor - a recent check of this statistic has revealed that there are no 150. Indeed, it is a fast growing industry, with new and old companies

having to fight for their place within it. Liverpool Cycle Tours is unique, and provides, Dale thinks, a more personal experience; “A bike tour is different, its an experience, it has a physical aspect of being with the elements, but its deeply personal where you’re getting to chat to guests one on one, open to questions and I find that it is more dynamic in that way. You are forced to adapt, stay mentally aware and personally connect with your guests in a way in which doesn’t treat them as an audience, but as individuals.”

Sam Olyott releases ‘What My Mother Said’ - an honest review

The local artist released a brand new song.

By Mollie Savage

Sam Olyott is a Liverpool muscian, who’s gone from busking around the city center every day to music success.

On the 10th March, Sam released a new song called ‘What my Mother Said.’

The musician had teased the song in live pefromances at the end of last year, it was a fan favourite live but is the studio version just as good? The short answer is yes. It’s an emotional and moving acoustic guitar song, thanking hismother for

everything from whn he was a child. A very heart felt ballad. Keeping to his acoustic genre, but instead of talking about being in love or previous relationships like in older songs such as ‘Cold Toast.’

Olyott expresses his gratitude for his own mother with very repetetive lyrics such as “I will always remeber what my mother said.”

It is rather refreshing to hear what is essentially a love song that is not

about a girlfriend but rather his mum. Sam has expressed at live shows that he writes his own music and it is very clear that he has poured his heart into this very song, it is so very sweet. Everyone needs a musician like Sam Olyott in their lifetime.

Liverpool’s Famous Nightlife

By Jessica McGillivray

Many people travel to Liverpool for the nightlife and whether you’re looking for a cheap student bar, a quirky themed club or a cosy pub there is a huge variety on offer for those seeking a fun night out.

Concert Square is synonymous with a night out for residents in Liverpool with a whole slew of bars, pubs and clubs within metres of each other. The area is very popular with students due to the low drinks prices and the multiple bars and clubs that have events and special offers weekly especially for them. Cool It Liverpool run a number of these events including ‘Skint Tuesday’s’ at Peacocks and Moloko and ‘Quid’s In’ on Wednesdays at Level nightclub. “We know students can struggle financially, especially during the cost of living crisis at the moment, so the aim of these weekly events is to give the

students of the city a night out that they can enjoy for as cheap as possible without having to worry about money too much.”

Matthew Street is another great location in the city centre, it usually attracts an older crowd but still has the buzz and busyness of concert square at the weekends. Many of the bars in this area are themed around The Beatles due to it also being the location of the world famous Cavern Club.

Liverpool also has venues on offer just outside of the city centre for those who love a rave. The Invisible Wind Factory and Blackstone Street Warehouse are two of the most notable venues having hosted big names such as Ben Hemsley, Camelphat and Chase and Status. “We have one of the biggest venues for music events in Liverpool and we specialise

in putting on events for house, techno and drum and bass lovers which is what I think makes us so unique” stated a spokesperson for Blackstone Street Warehouse, “everyone that comes to one of our events expects a great night out and our aim is to give them the best experience possible”.

If you are not a fan of busy areas there are many great bars and pubs dotted around the city that might take your fancy instead. If you explore the ropewalks area of the city there are many side streets with some hidden treasure along them, the docks also have a great selection for you to enjoy.Wherever you find yourself you are garunteed a great night out.

Dylan Ware: Talks of Wispmother’s ‘American Dream’

Frontman of Liverpool’s metal band says that in five years he wishes to tour the UK and play at festivals in Europe and in the United States. ‘’I’d love to get the opportunity to go and play and do what we do best, which is perform music.’’

By Cassie Ward

‘’This is my favourite place,’’ Dylan explains before the interview, as we sit inside one of Liverpool’s most iconic music venues- he is smiling and clutching his guitar. The Jacaranda is located on Slater Street and is renowned for ‘the birth of The Beatles,’ performing at the venue around a dozen times. They also used the basement as a rehearsal studio before they performed. The Jacaranda was founded by Allan Williams, who then became the manager of the ‘Fab Four.’

