Alzheimer’s Society Northern Soul Night

ON Saturday, 13 June 2009, the West Lanc's Soul Club, 1 Liverpool Road, Burscough, L40 5TN, is supporting Alzheimer’s Society this time with a raffle with Northern Soul themed prizes, this regular and popular event, which often sees a packed venue of 120+ and a busy dance floor. This month as usual the West Lanc's Soul Club are featuring a line up of some of the best up and coming and professional DJs including Dave Rimmer and Bram breeze as well as residents Andy Simpson and Kate as well as record collector Tony Blundell, on the the night there will be played a selection of old and new northern soul and cross over as well as a celebration of 50 years of underplayed Motown, as ever record dealers are welcome to come and sell there prized 7inch records, and other soul related items on the mezzanine record bar. Doors open at 7.30 to late... Tickets at a reduced price are available at £4 each or you can pay £5 on the door. Also some tickets are available to pick up from the venue.  For more information go to:- freewebs.com/westlancssoulclub  also to get advance tickets call:- Andy or Pete Simpson on:- 07763 698167.

The Cavendish Drive Corps (Church) to open its doors

THE Liverpool Walton Corps of The Salvation Army is to open its doors to all during a special Awareness Week aimed at showcasing its varied work in the community.  The church and community centre in Cavendish Drive will be open everyday from 11 May to 16 May 2009 to allow local residents and key stakeholders in the community to see for themselves to various support groups and advice available.  Gill Collins, Community Manager at Liverpool Walton Salvation Army, is delighted to welcome people to the Corps which sees more than 400 people a week pass through its doors.  There will be information stands during the week as well as Jill and other members of staff who will be able to highlight some of the groups and advice organisations that work together with The Salvation Army in Walton for the benefit of the whole community.  Gill said:- “Over the years we have become known in the local community as a church first and foremost but also as a community centre with support groups and advice available to all those who need help the most. We have over 400 people a week come through our doors just to use the community facilities alone and we are happy to work with our partner agencies while maintaining our strong Christian ethos.”  During the week there will be information on health services, adult learning as well as the North Liverpool Citizens’ Advice Bureau which offers advice sessions at the Corps. There are also other groups, such as the Roy Castle Fag Ends project to help people quit smoking and the Step Closer to Work group to help people find employment, using the Corps’ facilities. Jill added:- “People who already know the Corps, perhaps through worship or by using our facilities, are welcome to come along during the Awareness Week, but we would particularly like to extend a warm welcome to all those that may have passed us by but would like to find out more.”

WITH LOVE FROM ME TO YOU

ON Friday, 8 May 2009, World Museum Liverpool welcomed a special guest to The Beat Goes On who presented a new addition to the exhibition devoted to Liverpool’s music scene.  Celebrated poet Roger McGough, who is himself part of Liverpool’s musical heritage lent the museum a unique item to adorn the exhibition’s walls.  The unusual item is in fact a pair of trousers; but not just any trousers. The trousers once belonged to Roger’s fellow Scaffold member Mike McCartney’s brother Paul, a member of another little-known band from Liverpool; The Beatles.  Framed like a piece of art, the trousers were the inspiration behind a poem now also on display in The Beat Goes On, entitled To Macca’s Trousers, which has been taken from Roger McGough’s new collection of poetry.  Detailing the background of the trousers and how Roger came to own them, the poem describes humorously how he went from wearing them on nights out in the 60s, to finding them packed up in a suitcase of old clothes in his attic years later.

Roger said:- “I was friends with Mike McCartney at a time when I began teaching in local schools. It was obvious that I needed to smarten up and make an effort at work in order to set an example to the pupils, and Mike suggested I have some of his brother’s cast offs.  I’m pleased they are going to be displayed somewhere for all to enjoy and The Beat Goes On is the perfect setting. It’s strange to think that when I used to wear them, the thought never crossed my mind that my mate’s brother’s trousers would one day be hung on the wall of a museum!”

The poem is part of a new collection of Roger’s poetry being published this June by Penguin Books, entitled That Awkward Age. The collection is a powerful testament to the miraculous in the everyday, describing one-off chance encounters, embarrassing questions and small wonders, as Roger resolves – and fails – to live every day as if it were his last.  From the Beatles to the Zutons, the 40's to today, Liverpool continues to be a top 10 hit and The Beat Goes On exhibition, which runs until 1 November 2009, is sure to wow visitors with an unforgettable experience for music fans of all ages and tastes.  The Beat Goes On explores the city’s musical identity, its successes and continuing evolution. With hoards of memorabilia on display it reveals a rich musical heritage beginning with early influences that seeped into the port city from across the Atlantic during the 1940's and 50's, to the phenomenal success of Merseybeat and the continuing popularity of Merseyside musicians today.  The exhibition is bursting with audio, juke boxes and exciting interactives, including an insight into the role of technology in modern music production featuring a mini-recording studio and karaoke room in collaboration with SAE (School of Audio Engineering).  Visitors can sing-along to their favourite Scouse band or artists choosing from a menu of karaoke tunes for every generation including Ferry Cross the Mersey by Gerry and the Pacemakers, Valerie by The Zutons, Whole Again by Atomic Kitten, From Me to You by The Beatles, You to Me are Everything by The Real Thing, and All Together Now; the only track to include guide-vocals by the actual artist, lead singer of The Farm Peter Hooton.