Liverpool Life 9:5 November 4 2020

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THIS WEEK

ARTS

LIFESTYLE

FROM THE HEART OF THE CITY

Liverpool Life ELECTRIC SCOOTERS HIT MERSEYSIDE

November 4 2020

REDS LEAVE MELWOOD BEHIND LOCKDOWN DOG THEFTS INTENSIFY

BOXING CLEVER > Disabilities fitness hub vows to stay open

Eyes on the Prize - Page 14

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CONTENTS 4

4 Claire House fishing club challenge 5 Liverpool scoots into the electric era 6 Growing phone call frauds in Merseyside 7 Bonfires banned 8 From Melwood to Kirby 9 Rise in dog thefts

Photos: Colin Cook, Unsplash

THIS WEEK

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Photos: Steph Colderick, Liam Starkey

LIFE

10 Kirkdale - boxing and breakfast 11 The Inclusive Hub vows to help children over lockdown

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12 Go Fika!

13 Will the elderly be lonely during the next lockdown?

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Photos: Castle Fine Art Foundry, Fox Fisher

ARTS 14 John Moores Painting Prize 15 Liverpool’s theatres - an open and shut case

16&17 Queer the City - art crawl 18

18 The Rainbow Runner 19 Celebrating Black music on Merseyside

Life in Liverpool continues... ... as we return for another week of fascinating and diverse stories from our reporters all across Merseyside.

Our own Sarah Taylor helped raise funds for Claire House Children’s Hospice by competeing in a fishing challenge on the Wirral Lakes, whilst Marriana Owen investigated the worrying number of dog thefts since

lockdown.

Steph Colderick went to visit the Wavertree cafe that has thrived despite this year’s restrictions, and we get the thoughts of former boxer Steve Harkin over Kirkdale Boxing Club’s efforts to keep community spirits high.

Artist Faith Bebbington has

16&17

splashed some colour on to the Hilton Hotel with her new sculputure, and we disover what inspired her in an in-depth interview.

The long-list for the John Moores painting prize is announced, and we finish our arts section with a piece

by Robyn Couling about a unique online celebration of black music in Liverpool.

Charlie Lau, Designer

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Fishing for funds

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By SARAH TAYLOR

Colin Cook and his fundraising friend at Macchu Pichhu, photo credit Colin Cook on Facebook

he weather was wet and windy, but it didn’t dampen the high spirits or the competitive buzz of the anglers taking part in the Claire House Fishing Club challenge.

Along with my fellow competitors at sites across the Wirral last weekend, I took up my place and got ready to enjoy the day and help raise funds for Claire House Children’s Hospice.

Starting in 2012, the Fishing Club Challenge consisted of just three teams who raised more than £3,000. However, the challenge soon grew in size, with 2017 and 2018 generating a staggering £16,000 and £17,500 respectively from just one day’s fishing.

This year, 88 anglers (forming 11 eight-man teams) took part in a fishing contest, all split over five different lakes across the Wirral. At the end, the team with the combined lowest score of points were crowned champions and took the trophy.

As the team captain for ‘Sazbo’s Sharks’, it was my responsibility to get a team together, place them at venues where they could score good points and hopefully drive our team to victory.

I put myself at a place in Moreton called ‘The Brickworks’. The weather wasn’t great but despite that I just tried to catch as many fish as I could.

Once the competition had ended, I found out that I had gained three points for the team – a good start for us. Hearing reports from the other venues, the team had put in a stellar

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performance. But, unsure as to how the other teams had faired, it was a tense wait for the results to see if we had done enough.

Eventually, the results were released. Team ‘Rivacre’ took bronze with 42 points, second place went to team ‘Yew Tree’ with 41 points, and our team ‘Sazbo’s Sharks’ collated 27 points to be crowned champions and retain the trophy for the second year running.

However, whilst the competitive nature calls for some light-hearted banter and a lot of winding people up, the most important thing is raising money. With the current pandemic, numbers are expected to be down on previous years because of the Welsh lockdown stopping those in Wales from fishing, some people were shielding, as well as the inability to hold a presentation night. But still, it is estimated that this event could raise more than £5,000.

The aim of Claire House is to help chronically and terminally ill children by providing care and giving them incredible opportunities for them to enjoy life when times are tough.

They also provide support to families to help them deal with some of the hardest times of their lives.

Because they receive no funding from the Government, the hospice relies on volunteers and fundraisers, such as this one, in order to carry on providing the service they do.

Colin Cook, the organiser of the challenge, explains why this fundraiser is so important to the charity: “With less events taking place because of Covid, such as marathons, bike rides, tough mudders etc, it is even more important that we were able to do something this year.”

In action at Yew Tree Fishery Mr Cook has devoted his life to raising money for Claire House since losing his daughter Ellie at just seven years old to a brain tumour. The hospice looked after Ellie and the rest of his family through this incredibly tough time and continued even after Ellie passed. They still check up on his youngest daughter Mia and support her development.

Since then, the family have helped raise more than £90,000 for the charity with no signs of stopping. In the future, Mr Cook hopes that the event will continue to be a success.

“I’ll run the match for as long as I can and hopefully someone will take over from me after that.

Photos © Sarah Taylor “I do want it to grow, but the only thing restricting the size of the match is the venues. I’d love to be able to open it up to Liverpool and Cheshire.

We’ll just have to see – never say never!”

He also discussed his targets for the future: “We started off with 20 odd lads and raised over £1000. I don’t think anyone that day would have thought eight years later we’d be going into this year’s match trying to build on £70k total raised. I think £100k will be a real milestone.

“Personally, this competition and event is really important to me as it’s keeping the memory of my little girl alive.”

‘It’s keeping the memory of my little girl alive’

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Super scooters are here

By ETHAN TAYLOR

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iverpool’s first shop specialising in electric scooters and electric bikes has opened in Bold Street.

The opening of the Pure Electric store comes after Liverpool launched a new e-scooter trial three weeks ago, giving people the opportunity to try a new way of getting around the city centre.

The year-long pilot scheme which will see 50 of the carbon-neutral vehicles available for hire in the city for people who at least have a provisional driving licence.