The guitarist from Waterloo has been performing music since he was just nine years old and says that his father played a huge part in his love of music. He said: ‘’When I was younger, I picked up on my dad’s taste in music. It was all rock, the Foo Fighters and Grunge. Listening to that type of music inspired me to be a guitarist, so I started learning how to play the guitar.’’ It was then, that Dylan realised that he wanted to play in a band, and at the age of 17, set up ‘Wispmother,’ a Liverpool based trio well-known to the people associated with the metal and hardcore punk scene. ‘’The stuff we play is pretty

extreme, it’s the sort of music that me and the other members of the band have been into for a while.’’

The Foo Fighters were a contributing factor to Dylan’s musical aspirations. He described how his whole childhood revolved around music, and how it still plays a part in his everyday life: ‘’ I just always heard them everywhere and they are such a wellknown band and I think they’ve made so much diverse music and when I was learning guitar and I looked into all the projects that they’ve been a part of, he’s been in punk bands, he’s been in metal bands, he’s done so much and all of it is great music. So, I really looked up to him and just the variety of the stuff he could do just inspired me.

‘’I spend most of my day listening to music, I always go to gigs whenever they are on, at home or in Manchester. My life without music would be pretty miserable.’’

Since 2018, the frontman also found a love for vocals- not the sort of ‘singing’ that you think. Metal vocals can be depicted as ‘scream singing,’ which is com-

monly associated with screamo, punk and death metal music genres. The screaming sounds match and accompany the music’s raw energy. Dylan explained: ‘’ The vocals thing came later, vocalists are hard to find it is a pain, it’s the one thing in a band you can’t get hold of and in metal I’m not singing on key I’m just shouting my head off! At some point I just started doing it during rehearsals and that just became another one of my roles.

‘’you have to learn to make noises with your mouth while moving your arms it is a bit of a learning curve. Even now there are things that I struggle with is that I’ll look at another frontman and think ‘oh he can do this one thing that I wouldn’t be able to do in a million years,’ but then there’s stuff that I can do that they also struggle with.’’

During lockdown, many bands and developing artists suffered as a consequence of the pandemic, with venues all over the country shutting their doors not knowing when they’d return. However, the pandemic had a positive effect on the metal band, with many peo-

ple eager to get back to performing and attending gigs.

After the pandemic and music venues started opening to the public, Wispmother seen an increase of people attending their gigs: ‘’After lockdown it started to pick up a bit and the local scene started to grow. We had seen an increase in our fanbase after the pandemic, which has continued to go up and up since then. Lockdown meant you could meet up with a few people social distanced. The band was on and off, lockdown meant we couldn’t meet up properly and write music together.

‘’ For Wispmother, it’s important for our writing process that we are all in the same room, we write music best

together when we are all in one place. It was only when everything opened back up to the public that things started to move again.’’

Dylan revealed that Wispmother have quite a few gigs coming up, the first being held on the 11th of March at the Jacaranda. They are also in the process of releasing new music, with four new singles being in the pipeline this year. They also have future plans to perform in the US, and follow other metal bands that they look up to:‘‘In five year’s time we’d love to be performing in the USA and other countries. It has always been a dream of mine to become successful in the music scene, so being able to perform in another country would be life changing.’’

The Liverpool Wispmother Trio: Dylan Ware, Jack Orton and Josh Kelshaw. Taken by Jacob Kelly

Ferry Cross The Mersey

Ruby-Leigh Smith

Immortalised in one of Merseyside’s favourite songs, the Ferry ‘Cross The Mersey is the perfect thing to do on a warm summer’s day. Board at Pier Head by the Albert Dock and disembark at Seacombe Ferry Terminal over the water.

You can enjoy the sun on your face and the wind in your hair as you sail smooth waters and listen to the narration of the local area’s history over the tannoy. The ticket itself isn’t too pricey, at about £11.50 return for an adult and £7.50 for children

aged between 5-15. It’s a nice, exciting way to travel across the Mersey. Little kids will love it, and adults will smile as they hear the iconic song by Gerry Marsden played at varying intervals. The round trip itself takes about 50 minutes, but time really does fly.

The photo opportunities on this trip are endless, with gorgeous views of the Three Graces on both sides.

