More than 15,000 people attended this year’s Salt and Tar Music Festival, making it one of the most successful events ever staged in Bootle.
The five-day festival welcomed visitors from across the Liverpool City Region and the wider UK, with international visitors also travelling to the town for the event.
Held at The Lock & Quay event grounds while work continues on the transformation of Bootle Strand, Salt and Tar featured a huge line-up of live music headlined by Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Billy Ocean, The Waterboys and The Saw Doctors.
Alongside the headline concerts, the Festival Village hosted a packed programme showcasing grassroots performers, community organisations and local businesses.
The event also provided opportunities for young people looking to build careers in the music and events industries.
Scrapyard Studios CIC hosted a grassroots music stage and busking spots, while students gained production work experience and had the chance to support headline artists behind the scenes.
Students from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) also played key roles in delivering the festival, gaining hands-on experience in areas including live events and artist liaison.
Salt and Tar provided a further boost for the local economy, with all food and bar traders at the event coming from Sefton.
Volunteers from Sefton CVS were also involved throughout the festival, helping to welcome thousands of visitors to Bootle.
Councillor Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economy and Skills, said:
“Welcoming more than 15,000 people to Bootle is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates just how far Salt and Tar has come. We saw visitors travelling from across the country, and even from overseas, to experience what Bootle has to offer.
“The festival not only brought world-class live music to the town but also created opportunities for local artists, students, businesses and volunteers, delivering real benefits for our communities. Events like this are helping put Bootle firmly on the map as a destination for culture, leisure and entertainment.”
One festival-goer said:
“WOW. What an absolutely brilliant night! You completely smashed it. The atmosphere was fantastic, Nile Rodgers and CHIC were incredible, and I’m fairly sure my legs are now filing an official complaint after far too much dancing.
“It’s brilliant to see events like this happening in Bootle and bringing so many people together. A massive well done to everyone involved in organising it. You should be really proud of what you pulled off.”
Kim Nealon, a LIPA student involved in the festival added:
“It’s been a great experience to see the event come together and to be involved in an event of this scale is so valuable to my learning. The team have been very supportive, and I will take a lot from this experience.”
Organisers say the success of this year’s event demonstrates the growing ambition of Salt and Tar and its role in the wider regeneration of the town.
With more than 15,000 people attending across five days, the festival helped bring new audiences into Bootle while showcasing the town as an increasingly significant destination for live music, culture and entertainment.
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