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MUSIC COMPETITION INUNDATED
A MUSIC competition for people aged 14-25 years old has been inundated with applications for an audition spot. Judges will now sift the forms and pick suitable acts for auditions in the next few weeks with the 7 'most ready' artists, groups or crews, being chosen from each Liverpool neighbourhood to play at the Mersey River Festival on June 10 and 11 on the main stage at the Pier Head.
The city, the official world capital of the pop, has produced musicians throughout history, from the Beatles to Atomic Kitten, and now the hunt is well under way for new chart-topping bands.
Judges now revealed include:-
*Anni Hogan:- Musical Director of Marc Almond, also co-wrote some songs and session musician (piano) for 10 years. Signed with her own band to major label, Cactus Rain Producer and DJ for 25 years in major dance clubs Europe wide in a variety of music styles.
* Paul Cavanagh:- Signed as musician/songwriter with Island and other major labels plus has several publishing contracts. Paul is now manager of Deltasonic, signed band
"The Basement".
* Chloe Mullett:- Head of Popular Music at Hope University. Previously a lecturer in popular music at Liverpool Community College. Also in Marlowe, a successful Liverpool-based act who are signed to Probe Records, and played SxSw. Chloe has done a Peel session and has a solid musical background in piano, flute, clarinet, saxophone and vocals.
* Phil Hayes:- Founder of the Picket, where many legendary Liverpool bands played, plus organiser of the Dry Bar, an alcohol free club environment for young people.
* Jennifer John:- Signed singer who featured on the single Just Can't Wait (Saturday) by 100% with the Ministry of Sound label.
* Plus musical experts Chris Spriggs and Francisco Carrasco.
Organisers the Liverpool Culture Company with support from Mzone and Youth Music, will give all bands advice and feedback to improve their performances.
Executive member for culture, Warren Bradley, said:- "It's great news that so many young people are excited enough about music that they want to get involved in a project like this."
Organiser Alicia Smith, from the Liverpool Culture Company said:- "As the auditions are open to all, we're encouraging everyone to come along, it should be a great free gig and you never know, you could be watching the stars of the future."
Supporter of the project, MZONE (the Liverpool & Merseyside Youth Music Action Zone), is one of 24 Youth Music Action Zones in England and Wales, providing music-making activities to young people under 19 who might not otherwise have the opportunity.
Francisco Carrasco from MZone said:- "Streetwaves is an exciting music initiative that will give some of the most talented young singers and musicians in Liverpool a chance to be profiled at one of the biggest outdoor festivals in the North West. The project will also give many young people a chance to perform for industry professionals and get great tips about the music industry. It is a great chance for young people who want to have a career in music."
Another supporter is Youth Music, who support music-making opportunities for children and young people targeting those who would otherwise have little or no access to such opportunities in all styles.
Chris Spriggs from Youth Music said:- "Street Waves promises to be an incredible musical experience for hundreds of Liverpool's talented young people. Youth Music supports this exciting project that is going to give so many young musicians the opportunity to make music and wishes all the performers the best of luck!"
The Streetwaves venues across the city where auditions will be held include Heaven and Hell, Fleet Street, L1, St Brides Church, Percy Street, L8, Croxteth Communiversity, Croxteth L11, Shewsbury House,Langrove Street L5, Gateacre youth centre, Belle Vale Road L25 and The Sandon, Oakfield Drive L4.
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First steps to safety
INFANTS in Liverpool have become the first in the country to graduate from a road-safety scheme which could save their lives. In Liverpool, there are more than 3,000 road accidents every year, 500 involving children.
The scheme will help Liverpool City Council meet tough Government targets to reduce road accidents involving young children by half, by 2010. Across the city, children aged 6 and 7 are being taught how to cross roads safely. And, pupils at Garston Church of England Primary School are the first in the country to graduate.
Since September, 26 infants have been learning all about road safety with the help of their parents and child pedestrian skills co-ordinators. And, Liverpool City Council is the first authority to present parents with a nationally accredited award for their achievement.
Executive member for regeneration, Councillor Peter Millea, said:- "It's essential that children grasp road safety rules at an early age. Hundreds of children are involved in road accidents every year, and these affect not only the family but the community as a whole. As a city council we take our responsibility to teach children road-safety lessons very seriously. By teaching young people how to cross a road safely at an early age, we can make sure that they don't put their lives at risk when they step off a pavement."
Over the past 8 months infants at Garston C of E have been taken out into the local area and taught how to find a safe place to cross, how to cross between parked cars and at junctions.
Headteacher of the primary school, Rick Widdowson, said:- "This scheme has proved invaluable in teaching our young children to be road safe, while at the same time giving volunteers the chance to work for the benefit of the whole community."
Helen Jacobson, who is the mother of 5-year old Alice, took part in the initiative. She said:-
"It has been a really worthwhile project and my daughter has had a valuable experience that was educational and fun."
To celebrate the school's achievements a special graduation ceremony was this week on Tuesday 17 May.
The scheme has been arranged by Liverpool City Council in conjunction with Kerbcraft Transport and was initiated by the Department of Transport.
Letters to Editor:-
"National Deafblind Friendly Awards."
DEAR Southport Reporter,
"We would like to invite your readers to take part in this year's National Deafblind Friendly Awards. We're deafblind ourselves - which means we have both sight and hearing difficulties. We know how important it is that deafblind people are able to use the facilities most people take for granted.
Unfortunately it can be a real problem. Did you know that research has shown that one in four deafblind people have gone without food or medicine because shopping is so difficult for them?
The National Deafblind Friendly Awards are presented annually at a ceremony organised by the charities Sense and Deafblind UK. Last year HRH The Princess Royal presented the awards. Deafblind people across the UK nominated companies and organisations who had made a real effort to make their services accessible to people who are deafblind. Businesses and service providers also nominated themselves for the awards to highlight the work they have done to make the high street a more hospitable place.
There will be a new category this year called Health & Wellbeing where people can nominate anything from a yoga class to a doctor. The other categories cover a national high street chain, individual branch of a national chain, individual business and travel & transport.
Please request a nomination form if you think your organisation might be in with a chance. Nominations are open until Monday 27th June 2005 and the winners will be announced in October. To request a form contact Sue Brown at Sense on 020 7561 3401 or Kim Olivier at Deafblind UK on 01733 358 100.
Thank you." Nigel Marriott, Trustee, Sense and Janice Tillett, Director, Deafblind UK
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