The Ferry Cross the Mersey is an iconic symbol of Liverpool and one of its most beloved attractions. There has been a ferry going across the river for over 800 years and it has become a cultural icon in its own right, immortalized in songs, films, and literature.

The Mersey Ferry began as a way to transport goods and people across the river between Liverpool and Birkenhead,

which are located on opposite sides of the river. The first recorded ferry service across the Mersey dates back to 1150, when monks used a small boat to transport goods and livestock across the river. Over time, the ferry service grew in popularity and size, and by the early 1800s, steam-powered ferries had replaced the original wooden boats.

The ferry service played a vital role in the development of Liverpool as a major port city, connecting it to the rest of the country and the world.

In 1964, the Mersey Ferry became a global phenomenon when the song “Ferry Cross the Mersey” was released by the band Gerry and the Pacemakers. The song, which was written by the legendary Scouse songwriter Gerry Marsden, became an instant hit and remains a beloved anthem of the city to this day. The lyrics of the song describe the experience of crossing the river on the ferry, capturing the excitement and beauty of the journey. You will experience this unparalleled feeling on the Royal Iris, which is the

standard ferry used for the River Cruise trip.

The Mersey Ferry is more than just a mode of transportation - it’s a symbol of Liverpool’s spirit and resilience. During the First World War, the Iris II and the Daffodil were chosen to take part in a daring raid on Zeebrugge harbour in German occupied Belgium. To commemorate their role in the war effort, they were each given the title of ‘Royal’ before their name. Through times of prosperity and adversity, the ferry has remained a constant presence on the river, connecting people and places and reminding us of the beauty and importance of our shared heritage.

In conclusion, the Ferry Cross the Mersey is an iconic attraction in Liverpool, one that captures the city’s rich history and culture. The ferry is a symbol of Liverpool’s enduring spirit and its connection to the river and the world beyond. Whether you’re a visitor or a resident of Liverpool, a ride on the Mersey Ferry is a must-do experience that will leave you with memories that will last a lifetime.

Photo: MerseyTravel

The Titanic and its Ties to Liverpool

OnApril 15th, it will be the 111th anniversary of the Titanic sinking, where more than 1,500 people lost their lives.

Being the unsinkable ship, it was said to be, this disaster caused international impact on multiple cities and areas. However, the Northwest and Liverpool were devastated.

The connections the Titanic have with the city of Liverpool are unique and sentimental yet have been over-looked in the past.

The titanic was registered in Liverpool, so wore the city’s name proudly on the stern of the boat. The managing company of the titanic was named “white star line” and located their head office on the well-known James Street, by the Liverpool Docks.

Often, Liverpool connection with the famous ship can be lost in the connections with Belfast and Southampton. The Titanic was built in Belfast, yet the Northwest were highly involved in the construction of it.

The construction began of the ship in 1909 and took more than 2 years for it to be successfully launched in 1911.

Many fixtures and fittings were sourced from firms up and down the Merseyside region including Utleys in St Helens, who crafted the brass fittings. Utleys went on to make the famous 150llbs bell As well as 900 port holes.

Liverpool is an exclusive when it comes to Titanic memorials and history. There is so much on offer within the city.

The Merseyside maritime

museum, located on the Royal Albert Dock, is home to ‘Titanic and Liverpool:the untold story’. On the 15- 16th of April the museum is offering a performance of a tale of survivor Charles Joughin, who worked as Chief Baker on the ship.

A fact not many know in relation to Liverpool and the Titanic, is that, the Titanics’ ‘look out’ who went by the name of Fred Fleet, originally came from Liverpool. Fred spotted the infamous iceburg. He was quoted saying if he’d been given binoculars, the ship might have been saved.

Fleet survived the disaster , and later retired selling the daily echo news paper on the streets of Southhampton.

In honour of the engineers on board that fatel night, there is a statue located on the Waterfront.

The Memorial is made out of granite stone and measures 28 metres high.

The north side of the monument is enscribed with

So, although the then largest ship in the world never paid a visit to the city of Liverpool, the Titanic will always remain in the hearts of all Liverpudlians.

