Liverpool’s role as a global music hotspot has been demonstrated once again with this week’s announcement of a number of high-profile music events. The new Queen Anne ship’s maiden call will be celebrated with a performance by Andrea Bocelli alongside the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, while local DJ sets will be provided by Lauren Lo Sung and Craig Charles. Meanwhile, a blue plaque marking the birthplace of The Beatles’ George Harrison has been unveiled in Wavertree. However, it is news of Taylor Swift’s three stadium dates in Liverpool which has created the biggest reaction, with the city set to become “Taylor Town” for a week.
Liverpool is keen to celebrate major musical events in style and has been building its reputation as an unmissable destination for fans of live music. The city is using the upcoming concerts as a means of highlighting its suitability as a host to major acts. Liverpool is unique in relation to other areas in the UK in that it possesses the desire and infrastructure necessary to make large-scale concerts a major success.
Promoters have taken notice of Liverpool’s special status as a music city, with the high-profile performances of major acts bolstering the local economy. This year has seen both Live Nation’s annual “On The Waterfront” gigs and its innovative “In the Park” festival, while The Rolling Stones performed their first gig in the city in more than half a century in 2018. Taylor Swift is further proof that artists are now recognising the benefits of the “Liverpool factor”, as the pop star has chosen to perform in the city despite having other options.
The city’s UNESCO City of Music Commissioner, Kevin McManus, believes that Liverpool’s appeal goes beyond financial considerations. His theory is that Taylor may have fallen in love with Liverpool while shooting her “I Can See You” video in the city last year. Alternatively, McManus suggests that members of her team could have been impressed by the city’s warm embrace of Eurovision while they were in town. Whatever the reason, Liverpool’s reputation as a music capital is likely to continue its upward trajectory after Taylor’s performances
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