One of Liverpool’s iconic visitor attractions, Strawberry Field, has announced its summer events programme, with the first public live music performances on the new bandstand among the many highlights.
Summer at Strawberry Field runs from 24 July to 9 September, with a lineup of established artists and emerging talent performing live in the gardens and on the new Strawberry Field Bandstand.
The Mersey Beatles, who will meet and greet fans before performing a one-of-a-kind intimate performance on the bandstand, are among the first acts to take to the city’s newest stage. Later this year, the band will headline Liverpool’s largest-ever Beatles tribute show at the M&S Bank Arena. Tom Seals, a pianist and vocalist, is another headliner. Tom, who is fresh off a sold-out tour, will also be performing on the bandstand before heading to the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall later in the year. The Sing Your Socks Off choir and the Anglia Youth Band & Chorus are also performing.
The summer programme, which celebrates the music of the world’s most famous pop group, includes events such as a Beatles mini-convention, TR5s performances, and a session for children to form a skiffle band.
The latest addition to Liverpool’s music scene carries on John Lennon’s legacy and message of peace, hope, and love for all. The Strawberry Field Bandstand is inspired by The Beatles’ iconic album cover, ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’, and references The Salvation Army and its marching bands. The bandstand also includes a larger replica of the iconic ‘Imagine’ mosaic from New York’s Strawberry Fields memorial in Central Park.
Along with the live music, there will be family events, such as Get Back to Play, throughout the summer weeks. Every Tuesday until the end of August, children and their parents or carers are invited to participate in family crafts and play with traditional toys and games in the gardens where John Lennon used to play. Throughout the summer, activities vary, with a special Beatles-themed event on August 29 in which children can listen to music and form their own skiffle band.
Kathy Versfeld, mission director at Strawberry Field, said:
“We are very excited to announce our 2024 summer programme, which this year is centred around our newest attraction – the Strawberry Field Bandstand. I am thrilled that we are bringing music back to the Strawberry Field gardens – the place where John Lennon once sought sanctuary and experienced one of his earliest musical moments hearing The Salvation Army band play.
“We are also building on the musical legacy of Eurovision, making sure that what we created in the city in May continues to positively impact our communities. We look forward to welcoming visitors to enjoy music from established and emerging artists for years to come.”
Cliff Cooper, CEO and Founder of Orange Amps and Honorary Patron of Strawberry Field, generously donated the Strawberry Field Bandstand. The Strawberry Field Bandstand will also be dedicated on 22 July at a Salvation Army event.
The bandstand joins a number of symbols of peace located within the grounds of Strawberry Field, including the Ukrainian Global Peace Monument, which measures 16ft tall and features a book, a dove, and the Ukrainian flag, which sits atop a man’s outstretched arm.
Tickets for The Mersey Beatles are now on general sale here.
READ MORE: First look at the new bandstand at Strawberry Field