“In honour of all the heros of the Marine Engine Room”

The ‘Scouse Phoebe Bridgers’Meet Georgia Johnson

By Mollie Savage

Georgia is a local musician who has played many gigs and has recently released her very first single called “Sunflowers (Still grow in the darkness.)”

Released 3rd March, the musician has already accumulated over a thousand streams on Spotify, in the last few weeks.

Georgia said: “I was so nervous to release my debut single. Mostly me just making sure everything goes as smoothly as possible. I had a few technical issues but once everything was sorted I was ready to go! Definetley one of my proudest moments!”The single not even being out for a month yet, she’s already an artist people are catching on to.

You can find Georgia in smaller venues across the city of Liverpool such as ‘Round the corner’ and

the ‘Jacaranda’ - other popular musicians such as Aflie Templeman have headlined this venue. Alongside, the fact that the Jacaranda is a chosen venue for the poplur music festival ‘Sound City.’ To say Georgia is smashing it so far and early on in her career in as understatement.

She exclaimed: “ I love the Jac! Always a great gig in there.”

Adding: “Recently I’ve been trying to work on my stage presence so the past couple gigs I’ve definetley been bouncing around...Great music, great venue and a great time!.”

Georgia spoke about the meaning behind her latest release.

She spoke about how the lyrics are based from when going through school.

She said: “ It kind of came

from my schools growing up.”

A talented musician, you often will see her playing the gutar during live performances, she said: “I actually didn’t pick up the guitar up until lockdown actually! I’m self taught so I’m not th best but definetley something I’m very proud of!”

I asked Georgia about her biggest achivement so far. she said: “My biggest achievemnet so far has to be my song release, it still feels surreal that I can finally share my music with the world!”

Georgia clearly has a huge passsion for her music. She added: “I spent alot of time in choirs and music departments and it kind of just grew from there!”

For anyone wanting to make it in the music industry she said: “Some advice for new starters,

take as many oppurtunities that come your way. Make friends with people and help out others in the industry too. We are all in it together so it is important to make it a nice place.

Excited for the future of Georgia and wondering what’s up next for her, she said: “ I can’t say much, but I am back in the studio during the next two months! Me and the band can’t wait!”

I’m excited to see what the future holds for Georgia, she’s someone to keep an eye on.

MUSICIANS TO GIVE A LISTEN

STONE

Rock band Stone formed in Liverpool in 2019 and have since gone on to gain fans aroud the world. They released their debut EP ‘Punkadonk’ on the 18th of November 2022 with lead single ‘Money (hope aint gone) gaining hottest record on BBC radio 1.

The Beatles

Without a doubt the most famous musicians to come from Liveropol are The Beatles. John, Paul , George and Ringo have become household names in the city across the decades and are the reason for the huge influx of tourists the city recevies. The band are the biggest selling aritsts of all time and are regarded as one of the most influential bands ever. If you havent heard a Beatles song where have you been?

The Wombats

Popular indie band The Wombats formed in Liverpool in 2003 and have sold over 1 million albums worldwide. The band are still releasing new music and touring however, some of their older hits such as ‘Kill The Director’, released in 2007, have recently gained popularity on social media platform Tik Tok leading to a whole new influx of streams and fans.

Jamie Webster

All Liverpool FC fans will recognise the name Jamie Webster. This scouser has followed the reds around the world performing for the fans at events such as the champions league final and charity football matches. He has released covers of popular football songs such as Allez Allez Allez for all to enjoy alongside original s such as ‘Weekend In Paradise’.

The La’s ‘There She Goes’ is the bands biggest and most notable hit. Active from 1983 until 1992 the rock band had a frequently changing lie up with the core members being Lee Mavers and John Power, whose son has now gone on to be the lead singer of band ‘STONE’.

Circa Waves

formed in 2013 the indie rock band gained popularity with their hit ‘T-shirt Weather” which has over 110 million streams. They have toured supporting acts such as The 1975 and have played at huge festivals around the UK. The band continue to thrive and grow and have recently released a new album titled ‘Never Going Under’.

Gerry and the Pacemakers

This Liverpool based band were a group prominent in the 1960’s merseybeat scene. They provided us with scouse hits such as ’Ferry across the Mersey’ and Liverpool FC’s famous anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. They were also the first band to reach number 1 in the UK charts with their first three single releases.