Sales figures for e-scooters are rising steadily.

Tom McPhail, director of public affairs at Pure Electric, told Liverpool Life: “We have already sold tens of thousands of electric scooters.”

The government has recognised the potential that e-scooters have and how they can help people in maintaining social distancing whilst commuting and so passed laws this summer allowing the use of rental e-scooters.

Public land usage of the carbon-neutral vehicles is still classed as illegal, but Tom believes that will change in the next few years due to the impact that e-scooters can have on the environment.

He said: “Legally you cannot ride them on the pavement or the roads, which limits their usage, but that is going to change.

“They are a really environmental form of transport, they are more environmentally friendly, from a global warming point of view, than walking.

We put more greenhouses gases in the atmosphere from walking than we do generating the electricity to use an electric scooter.”

The introduction of electric scooter

stores and hireable electric scooters in Liverpool and cities all over the UK shows how regions are striving to become greener and make their transport networks quicker and more efficient for users.

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region said: “I want our area’s transport network to be as cheap, quick and green as possible. E- scooters could offer residents and tourists alike a quick and convenient way to get around the city centre, as happens in many European cities.”

Many European cities already use e-scooter transport and Pure Electric recognise that. After opening a store in Liverpool, they are already looking to expand nationally with another store in Cardiff set to open this week and more in the coming months, but they are also looking to expand globally.

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om McPhail said: “We are opening in Paris and in Madrid and Barcelona. This is growing pretty fast.”

He believes that within the next five to ten years it is going to be more convenient to be riding around cities on e-scooters.

European cities have already made movements to incorporate low carbon vehicles in their societies, but the UK has been slow to follow the rest of world.

He said: “In a lot of places around the world it’s already happening. If you go to Paris, if you go to Frankfurt, if you go to Madrid, there are scooters all over the place. Britain has been pretty slow. We are almost the only country in Europe now that haven’t adopted electric scooter use yet.”

But is the reason why the UK haven’t fully incorporated e-scooters in daily lives due to safety concerns?

Where can I ride an e-scooter?

How do I rent one?

E-scooters are currently illegal on public roads, pavements and cycle lanes in the UK. Anyone who may be riding an electric scooter in these places are committing an offence.

The only place e-scooters are allowed to be used in the UK is on private land, of course with the permission of landowner.

They cannot be used on the roads currently as they do not have visible rear lights for drivers, they do not have number plates and they do not have indicators for signalling where you may be turning.

E-scooters will cost £1 to unlock plus £0.20 per minute that you use them.

Unlimited daily and monthly passes will be available for purchase for those who do not want to pay every time they decide to use one.

Users will need to have at least a provisional driving licence to hire and ride and e-scooter. Discounted travel passes will be made available to low-income groups.

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, all vehicles will be disinfected daily, and handlebars will be wrapped in Shieldex Copper-Tape which killed 99.98% of coronavirus.

Ethan Taylor tries out an e-scooter ©Ethan Taylor Is there potentially a danger to life when riding these scooters in the city? Tom McPhail believes that the scooters do carry risks “from hitting

What are the rules for riding the e-scooters?

Helmets are recommended whilst riding the e-scooters but are not compulsory for users.

E-scooters are only available for people who are 18 years of age and older.

Only one person must ride the scooter at any given time.

Users must not use the scooters when under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

They are never to be ridden on the pavements.

a pothole, to falling off and skidding on wet leaves or risks to others” but he thinks that risks will always be there, no matter what.

Where will I find them?

Shopping and commercial districts University of Liverpool and LJMU campuses Georgian Quarter Liverpool Waterfront Knowledge Quarter

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Frightening fraudsters A vulnerable student was caught up in a high-stakes scam, as JORGE CAPERA reports

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Photo © Guilherme Osinski, on a happier occasion before the scam

Photo © Jefferson Santos, Unsplash

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She said I couldn’t hang up because I would be arrested

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uilherme Osinski panicked when the caller at the other end of the line told him that they were going to prosecute him for five criminal offences related to tax evasion.

The 26-year-old student, from Brazil, did not know that he was about to become a victim of fraud, a type of offence that has been rising in Merseyside, according to new figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Guilherme was in his flat in the Baltic Triangle when he received a phone call from an unknown number last Wednesday. He picked it up only to discover a voice at the other end of the line accusing him of having committed five criminal offences.

Guilherme said: “She didn’t even give me time to say ‘Hello, who’s speaking’. She already was saying something about an arrest warrant against me because supposedly I hadn’t paid any taxes after arriving in the UK.” The caller told him that he would be swiftly arrested if he looked for help and promised him that all prosecution against him would be halted once he had paid his taxes. He gave into pressure after she sent him a supposedly official document from HM Revenue and Customs service on WhatsApp. Once Guilherme had sent over a considerable amount of money, she asked for a further £1,800, but he was not able to pay that.

He said: “As soon as I hung up the phone call, I went downstairs to talk to somebody in reception. I showed one of the receptionists some screen shots of our conversation on WhatsApp and the document she had sent me. He told me that he could tell it was all fake. Then, I began to freak out.”

Guilherme’s case is part of a growing number of fraud and computer misuse offences in Merseyside. According to figures published last week by the ONS, this type of offence has increased by 11% in the region.

The latest crime figures for England and Wales showed that, in Merseyside, there were 565 more cases of fraud and computer misuse by the end of June 2020 than the previous year, taking the total number of registered offences in 2020 to 5,886.

The figures also showed that fraud and computer misuse has increased in England and Wales, despite a reduction in the total number of recorded

crimes.

Whereas total recorded crime in England and Wales fell by 5%, fraud and computer misuse rose by 4%.

According to the ONS, this reduction in crime was mainly driven by substantial falls in crime during the April to June period, when the country was under strict lockdown. But, it also says that the pandemic is likely to have had a detrimental effect on the number of fraud and computer misuse offences reported as people were making more transactions online.

