SGH170 Festival to celebrate the old and the new
St George’s Hall is set to mark its 170th anniversary by inviting a host of Liverpool’s most talented performers into its iconic spaces.
From comedians to singer-songwriters, from jazz to rock’n’roll, the final programme of events for the SGH170 Festival, curated by Culture Liverpool and the St George’s Hall team, has now been unveiled and will run from August until September.
Thousands of visitors have already been enjoying stunning EONARIUM Enlightenment which brings Vivaldi’s Four Seasons to life in a breathtaking audio-visual extravaganza in the Great Hall and runs until 29 September. And from next Thursday, 1 August, the rest of the programme showcasing the very best of Liverpool’s cultural scene will take over the Concert Room:
The Jacaranda’s Rock N’ Roll Circus – Thursday, 1 August
Inspired by the legendary 1968 Rolling Stones’ Rock and Roll Circus, The Jacaranda’s version will feature some of the greatest rock and roll hits from the 1950s through to the 80s. The Jacaranda’s band is full of Liverpool talent including Paul Nazole, Bobby West, John Ellwand, Nick East, Naomi Campbell, Dylan Cassin, Tom Lane, Ellis Murphy, Reid Anderson, Fiona Lennon, Jonny Taylor, Ben Cass, Joe ‘The Blow’ Corby, Rowan Reid, Zak Langford-Do, Sean Dagnall, Curtis Stone and Kenny Stuart.
Comedy in the Concert Room – Friday, 2 August
An evening of laughter featuring Adam Rowe, Josh Pugh, Laura Lexx, and hosted by award-winning comedian Sam Avery.
The Narrative – Tuesday, 6 August
A songwriter showcase and networking event with local musicians ZUZU, KOF, and MT Jones, performing in the round and sharing the stories behind their songs.
The Wombat Jazz Festival – Sunday, 1 September
In a first for Liverpool, the Wombat Jazz Festival unites the city’s finest jazz talent and will delve into the roots and rhythms of jazz, showcasing both the vibrant local scene and the rich cultural heritage that defines the genre.
The line-up includes the legendary The Grapes Band with special guest vocalist, Ni Maxine, rising star drummer, Skye Ambrosius and the great, Andrew Ibi, threading the day together with rare vinyl jazz education. Other performers include Parabhen Lad, Buster Swaby, Robasca, David Kayode, Bop Kaballa, Monkey Paw and Dharma Collective. Further information and tickets details as well as online booking are on the SGH170 webpage
Cllr Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, said: “St George’s Hall and culture – is there a more iconic pairing or a more apt way to mark the 170th anniversary of this magnificent building?
“Fittingly, St George’s Hall was born out of a need to have a place to hold festivals and concerts. I hope that the people who bought £25 shares back in 1836 to help fund the design and building of the Hall would be proud to see it still fulfilling that original need and being enjoyed by so many people.
“It’s so important that we’re celebrating Liverpool talent in the SGH170 programme. Our city is known for music and its sense of humour and St George’s will be full of both over the coming weeks. Whilst we’re an outward-looking and global city, we also hold our own close and shout about them as loudly as we can and that’s what this festival is all about.
“St George’s Hall has always been and always will be the people’s building and SGH170 is another chance to come inside and marvel at its splendour. Enjoy it – this is yours.”
Veso Mihaylov, Head of Events, Jacaranda Records, said: “We are super excited to be a part of St George’s Hall’s 170th anniversary celebrations.
“St George’s Hall is not just architecturally stunning, but is also one of Liverpool’s biggest landmarks. To open the 170th celebrations with The Jacaranda’s Rock N’ Roll circus is a real honour for us.”