Frankie Goes To Hollywood

Formed in 1980, the syth-pop band gained success with their hit ‘Relax’ which topped the UK chart for 5 consecutive weeks and is one of the best selling UK singles of all time. The band were one of the most popular acts of the 80’s and continue to be recognised around the world for their hits and controversial music videos which were banned from streaming on MTV and BBC.

How the Arts and Theatre industry suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic

It has been three years since the country was plunged into lockdown, when the entertain- ment sector had to close their doors, not knowing if and when they would return.

By Cassie Ward

It has been three years since the country was plunged into lockdown, when the entertainment sector had to close their doors, not knowing if and when they would return. The Covid-19 pandemic had a huge impact on the arts and entertainment industry, with an estimated billion pounds being lost in box office and retail venue by December 2020. However, productions didn’t just stop completely, and entertainers had to adapt to the ‘’new normal,’’ and many productions were showcased online.

The pandemic was a catastrophe for the arts, and it could be argued that the sector was mostly impacted by the pandemic, with thousands of job losses, cancellations, and reduced capacity. The restrictions put in place by the government during the Covid-19 pandemic led to 55 percent of jobs within the performing arts industry being furloughed, in which more than 80,000 claims were made against the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme by those within the industry.

Social distancing meant that rehearsals were made very difficult as shows had to be constructed two metres apart. Robyn Evans, 20, Bootle, is currently in her third year of studying in London’s Urdang University. She said: ‘’Lockdown affected being able to perform a lot. Myself and many other people went from training and rehearsing in studios with lots of people with lots of space to express ourselves, performing in theatres in front of people to being confined to our kitchens, bedrooms, and gardens. Performing arts is quite an expressive thing to do, and not being able to do that was very difficult to cope with to be honest. I had to audition for drama school

through videos and zoom calls which was very annoying and challenging for me.’’

Even after the pandemic, many people were reluctant to attend shows and events relating to changes in audience behaviour post-pandemic. Many theatres opened at 50% capacity in May 2021, with actors and theatregoers looking forward to seeing the return of live theatre at full capacity. However, during lockdown more than half of the theatres in the UK offered online performances, revealing the diverse nature of the performing arts industry as it attempted to take full control over the pandemic. Miss Evans said: ‘’Since restrictions have

been lifted, I’d definitely say more people are going to the theatre. I feel like lockdown promoted the arts a lot more especially with the government considering cutting all the funding. Shows were broadcasted, a lot of zoom performances were put together, so a lot more people got to learn about the theatre. With theatres wanting to recover from Covid, prices have definitely gone higher for the tickets which makes it not as accessible but there has definitely been an increase in people attending.’’

The NHS Test and Trace was one of the government’s initiatives to help fight the virus. It helped to control the rate of re -

production, reduce the spread of infection, and save lives. People would have to ‘scan in’ to a venue on arrival and were contacted by the NHS via text message if they came into contact with someone who had the virus at that moment in time. However, this was seen to cripple theatres and venues, as the covid tracking system shut many shows in the UK sue to being ‘pinged’ by the tracking app. Miss Evans explained ‘’From a training aspect, people being off with covid definitely affected things. If teachers were off with covid, it meant we had no lessons which affected out training, and having students off with covid also affected their training as a lot of things

couldn’t be done without everyone being there. ‘’Covid meant that I couldn’t finish college properly which was a very practical course, and our end of year musical got cancelled. Even though Covid had its negatives with stopping performances, the industry found different ways to perform through other ways like Zoom performances which would never have been explored. In a way, it brought the community closer.’’

Performing arts played a huge part in helping support mental health during the pandemic, with many adults not only in Liverpool, but around the UK suffered from deteriorating mental health. During the pandemic, it was estimated that 12 million people signed up to arts streaming services, showing how the arts plays a crucial role in our everyday lives and helps boost mental health. Since the pandemic, more people are attending artistic events such as museums and theatres, with Covid-19 being a ‘thing of the past.’ The reopening of theatres and live productions highlighted the public appetite for live shows and entertainment.

