VOTE FOR LIVERPOOL "Most Musical City"

Elvis gig 05/07/07

08 is here

The Picket was a strong supporter of the Capital of Culture bid, but the success of the bid led indirectly to the loss of the original Flying Picket premises.

This site describes the campaign undertaken by the Picket, its staff, Liverpool bands and musicians and the people of Liverpool to save the Picket- a campaign which resulted in the venue successfully relocating to new premisess in Liverpoool's Independent District

don't agonise, organise

Last update 14 May 2008

 

Latest Picket events HERE

The Drybar at the Picket relaunch: details HERE

Forthcoming Picket events can be found at the picketliverpool myspace site

Please go to www.myspace.com/picketliverpool for new photos from Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint’s performance at the Picket in July 2007.

Some details HERE

John Peel Memorial Football Tournament and Concert 2007 details HERE

The new Picket opening: details HERE

what happened

Why the Picket had to move HERE

milestones

Milestones in the history of the Picket and the Liverpool music scene HERE

galleries

Galleries of photos, the Picket past and present HERE

guestbook

Our guest-book and our visitors HERE

 

 

The Picket at myspace!

http:// www.myspace.com/picketliverpool

for regular blogs, and gig listings in an easy to access place.

Add us to you friends list

HERE

This site will remain as an archive of the Picket's continuing history!

 

How to find the New Picket.

Landmark: Look for Cains Brewery, (formerly Higsons- on Parliament Street) close to the River Mersey. Approaching the River, turn right at the traffic lights onto Jamaica Street, and then second left into New Bird Street, the entrance to the venue is located on New Bird Street.

Directions from Lime Street Station: HERE

entrance to New Bird Street audience Entrance ot New Picket Jordan Street

 

 

On Saturday 26th May 2007 one of Liverpool’s most famous venues, The Picket, was one year old.

A venue that has attracted the likes of The Las, Happy Mondays, Noel Gallagher, Space, Cast, China Crisis, The Coral, Shack, Pete Wylie, Ian McNabb, Baaba Maal, Neil Finn, Billy Bragg and Deaf School.

It has presented 1,000’s of Liverpool bands and supported 100's of the city's community organisations through fundraising events and support and advice.

In 2004 the venue was closed down at its premises in Hardman Street, Liverpool (see What Happened)

In May 2006 it re-opened in new premises with the support of Elvis Costello, Travis, Liverpool City Council and the citizens of Liverpool, attracting 1,500 people to its official opening.

New Liverpool promoters FUSION- based at Paul McCartney's "Fame" school LIPA- organised the event to celebrate the venues’ 1st birthday!

See the details of the reopening concert HERE

 

 

When the Picket closed I felt similar to Liverpool F.C. when they were 3-0 down at half time in Istanbul, my world collapsed. This last year has felt like extra time- tense and uncertain. When we open will I expect to feel the equivalent of how Jerzy Dudek felt, and the rest of the team, when he saved Shevchenko's penalty. If you don't have a dream, how you gonna have a dream come true- this is for Liverpool, my home.

The Picket and its associated activities have made a great contribution to this City's cultural life, enhancing Liverpool's music industry and improving opportunities for local musicians. Closure would have been a great loss to the City and have a devastating impact on its cultural facilities for the people of Liverpool.

The Picket and its staff supported Liverpool's bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2008 so it was doubly ironic that just as Liverpool has received this accolade and the City appeared to be striding forward, the Picket and Pinball were threatened with closure!

Philip Hayes, Scouser from Croxteth, Liverpool, 27th April, 2006.

"The Picket has made a great contribution to Liverpool's music history over some 20 years. Its great news for Liverpool that its to reopen. The City Council is right behind the new venue and the work it does in supporting local musicians. We will do all that we can to help the venue to become a success in the Independents District".

Cllr. Warren Bradley, Leader of Liverpool City Council.

"I've supported the Picket throughout its campaign. This is great news for Liverpool and for music in the the City".

Louise Ellman MP for Liverpool Riverside.

Please leave a message of support by signing our guestbook.

Save the Picket gig 05 Dec 2003

You can also e-mail us with your contact details if you require further information.

Please read the guestbook and check back here for further developments.

 

Irish Festival 2005

 

www.liverpool08.com

The People's Opening

Venue: St George's Plateau, Lime Street, Liverpool.

At 20:08 Friday 11 January, the artists and people of the city gatherered together on St George's Plateau, in Liverpool City Centre.

The People's Opening included an extraordinary performance from the rooftops surrounding the cultural heart of the city. The spectacular event involved massed community choirs and aerialists, performers ranging from Ringo Starr to The Wombats and an epic aerial ballet of dancing cranes, containers and scissor lifts, as Liverpool celebrates the transfromation of the 'Big Dig' into the 'Big Gig'

Liverpool - The Musical

Venue: ECHO Arena Liverpool, Kings Dock.

Created specially to open Liverpool's new 10,600 seat arena, on 12 January 2008, Liverpool - The Musical, celebrated both the past and the future of the city.