This is supported by a statistical bulletin on recorded cybercrime and fraud trends in the UK during Covid-19 published in August by the University of Leeds. The research says that the proportion of fraud enabled by computers and other digital means increased slightly after lockdown, just like fraud related to online shopping.

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n Merseyside, total recorded crime did not fall but stayed stable. Moreover, fraud and computer misuse grew by 11% during June 2019 to June 2020. These type offences were among the few that increased in the region, along with drug offences and possession of weapons.

However, it is still very hard to determine the role of lockdown in the increase of fraud and computer misuse offences in the region as there is no specific regional data for these offences during the lockdown period in the figures published by the ONS. Even though the ONS says that it is still too early to assess the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in the longterm trends of this type of offences, it seems like everyone is becoming more at risk of being a victim of fraud and computer misuse as digital means of communication gain a greater role in our lives.

In the meantime, Guilherme says he has found in his family and friends the drive to overcome the psychological impact and embarrassment resulting from his situation and looks at the future with hope. He has filed a report with the police, but he is still waiting for the money to be recovered.

He said: “If something like this happens to you, if you are a victim like I was, just try to hold on and get close to your family and to your friends. As soon as you can, just try to get out from you flat or from your house and... see the sunset. It’s going to make you to feel better, I’m pretty sure.”

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How much is that doggy in the window?

Photos © Sam Huchinson

s we prepare to go into another national lockdown, many of us are finding comfort and entertainment in our loyal four-legged friends.

However, experts are describing this year as ‘the worst ever’ for dog thefts - with the average dog price standing at £1,900 and the prices of puppies having doubled over lockdown, (Pets4Homes) dogs are big business now.

According to the Kennel Club internet searches for puppies for sale have also risen by 168%.

One carer at Merseyside’s Rescue Me Animal Sanctuary said rescue centres should come first for anyone looking for a dog.

Louise Allen said: “I think you should always go to a rescue centre rather than a breeder or places such as Facebook or Gumtree.

“The problem with those sites is that you don’t know their history and you don’t know if they are stolen.”

This rise in dog thefts has intensified the need for pet laws to be reformed.

Currently dog thieves are punished according to the Theft Act of 1968 – meaning that dogs, as well as other pets, are considered as property.

In 2018 the sentencing guidelines changed to consider the emotional distress that the theft of a person’s property could have – which could lead to higher penalties.

Following three separate petitions this year, all attracting more than 250,000 signatures, the topic has been debated in parliament once again.

Ipswich MP Tom Hunt said: “Our pets are being snatched away from us in record numbers when we need companionship the most.

“They know the money they can make from breeding pedigrees and selling puppies for a quick profit, yet we’re fighting this growing tide with outdated and underpowered laws.”

According to Direct Line, only 17% of dogs stolen are returned to their owners.

Victim of dog theft, Sam Huchinson, said: “They’re priceless really, they’re just like your kids, one of you.

“It shouldn’t be any different whether they’re a child or an animal, because they’re treated the same – well they are with us. There needs to be a deterrent or people are going to keep doing it, they get caught, get a slap on the back of the hands and just carry on.”

Sam’s 12-month-old German Shepherd, Flora, was taken from their yard one morning.

“We went to the police. They were absolutely no help whatsoever. I had a few tip offs at the time and the police wouldn’t even entertain it.

“Your life changes so much, you get paranoid so much that you stop living.

I won’t take the dogs out on the road, I used to walk down all the lanes, now I won’t, just in case somebody is out there. I stick to places I know.”

‘ Credit: Pets4Home

Rescue Me Animal Sanctuary, based in Merseyside, has reminded dog owners to be hyperaware: “Make sure your dog is chipped for a start, that way if another person takes them for a health check they’re automatically going to be scanned.

“Make sure there are no fences open, gates open and be aware of where your dog is at all times.

“Don’t take them to the shop and just tie them up outside, that sort of thing.”

Flora was part of the family

They’re priceless really, they’re just like your kids, one of you

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MARIANNA OWEN talks to a victim of dog theft and uncovers harrowing statistics of how it is on the rise

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Farewell to Melwood as Reds move on

By SAM HODGKISS

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remier League champions Liverpool are packing up and moving to their new training ground, joining The Academy at Kirkby later this month.

The Reds will move to the AXA Training Centre, named after the global insurance firm and current sponsor, meaning Jurgen Klopp will lead the first Liverpool side away from Melwood, which has been the home to Liverpool FC for more 70 years.

Although the move from West Derby was finalised years ago and the grounds sold to affordable housing provider Torus, local residents are still angry about the move, with the new housing estate being built on the hallowed grounds.

West Derby Councillor Lana Orr expressed her fears for the area once Melwood is no longer occupied: “Many residents are not happy about the move and it’s been the talk of the area for some time now.

“With the new housing estate being built, there’s a fear that West Derby will become too overly populated and the local amenities won’t be able to meet demand in the near future.”

Melwood holds a special place in the history of the clubso it was always going to be emotional to say

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he idea of a European Super League (ESL) has been floating around football for more than thirty years, with the concept first taking shape in the 1980s. Whispers seem to crop up every few years then disappear again, without there ever being a serious proposal.

For many football fans, including myself, the ESL was nothing more than the fantasy of Europe’s elite football clubs – a fantasy that would never actually come to pass. Recently though, rumours of an ESL have resurfaced, this time, with more potency to the ‘whispers’ than ever before.

The concept of a European Super League is a simple one. Sixteen of Europe’s most elite clubs would play in a yearly tournament with a similar format to the Champions League but with a key difference – the competition would be run by the clubs themselves and their owners, not

by UEFA or FIFA. Furthermore, 11 of the 16 clubs would be known as ‘core founders’, meaning that their participation would be guaranteed for 20 years. According to a 2018 report

by German publication Der Spiegel, the core founders of the competition would be Liverpool, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Juventus, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain

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goodbye. However, it has been no secret that Jurgen Klopp has been eager to unite the youth and senior squads together under one roof since his appointment in October 2015.

With club owners Fenway Sports Group also behind the idea, work began on the new training complex in Kirkby. The £50 million state-ofthe-art facility is set to be kitted out with two gyms, an indoor sports hall, recovery and therapy centres as well as three football pitches that emulate the pitch at Anfield.