Liverpools best View Points 1

Liverpool Angelican Cathedral

Liverpool Anglican cathedral is Britain’s largest cathedral and the 5th largest in Europe. It was built between the years 1901- 1978 and is located on St James’ Mount in the Georgian Quarter of Liverpool.

The Cathedral tower allows visitors to take in the full 360 view from 500ft above sea level. After the two consecutive lifts up followed by the 108 stairs you will be grateful to see Liverpool’s most Historical and Iconic landmarks. On a clear day, even the black pool tower is visible.

The Bell chamber kept at the top of the tower contains the worlds highest and heaviest pearl of bells, what a treat!

St Johns Beacon

St Johns Beacon St Johns Beacon is more commonly known as the radio city tower and was built in 1969. It is used as an observation tower and radio station base. Radio city is a much-Loved radio station in the Mersey side area broadcasting to more than 500,000 people each week.

The building is located in the heart of the city on Houghton Street, standing at 138 metres (400 ft) tall, so you can’t miss it. The tower was designed by James A Roberts Associates and is the 2nd tallest free-standing building in Liverpool to date.

This building is a famous part of Liverpool’s skyline and is a top place for a panoramic view of the city.

The beacon is open Monday to Friday, from 11am until 5.30pm

Ticket Pricing can be found on stjohnsbeacon. co.uk.

Tickets can be bought online via https://www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk/visiting-us/the-tower-experience/ at £6 for a standard ticket or a family package for £16 including 2 adults and up to 3 children.

The Wheel of Liverpool

The wheel of Liverpool

The wheel of Liverpool is an iconic Landmark within the city with reaching hights of 60m. the wheel is made of 42, fully enclosed climate control gondolas. Each gondola has a commentary feature, explaining all the famous landmarks to be seen from the view.

A VIP experience is also available within a capsule with a glass floor, leather interior, chocolate and some fizz, perfect for a night with friends.

The wheel stands at the famous Albert docks of Liverpool on Keel Wharf Road right beside the river Mersey.

Ticket Pricing can be found on the visitliverpool.com website.

WHAT’S COMING UP IN LIVERPOOL?

By Cassie Ward

LIVERPOOL TATE MUSEUM WILL COSE UNTIL 2025

Tate Liverpool will close its doors from 16th October until 2025, as the famous gallery undergoes a £29.7million renovation. Tate Liverpool opened 35 years ago and is famous for the nation’s assortment of modern art dating back from the 1900’s to present day. The transformation is set to begin this autumn, with the gallery receiving £10million from the Government’s Levelling Up fund to aid the restoration. Art lovers can still visit the museum until October and can expect to see events hosted by Tate throughout 2024 which is due to be announced in the next few months.

LIVERPOOL SOUND CITY AT MOUNTFORD HALL

The much-loved annual music festival is due to take place on 28th April to 30th April. The celebration dates back to 2008 and has become a memorable day for music fans to come together and celebrate new artists. Many renowned musicians such as Stormzy, Florence and the Machine, Lizzo, Ed Sheeran and many more incredible performed at the festival at the very start of their career. Sheffield indie band ‘The Reytons’ will headline on the Saturday, with sensation Maisie Peters headlining the next. This year will mark Sound City’s 16th anniversary, and aims to continue to discover the artists of the future.

INTERNATIONAL BEATLE WEEK 2023

Organised by Cavern City Tours, the festival is a time for Beatle-maniacs to celebrate the music of Liverpool’s most famous pop group. Event will include many performances from over 70 bands, live gigs, guest speakers, conventions an sightseeing tours. The festival will run from 23rd August to 29th august. The Cavern Club will also be hosting live music all day and night, starting as early as 11am.

LIVERPOOL FOOD AID FESTIVAL NEXT WEEK

Food Aid Liverpool aims to raise awareness regarding food inequality. The festival will take place on 1st April and is a partnership between The Florrie and Feeding Liverpool. The festival will feature many of the UK’s famous tribute bands, such as Queen II, Arctic Roll, LMXT and many more. The Food Aid event aims to collect food donations, which will be used to support those who need it most. In the long term, they aim to end food poverty in the city, and use the event to raise urgent funds.

CULT.