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Issue:- 12 June 2014

International Mersey River Festival and the Music on the Waterfront 2014...
Photograph by Patrick Trollope

THIS year's International Mersey River Festival and the Music on the Waterfront Festival took place in Liverpool, on the same weekend, starting on Friday, 13 June and running on until the early evening on Sunday, 15 June 2014. This amazing double event had many activities for all ages, from food stands selling everything from Scouse to Pancakes, to opportunities to look around some Tall Ships at the Albert Dock, or a brand new Royal Navy Ship – Type 45 Destroyer, at the Cruise Liner Terminal. With the sun shining down throughout the event, people packed out the area, from the Liverpool Arena right up to the end of Princes Parade. The atmosphere was very relaxed and sociable throughout, and with many families picnicking on the green areas and by the canal, there was a lovely holiday feel to the weekend. The Tall Ships that attended included the Stavros Niarchos, Prolific, Mercedes and Golden Vanity. Other vessel taking part, were the Merchant Navy Ship Galatea, along with a flotilla of around 12 to 15 barges. Plus, as this year marks the 350th anniversary of the Royal Marines, the Royal Navy's Marines and Sea Cadet conducted displays on both Saturday and Sunday, to the backdrop of the music emanating from the Waterfront stage and a Sea Cadet band played well outside the museum, where later there were musical offerings of a more classical nature. Bands and musicians also featured at Mann Island stage through the event, including Formby Brass Band, and intermittently amusingly costumed street artists interacted with the crowds. Across the whole area there were so many other interesting shows and happenings, it was too difficult to see them all. The Uniformed Services were well represented and had various displays and activities on the go. Children could be seen busily drawing a sea creature on the pavement outside the museum. The Edmund Gardner had had a transformation to become a Dazzle boat and there were many stalls and information events including the Canal and River Trust who would like more people to 'get involved'.  Activities on the big stage started on the Friday night with a show for BBC Radio 6 Music, host The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Homecoming, ending with fireworks lighting up the river... They were also joined by BBC Radio Merseyside. Sadly, a small shower did dampen the event on the Friday night, but the party did continue and the rain was short lived. Then on the Saturday, Smooth Radio took over the stage, with artists like double platinum selling Rhydian, along with the likes of The Christians, Honey Ryder, The Shires, and Kristyna Myles taking to the stage. Between some of the acts, the sky was the home for aerial displays by The Yakovlevs. Also on the Saturday, as well as Sunday, Liverpool International Canoe Polo Tournament, Zap Cat racing, Model boat exhibition, Wake boarding at Salthouse Dock, International Mersey River Festival Raft Race, Street theatre and Street Art took place. For the Waterfront stage though, Sunday was less energetic, but it still had The Yakovlevs, but this time some more relaxed music with gigs preformed by the Bollywood Brass Band, Royal Marine Band of Scotland and Rat Pack tribute band.  and also on here, but for now please do check out our photograpic coverage of this event by clicking on here.

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