With the training centre now complete, Klopp and his players can finally move into the facility, something which was planned for the end of last season but was cancelled due to delays in construction.

But with the Reds finally heading to Kirkby, Northwood Councillor Edward Connor has welcomed them with open arms.

He said: “I think it’s a wonderful thing. Liverpool have been great partners to us for the last, well since they’ve been there, and especially over this Covid period they’ve been tremendous, especially with the resident neighbourhoods.

“We’ve been delivering food parcels and Liverpool have been giving us food and other things for the children to play with, toys and such. Liverpool have been really good to us.”

Melwood memory. Photo © Commons wikimedia suckfromthecan

Is the European Super Liverpool Opinion League a good idea?

By Charlie Baker-Mullings

and Bayern Munich. The other five places would be made up of teams who have qualified through a secondary league, which would be set up to allow for promotion and relegation.

Considering the similarities with the Champions League, many will feel that an ESL would be unnecessary.

The main driver though is money.

The possibility of watching Europe’s elite face off against each other week in week out could be enamouring for football fans worldwide, and the exclusion of the ‘duds’ you get in the Champions League should mean a hotly-contested competition. This would inevitably mean a mega TV deal as well as lucrative sponsorship opportunities.

I am sure many fans would agree this competition would undoubtedly be exciting. However, the idea of 11 clubs being untouchable for a 20-year period has always been looked at with distaste by the rest of Europe, and when you read through the Liverpool and Manchester United backed ‘Project Big Picture’ proposal for the Premier League, a very Conservative

concept of “keep the rich, rich and the poor, poor” becomes the common theme. Interestingly, the Big Picture proposal was leaked three days before a vote amongst Premier League clubs was made, and after gauging fan reaction, which was overwhelmingly negative, all clubs voted against the proposal, despite it being the creation of those very clubs. There seems to be a desperation shared amongst Europe’s most historically successful and elite clubs to try and protect their status at the top, by vacuuming up the increasing amounts of money that continue to flood into the game to share amongst themselves.

The billion-dollar question now is, will the European Super League actually happen? At this point, it seems as though the answer is yes.

Former Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu announced at his resignation press conference that Barcelona had (unofficially) agreed to join a prospective European Super League, making the Catalonians the first club in Europe to publicly state a readiness to join.

The key players will most likely be the Premier League’s top six, as England holds the largest football television rights deal in the world.

For these English clubs and their billionaire owners, the positives appear to outweigh the negatives. However, according to former Arsenal manager and FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger a European Super League would “destroy” the Premier League.

He said: “The Premier League has a superiority; the other leagues try to destroy the advantage that the Premier League has.

“We’re in a period of owners who are investors – their first target is to make more money. And the European Super League is one way, maybe, to make more money.”

There is something about the elitist mentality that drives proposals like the ESL and Project Big Picture, which rubs the majority of fans the wrong way. Football has always been seen as one of the most inclusive sports in the world, but maybe times are changing.

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Firework celebrations last year at the Albert Dock, above and below © Paul McAuley

All quiet or big bang?

With new lockdown rules and restrictions being introduced, Bonfire Night is set to be a very different and unexpected night this year in Liverpool

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By MIA O’HARE ith the cancellation of events and banning of home gatherings Bonfire Night is set to be very different this year.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue and Merseyside Police are working together to keep communities safe and are calling on local people to respect the restrictions and behave sensibly.

Station Manager Joe Cunliffe said: “Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service would like everyone to enjoy the Bonfire night period as safely as possible.

“Community bonfires must not take place on public land, as this will encourage people to gather in breach of current restrictions.

“We know things won’t be the same this year and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service still wants people to enjoy this period, but now is the time to pull together, follow the guidance and help stop the spread - it’s more important than ever that we all work together to protect our communities and the most vulnerable among them.”

A spokesperson for Merseyside Fire and Rescue said: “We are well prepared for the usual increase in secondary fires (wheelie bins, rubbish, bonfires etc) that we see every year at this time.

“Up to now, we haven’t experienced an increase in incidents.”

Merseyside Police have warned that this year’s celebrations are going to be very different with Covid-19 restrictions in place, even more so with the second lockdown coming into force on Thursday.

Chief Inspector Peter Clark, who is heading this year’s operation, said: “As you know, there are a number of rules and restrictions in place in relation to Covid-19, that means that the planned displays and events we normally attend, will not be happening this year.

“We know that this is another sacrifice we are having to make.

“We are keen to get the balance right between protecting people from the spread of the coronavirus and ensuring that they can still enjoy this period.

“We will maintain a common-sense approach during the Halloween and Bonfire night period – and are working to encourage people to respect the restrictions and explain why they are so important.

“Where people are flouting restrictions, we will, however, be taking action.”

He added: “Our message regarding anti-social behaviour during this period remains simple – it will not be tolerated, and anyone caught commiting this type of offence will be dealt with firmly and robustly.

“No one should have to suffer being the victim of anti-social behaviour and I would like to reassure everyone that there will be extra high-visibility patrols during this time.”

Fireworks Liverpool, a shop in Aigburth, are yet to see if the cancellation of displays will impact their sales.

They said: “The shop is only busy on the last few days coming up to Bonfire Night. Something tells me it’ll be even busier, and something tells me it will be quieter.

“There’s reasons it could be either one.”

They are encouraging people to enjoy fireworks safely at home.

“This year we’ve been left with the responsibility to light up our beautiful city.

“We’re here to provide you with the tools for the job.”-

© Merseyside Police

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Most people tell you from the area that boxing has saved them and I’m one of them myself

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By LIAM KENNEDY

boxing club in Liverpool is going above and beyond to help out the community during this difficult time.

Kirkdale Boxing Club has set up a breakfast club to provide children in the area with free meals and to help support a local community where, according to The English Indices of Deprivation, more than half of the area ranks in the top 1% for the UK’s most deprived.

But the club’s contribution to the community does not stop with feeding children at the breakfast club, they have also provided support for a lot of local residents.