Integrating live performances and film in a radical and new way, vertically stacking performers seven stories into the air, the show featured a once-in-a-lifetime cast including: Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in collaboration with No Fakin DJs, Ringo Starr, Echo and The Bunnymen, Ian Broudie, The Farm, Riuven, The Wombats, Pete Wylie, Dave Stewart and the people of the city.

more information www.liverpool08.com

pictures and videos at www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool08


Liverpool European Capital of Culture Yearbook '08

Containing more than three hundred and fifty events, The Guide to'08 illustrates the work of thousands of people who have been enthused, energised and inspired to showcase their creativity in countless ways during Liverpool's reign as European Capital of Culture.

The Guide reflects the city's edgy spirit and sense of fun with internationally acclaimed work and community projects, many of which are free. Liverpool is unique because of its people. They - and you - are the focus of this year of celebration.

The 08 Year book is available now for £5.

To obtain a copy visit the 08 place in Whitechapel or
online at www.onlinemerchandising.co.uk.

Copies will be available from next week onwards at Williamson Tunnels, Liverpool and Metropolitan Cathedral, Croxteth Hall, all museums across the city, FACT, Beatles Story, Tate Shop, Port Sunlight and 6 Marks and Spencer stores throughout Liverpool.

more info: www.liverpool08.com

 

 

 

VOTING LIVERPOOL

If you think Liverpool deserves to win this award as Most Musical City please vote and pass the link on to your contacts.

Please click on the image or HERE to vote for Liverpool, so far, we're doing ok, but not as well as expected, so feel free to pass the information far and wide!

 

latest news

Elvis Costello/Allen Toussaint gig

Thursday 5th July 2007

The Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint benefit concert for the New Picket was sold out.

See BBC North West tonight interview

HERE

See the Liverpool Echo review

HERE

See what the audience said

HERE

The Picket is extremely grateful to Elvis and Allen for performing at the Picket, it was great of them to do this for us- and for the future of music in Liverpool.

"This is OUR place and we live by the River".

From New Orleans to Liverpool.

Details of the tour that follows the Picket benefit gig

HERE

 

 

 

The Third John Peel Memorial Trophy and Gig.

VENUE: Liverpool Football Club's Academy, Kirkby-just outside Liverpool.

Thursday 11th October 2007. 12 noon- 5pm.

Winners in 2006-Cream. Music Venue and event organisers The Picket/Africa Oye-Runners Up 2006.
Elevator Recording Studio-Winners 2005. Liverpool bands The Farm, Shack, Rain and Groundpig. From Liverpool Culture Company and Liverpool City Council 'The Culture Vultures'. Representing the Big Issue 'England Homeless World Veterans'. Local record company Robot Records, event organisers 'Liverpool Music Week' and regular local guys 'The Friday Foundry'

LFC Academy

The LFC Academy is located on Simonswood Lane/Arbour Lane in Kirkby. To get there by car approach via East Lancs. Road (exit East Lancs. Rd East J5 M57) or by train Merseyrail from Liverpool Central Station to Kirkby. Get a cab from there to the Academy.

PRESENTATION OF TROPHY AND MEDALS.

Following the tournament the winners and runners up will be presented with their trophy and medals at The New Picket, with performances from new Liverpool bands Clockwork, Aspen Grove, Off Target and local girl Chelle Strahan. Plus special guests to be announced.
Tickets £4.00.
Philip Hayes, Office: 0151 708 6789 M: 07913 853 104.

John Peel Day Quotes

Johnny Marr (the Smiths)

"Songs were written because of the Peel Sessions. 'This Charming Man' for instance was written cos we didn't have enough songs. We had a session on the Friday, it was like the Tuesday and I just got out of bed and wrote this song for it. The versions for Peel pretty much became the definitive versions of our songs around that time. Those sessions taught me how to make records."

Billy Bragg

"It was the night that I tuned in to listen to a session by the 'High Level Ranters' who were a Northumbrian pipe and clog band, and that was when I first heard the Sex Pistols."

Jarvis Cocker

"John was a launchpad for a thousand careers, including mine. No one in any medium could match his influence as a supporter of new talent … without commercial interest or intent. Someone who attempted to please nobody but himself ended up forging one of the most profound links with his listeners in the history of broadcasting. He was an ordinary bloke with an extraordinary love for music. I and many others will never forget him."

 

 

December 2007 saw the relaunch of the Picket's Dry Bar Gigs
in collaboration with Liverpool Community College and MZone.

Norris Green Youth Club - Battle of the Bands, the Final

. Finalists: Tin Pixies, the Carlsons, The New Originals, 909.

Dry Bar, No Alcohol.

Thursday 13th December, 2007. 6.30pm. £3.

More info: Danny Woods, Mobile: 0776655622

Email "Danny Woods" dansprawl@hotmail.com

More details of the Dry Bar here, as and when activities are confirmed will appear onwww.thedrybar.org, a site constructed and managed by The Dry Bar’s Young Promoters Team.

A photo-archive from Liverpool Now High and Dry can be seen at http://thedrybar.myphotoalbum.com/

 

Philip Hayes,
The Picket Ltd,
20 Oakbank Road,
Liverpool, L18 1HS.
mobile 07913 853 104
home 0151 733 9067
work0151 708 5318
Email philiphayesmusic@hotmail.co.uk

This site created 06 October 2003
Last update 14 May 2008

webmaster Steve Little

The Picket acknowledges the support of Liverpool City Council,
the Arts Council of England,
Liverpool Culture Company,
the National Foundation for Youth Music.

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