Ringo to perform at Echo Arena Liverpool

26 Sep 07

THE legendary Ringo Starr will be the first ever performer at the new ECHO Arena Liverpool.

The former Beatle will appear at the opening concert for Capital of Culture year - Liverpool the Musical - which is being staged on January 12.

This will be the first event at the £146m King’s Waterfront venue.

The musical, which will also feature former Eurythmic Dave Stewart, Ian Broudie of the Lightening Seeds and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, aims to tell the city’s story. 

It will include music composed by Elgar, John Newton, The Real Thing, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, The Beatles, The La’s, The Wombats, The Farm, The Zutons, Stravinsky and Space, which will be rearranged by the Liverpool Philharmonic in collaboration with No Fakin DJs and conducted by Vasily Petrenko. 

Among the other stars who will be celebrating the opening are Echo and the Bunnymen, Pete Wylie, Shack, and The Christians.

In addition to this unique line up of celebrities, there will also be poets, singers, aerialists, comedians, construction workers, gardeners, and sailors all taking part in the concert.

Liverpool the Musical marks the start of around 300 events which will take place in the city during 2008.

Ringo said: “I am delighted to be coming to Liverpool to see what is happening in 2008 and at the same time being a part of this opening concert at the ECHO Arena Liverpool.

“This will be a huge concert and we are going to have a lot of fun. What could be better? Liverpool, European Capital of Culture 08 - yeah . Peace and love.”

Echo Arena Liverpool General Manager Tim Banfield added: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Ringo to the ECHO Arena Liverpool as the first ever performer. This is a tremendous honour.

“I cannot think of anyone better than a former Beatle to launch the Capital of Culture celebrations and the first event at the new Arena. This promises to be a fantastic evening for everyone in Liverpool and one which will be remembered and talked about for many years.”

ACC Liverpool has a convention centre featuring 1,350 seats, a 3725 sq metre multi-purpose hall 18 meeting rooms and total exhibition space is in excess of 7000 sq metres. The ‘campus style’ layout makes ACC Liverpool an exceptional venue for high security events. The adjoining Echo Arena Liverpool has 10,600 seats and is designed to attract high-profile entertainment and sporting events.