Former professional boxer Steve Harkin spoke to Liverpool Life about the breakfast club and how the club has been helping people in the area.

“We do a lot in the summer. We do foodbanks all the time, so with the kids being off school we thought we would help them out as much as we can and the breakfast club can help do this.

“Kirkdale is one of the most deprived areas in the city, to be honest, it always has been deprived.

“I live up here myself and without things like the boxing club and, previously, the youth centres, which have all gone now, there is not anything to keep the children active.”

Despite there being no contact allowed at the moment following Covid-19 guidelines, this has not stopped the club, which is located in Liverpool film academy, from getting children to attend and keeping them active and healthy.

Steve said: “Since the kids have come back in, with there being no competition or no boxing allowed, we’ve cut our classes down to two days a week to help keep them fit and sane and keep them in the gym.

“Obviously, it was normally four

or five days a week, but we just cut it down to two days just to keep them going.

“Most people tell you from the area that boxing has saved them and I’m one of them myself. I used to box for this club as an amateur before I turned professional and I am now an amateur coach at the club.

“You see the kids growing and developing into good young people through the club, which is obviously a massive positive.”

In August the club set up a JustGiving page to help provide hot meals and essentials to vulnerable residents in isolation. In little over two months a total of £4,735 has been raised with their original target being reached within the first 24 hours.

Credit: Kirkdale boxing

Fighting Liverpool Life visits two important cause, supporting

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he support from the local community has been great to be honest, we have people volunteering, obviously donation-wise we have had people help us out with deliveries and all sorts. Every time we have asked for support, we have got it, so it’s been good.”

This is nothing new to the boxing club, which has been helping the community for a number of years, from raising money for supplies and essentials all throughout the year to providing support to families who need it most.

The 38-year-old went on to talk about how Kirkdale Boxing Club was able to support vulnerable families even during the first lockdown.

He said: “We closed down for a bit, but we didn’t close fully because we ran a foodbank from the gym, so the coaches were in every day and we gave out up to 180 meals a day.

“We had people going out each day doing to get food supplies and delivering them to people around our area, so we were quite busy during lockdown.”

Credit: Kirkdale boxing

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Credit: Liam Starkey

different organisations tackling one vunerable people through sport

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for others

Credit: Liam Starkey

We send them back home as better children

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By WILL RAYMENT fitness hub which focuses on mental as well as physical wellbeing has vowed to stay open to help children over

lockdown.

Physical activity is vital for people with disabilities and local communities and has been made even more important during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Inclusive Hub, which is an award-winning community interest company (CIC) put on group sessions of non-contact boxing for people of all abilities. Some participants they provide a routine physical activity for have disabilities such as autism, ADHD and Downs Syndrome.

Liam Starkey, of The Inclusive Hub, said: “We send them back home as better children.”

He also said that it’s not just important for the mental and physical wellbeing of the participants through lockdown.

“It’s vital for the local community to their mental wellbeing, physical wellbeing, parents’ respite, and carers’ respite.

“It’s paramount that the likes of our facilities stay open and we don’t do another lockdown because it does affect the local community massively again in terms of mental health.”

The sessions that are provided are not just automatic and put on without care, they are specifically tailored to their participants.

Liam said: “Certain sessions are tailored around their mental capacity so we don’t just hope that they’re going to enjoy it, we’ll scientifically monitor mental health and physical health before and after each session.”

The Inclusive Hub has been providing sessions for mixed ability group since 2016 through their motto, ‘Prevention over cure’. They were founded when Liverpool City Council requested Rotunda ABC to create inclusivity at the gym. The Hub has now grown independently and completely separated from the ABC. The October half term for schools meant that the hub has been getting more participants. They have had to stick to strict regulations and restrictions that the government have put into place. The Inclusive Hub

had around 40 to 45 clients per day through the half term.

Mr Starkey told Liverpool Life: “There have been two sessions per day in our new gym, which is the Kirkdale community centre, so we’ve had to stick to the guidelines which is one coach per five children with disabilities.

“The children go through all of the regulations, they get their temperature checked, they have to sign in, track and trace and obviously sanitise, have a session for 45 minutes and then they’re fed and then they have a cool down and leave.”

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uring the first lockdown, the hub was able to carry on as they were able to hold socially-distanced sessions outside. Also, they did not have a permanent gym or premises to use at that time so they were forced to do outside activity with limited staff members due to self-isolation.

Mr Starkey said: “We had to do outside sessions with a safe social distance with the one coach per five so we had to follow the guidelines

but it was outside.

“I think we had about three weeks where we were short of staff.”

The staff are a group of volunteers and parents who are fully trained, with DBS checks and autism training.

They have partnered and received aid from a number of businesses that have been pivotal throughout the pandemic in keeping the hub alive.

Businesses such as Liverpool-based trainer shop and brand Transalpino, Angel Rive UK and Carpenters group.

Liam Starkey told Liverpool Life that The Inclusive Hub have been highly appreciative of the help they have received: “We want to make sure that we get the right type of companies, ones that are family-orientated, community-orientated, companies that have a genuine interest in helping people of all ages and abilities.

“If they didn’t help us then we would cease to exist so every penny that they have helped us with or supplied us with food or supplied us with clothing has been vital in keeping us open because we are not funded.”

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FIKA FEEDS FAMILIES Autumn has been busy for Wavertree’s Fika. STEPH COLDERICK visits the café that thrived as the centre of the community in the first lockdown and has continued bringing people together

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rom free school meals, to a Halloween scavenger hunt, to being nominated for an Open Reach Community Award by MP Paula Barker, Anthony Grice owner of Fika café in Wavertree has not stopped to catch his breath.

Anthony explained how he always wanted his cafe, in Woolton Road, Liverpool, to be more than a coffee shop: “Because we are in such a residential area, I wanted it to be like a community hub where we could give back to the community.”

Anthony used to view coffee shops as “anti-social” hubs: “I used to call them anti-social hubs, everyone would be on their phones, they would all have their laptops out.”

Anthony wanted to create a place where people would come to meet and chat with friends and family even naming his coffee shop after this way of life.

He said: “The word Fika means to have a coffee break and sit down, relax and meet new friends. That’s what we are all about….it is a way to put the phone down, put your laptops away and just talk and consume life a bit more.”

It is easy to see that Fika has done this with the support Anthony has gathered from the community in his two and half years of being open.

During lockdown he had two-hour

queues for takeaway as people wanted to support their beloved local businesses.

This, alongside his own upbringing, has spurred him on to help the community: “I have a had a tough upbringing, I am from Toxteth, and I can remember tough days. It was like Willy Wonka, we would have cabbage water sometimes, it was just really, really tough times growing up.”

October has demonstrated his dedication to the community like no other month.

After being shocked that school children were coming in on their own to get their free breakfast during the recent half term, Anthony realised some parents were struggling to ask for help. Because of this he introduced a voucher system, where the parents also ate for free in the most discreet manner.

He said: “I was disgusted, a lot of people were disgusted at the way MPs voted against extending the free school meals. I wanted to take a stance and also give back to the community.”

This giving back to the community theme continued with a Halloween Scavenger Hunt that more than 200 children attended, allowing the local community to enjoy Halloween safely.

Anthony said: “I thought I need to do something for the community… that’s just a little way of me saying

Fika is now offering free packed lunches to school children

thank you to everyone.”

All this community work was not gone un-noticed as members of the community got in touch with Wavertree MP Paula Barker, urging her to nominate Mr Grice for an award.

He said: “To be nominated is just incredible.”

As the second lockdown is due to start within days, Fika have certainly made the most of the “new normal” supporting the community anyway they can. After visiting Fika it seems unlikely Anthony will let this second lockdown go by without bringing a smile to the residents of Wavertree and beyond.

Steph sampled some of the menu whilst visiting Fika.

All photos © Steph Colderick

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How the elderly struggle to cope with Covid Photo © Philippe Leone, Unsplash

By LAURA WOODING

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olunteers at a community hub in Aigburth are wondering how and when they will be able to continue to support local people, especially elderly residents, during the next lockdown.

Covid has affected the elderly in more ways than one, with over-70s having to isolate or expected to shield if suffering medical issues. This may leave the elderly feeling lonely, depressed or even scared.

In Aigburth, the Sudley Area Residents’ Association has had its Sara Hall doors closed since March 16, with all positive plans to reopen and re-engage being delayed until September, then October. Now, with further plans to postpone, it seems impossible for them to provide their services to the elderly any time soon.

Steven Kearney, chairman of the Association, said: “As the majority of our sessions are with older people who would be considered more vulnerable, either because of their age or pre-existing medical conditions, we found that people were more inclined to wait and see before committing to

Photo © Vlad Sargu, Unsplash

returning to the activities at the hall.”

The sessions and events bring social interaction into the lives of the elderly, but now with new community building regulations, it means tea or coffee facilities have had to be withdrawn as well as sitting in close contact or simply having a chat with a group of people.

Steven said: “Everyone would have to be spaced out, with nobody able to enjoy a hot drink. Windows and doors must be wide open for ventilation and with the run-up towards winter, none of this is a conducive way to spend a leisurely morning or afternoon.”

Some resources have now moved online. For example, St Anne’s Church in Aigburth is broadcasting all services and getting involved with podcasts and uploading videos on YouTube with various readings.

With this being a step beyond just closing the doors, attending church virtually may be a crucial part of the routine of some local residents but could still leave them physically isolated.

With another lockdown about to begin, the over-70’s could be left with the legacy of almost a full year of isolation. With people back at work and children back at school, the elderly could feel left behind.

Photo © Laura Wooding

Photo © John Moeses Bauan, Unsplash

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Artists in the frame for ‘joyous’ painting prize

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By MIA O’HARE he long wait is finally over for the artists who have entered the John Moores Painting Prize 2020.

The UK’s oldest and most prestigious painting award sees entrants’ work displayed in an exhibition at the Walker Art Gallery, before a winner is announced next year.

From almost 3000 artworks, ranging from large scale canvases to bold colourful pieces and extremely detailed works of art, just 67 make up the show.

One thing that unites the artwork is their use of paint.

For more than 60 years the prize has followed the same principles, the art is judged anonymously. This year the jury is made up of Hurvin Anderson; Michelle Williams Gamaker; Alison Goldfrapp; Jennifer Higgie and Gu Wenda.

To reflect the move of Liverpool into Tier 3 of the government’s Covid restrictions, the judging was done online. High spec cameras, screens, speakers and AV software allowed judges to appreciate the scale, texture and detail of the works.

Sandra Penketh, Director of Art Galleries at National Museums Liverpool, said: “This exhibition is an extraordinary chapter in the John Moores Painting Prize’s long history.

From the Call for Entries which launched just weeks before the first

national lockdown, to the challenge of bringing together hundreds of paintings from across the UK, we’re delighted to have got to this stage and to finally have a truly exciting longlist.”

Reflecting on the judging process, juror Jennifer Higgie said: “It’s been such a joy to bear witness to the sheer amount of rich and varied paintings being made by so many talented artists in the UK today.

“It’s also been a privilege to work alongside my fellow jurors and the fine folk in Liverpool.”

Fellow juror, Michelle Williams Gamaker, said: “Judging the John Moores Painting Prize this year at a distance presented a new challenge in the prize’s history.

“Instead of standing with the artworks we zoomed right in, carefully scanning the surface of each painting.

Ultimately our decisions were based on a number of themes that emerged and resonated with the other jurors in our collective discussions.”

The jury will select five paintings, and each will be awarded a cash prize. First place will receive £25,000 and the rest will be awarded £2,500.

This year there will also be a £2,500 Emerging Artist Prize, supported by Winsor & Newton.

The names of the prizewinning artists will be announced in January 2021, with the first prize winner and the Emerging Artist Prize to be announced at the opening of the exhibition.

PREPARED: Artists line up to get their paintings photographed All photos © Robin Clewley

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SIXTY SEVEN paintings have been longlisted for the exhibition

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Photos © Steph Colderick

Theatres close their curtains once again

By STEPH COLDERICK

iverpool loves its theatres” are the words that ring true across the city and two of Liverpool’s best-known theatres, The Everyman and The Playhouse were looking forward to finally re-opening their doors this month.

Devastatingly the new lockdown is putting a firm stop to these plans and leaving these theatres uncertain about when they can open their doors again.

After many plans and safety checks, just days ago The Everyman was preparing to let audiences in for the first time since March for showings of Homotopia and Friends Fabulous Cabaret on November 13 and 14.

Sarah Ogle, Marketing and Communications Director for The Everyman and The Playhouse, speaking before the lockdown announcement, said: “Quite a lot of consideration has to be given for how we do rehearsals, how we let the technicians work as well as thinking about the audience and their movement.”

From thinking about socially-distanced seating through to adapting to Tier Three restrictions, the theatres have been plunged into yet more uncertainty.

Ms Ogle explained: “There were

hurdles because when we learnt about new tier three restrictions, we were not quite sure what that would mean, whether performances would still be able to go ahead.”

The Everyman was going to be turned into a cabaret theatre (after the showing of Homotopia and Friends Fabulous Cabaret) allowing them to sit 80 people in the venue that would normally hold 460. This, alongside A Christmas Carol, which is planned to be shown in the Playhouse, was scheduled to start in December but these plans are now in jeopardy.

In order to reach this tantalisingly close stage of opening The Everyman and Playhouse had taken advice from other institutions.

Ms Ogle said: “We have been lucky in that we have had a lot of venues that have already opened, so there is a number of collaborative conversations going on both locally across the cultural organisations and nationally.”

Audiences have stood by the theatres in this time of forced closure with many donating the money they paid for their tickets or extra money.

Ms Ogle explained: “It has been really heart-breaking to disappoint so many people. So many of them

have generously donated their tickets to us.”

Calling the donations and support “a real vote of confidence for us and what we are doing.” it is clear these much-loved theatres remain in the hearts of people across the city.

“The theatres also went online during the first lockdown, launching schemes such as Love Liverpool and providing YEP (Young Everyman Playhouse) classes and activities virtually.

With money from the Cultural Recovery Fund the theatres have been able to prepare for the worst to happen.

Ms Ogle said: “That has meant we

can protect the organisation should we have to cancel the shows and we can put safety measures in place.”

Since the lockdown announcement the Everyman and Playhouse have released this statement: “After news on Saturday from Government about the closure of non-essential business and the requirement to work from home, we are awaiting clarification on whether we can still rehearse or stream productions. This will inform how we approach our plans for Christmas.”

With the sudden lockdown it brings the curtains to close yet again for these iconic theatres, who now must look hopefully again to the future.

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Painting the town: queer culture takes to the streets Liverpool celebrates the LGBTQIA community through showcasing local artists around the city during November. LAUREN HUGHES finds out more about the inclusive festival

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he UK’s longest running LGBTQIA arts and culture festival is back with its “Queer the City: Art Crawl” event, featuring huge art installations by eight queer artists.

The art, which has seen the walls of Liverpool turned into an outdoor art exhibition, can be found in prominent locations all throughout the city, including Liverpool One, The Anglican Cathedral, The Baltic Triangle and more.

Char Binns, director of the Homotopia Festival, told Liverpool Life: “As the years have passed the festival has grown. It brings art and activism together, Homotopia is about social justice, understanding that art and culture are a way of communicating ideas.

“Queer the City goes much further, as a gorgeous display of queer culture

in spaces and places that everyone can see. The Queers are coming out of the basements and on to the streets and we’re creating emotive and challenging works of art as we go!”

The event, which is running for two weeks, features artwork by Fox Fisher, Colin Lievens, Kiara Mohamed, Soph Welton, Sophie Green, Michael Parry, OyH and Millie Chesters.

Cheshire-based illustrator Millie Chesters spoke exclusively to Liverpool Life about her art piece ‘Chris’ that combines both her love for football and music, putting a queer spin on football cards, celebrating one of her favourite musical artists ‘Christine and the Queens,’ also referred to as ‘Chris.’

“I can’t really link music and football directly, I just wanted to make something fun, in truth. I love the look of football cards - I thought it would be a great way to experiment

MARSHA: Sophie Green’s portrait features Marsha P. Johnson, one of the most prominent activists that started the Stonewall uprising, triggering the beginning of the gay liberation movement. with portraits, colour and put my illustrations into a new context.

“I thought Chris would look really cool on a football card. Then the rest followed, and it became a project about queerness within football.

“When I applied for Homotopia festival, they were seeking to people who are ‘unapologetically queer’ and I think that sums up Homotopia, it allows people to be who they are and express themselves however they want to.

“Having a queer exhibition in the middle of the city is great for inclusivity and also it could make some people like they aren’t alone.”

“Representation is massively important! And it’s important to question what proper representation is. It’s great seeing queer art right in the centre of Liverpool. This is what Homotopia does! ‘Queer the City!”

Char had this to say about personal

expectations from the public: “First and foremost, Homotopia is about showcasing amazing art, in all its forms, so I’m hoping that people enjoy the quality of the art we’re exhibiting.

“Beyond that, I hope that seeing this art will provoke curiosity and raise questions.

“For queer people, I hope when they see it, they will feel validated and welcome in Liverpool. And for others I hope there may be learning opportunities.

“I’d like to think that some people feel pleasantly surprised when engaging with something they may have felt was not for them or is out of their comfort zone.”

The exhibition will be around until November 13, so join in with the art crawl as queer art and culture take to the streets.

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Homotopia is about social justice, understanding that art and culture are a way of communicating ideas.

“

CHRIS: artist and football fan Millie Chesters combines her love of music and football in this portrait of French singer Christine and the Queens © @milliechesters

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“It’squeergreatartseeing right in the centre of Liverpool. This is what Homotopia does! ‘Queer the City!”

“

TRANS RIGHTS BY FOX FISHER: A reproduction of a series of 4 screen-prints which include the phrases Trans Women Are Women, Trans Men Are Men, Non-Binary Is Non-Binary and Trans Rights Are Human Rights. © Lauren Hughes

© @Homotopiafest

Meet the artists who are making waves 1. To be Frank by Michael Parry Digital exhibition Window at Open Eye Gallery, Mann Island.

Michael Parry is a visual, live artist and photographer based in Liverpool. He sees art as a form of expression, a tool and a coping mechanism.

2. Chris by Millie Chesters College Lane Liverpool One Millie Chesters is a Cheshire-based illustrator, who found her love of drawing at an early stage in life.

She uses traditional methods of drawing, pens, and pencils, to make her illustration and animations.

3. Marsha by Sophie Green School Lane, Liverpool One Sophie Green is a Liverpool-based freelance artist and designer with more than 20 years’ experience. Her main fields are art, illustration, and design.

She also has her own studio on Paradise

Street, which is open to the public.

4. Trans Rights Poster Series by Fox Fisher Blundell Lane on the side of The Blue Coat.

Fox is an award winning artist, film maker and campaigner.

Fox also has an MA and honorary doctorate from the University of Brighton for their contribution to trans equality.

5. Black People Built Liverpool by Kiara Mohamed Inside the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.

Kiara Mohamed is a multidisciplinary Muslim Queer artist based in Toxteth. Working with photography filmmaking and poetry, primarily concerned with addressing the intersections of race, gender, sexuality and care.

6. ‘Multitransitional’ by Colin Lievens Nelson Street, on the side of the Black-E Colin Lievens is a multitransitional writer and performance artist based in London, UK.

Their artwork particularly explores themes of queerness, collaboration and fan art. They are currently studying BA Fine Art (4D) at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London and are the Treasurer of the UAL LGBTQIA+ Society, as well as being a tattoo artist.

7. Between by Soph Welton The Bagelry, Nelson Street Soph is a graphic designer and artist, with more than 20 years’ experience.

Their professional career has seen a tackling of a variety of art-based projects including design for print, logo creation and digital media.

8. ‘Birds of a feather flock together, aka: A new family portrait” 2020 by OYH Baltic Creative, Jamaica Street O.y.H is a New York Based artist, his work mainly explores relation and person hood.

His eclectic art work reflects the artist’s varied roots.

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The Rainbow Runners sculptures

Photo: Dot-Art

Splash of colour adds hope to the city

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By PAUL McAULEY ext time you’re grabbing a coffee or window-shopping in Liverpool ONE, you may set your eyes on an amazing new sculpture situated on the roof of the Hilton Hotel. Installed as a thank-you to essential and key workers, the Rainbow Runner, by artist Faith Bebbington, is available to view until January 2021.

The temporary installation was planned by Dot-Art and funded through Liverpool City Council’s ‘Without Walls’ project. This initiative strives to fill the streets with cultural content to encourage audiences back into the city after the Covid-19 crisis.

Having had three various incarnations so far, Faith touched upon how this form differs from the rest.

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“I suggested simply re-imagining the runner in new colours synchronicity as there are seven figures and seven rainbow colours so it made sense,” she said. “Plus, I wanted to link it to the symbol of hope which the rainbow has become during this challenging time. I was delighted when it was accepted by the council.”

Originally commissioned as part of ‘Liverpool Discovers’ Public Art Trail back in 2011, the Runner was painted neon yellow and could be spotted at the Leeds Liverpool canal at Mann Island. Fast forward years later and The Runner could be found at the World Heritage waterfront as part of The Mersey River Festival, this time coated in Dayglo orange to signify the life saver rings mounted close to the water.

With a wealth of sports being associated with Liverpool, it would prove a challenge to depict them all in one artwork, hence the focus on a sequence of movement that relates to many sports – running. As well as being a sport in its own right, running is

common to many competitive sports from football to gymnastics to tennis.

With this in mind, Faith recalled the inspiration for The Runner.

“I discovered an amazing fact Liverpool had a pivotal role in the modern Olympic movement. Between 1862 and 1867, Liverpool held an annual Grand Olympic Festival.

Devised by John Hulley and Charles Melly, these games were the first to be wholly amateur in nature and international in outlook,” she said.

“The programme of the first modern Olympiad in Athens in 1896 was almost identical to that of the Liverpool Olympics. The Runner recognises the impact of the Liverpool Olympics, and celebrates the achievements of all Liverpool Olympians and athletes.”

Now adapted, the new vibrant colour scheme is a nod of acknowledgment to the essential and key workers, a topic that Faith feels very passionate about.

“I’m pleased and proud to have the opportunity to publicly acknowledge and thank the NHS and other key

workers who are so crucial to our lives,” she added. “Personally, I am eternally grateful to the NHS staff as they helped me survive lung cancer in 2014. The Runner piece was created three years before that, using fibreglass resin which was my main medium for many years but rather unhealthy to work with. Surviving cancer was a creative turning point for me as I stopped working with fibreglass and began to focus on more environmentally friendly options instead, particularly waste plastic milk bottles. I see this piece as a reminder of my past practice but also a bridge linking to the way that I work now.”

Not wanting to give much away, Faith hinted where and when you could see her next project.

“It’s still under wraps so I can’t say too much about it, but I’m currently working on an illuminated sculpture which will include a tap donation point to raise money for charity. This will be on display in a major London train station in the run up to Christmas,” she said.

I wanted to link it to the symbol of hope

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Close-up of the Sculptures on the roof of the Hilton Hotel

© Castle Fine Art Foundry

Celebration of originality in black music ROBYN COULING explores the black music scene in Liverpool

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lack history month may have ended but the celebration of black lives and black music continued with a unique online festival in Merseyside this weekend.

On Record saw a vast array of original content from black artists around the county, including streamed performances, exclusive in-conversation events and podcasts.

The festival kicked off with a debate around black music and its significance in the past, present and future of Liverpool’s ever-growing music scene and later included pre-recorded performances from the Philharmonic Hall by black artists from Liverpool.

Funded by Liverpool City Council, the programme was curated by Yaw Owusu.

After completing university, Yaw Owusu launched the music organisation URBEATZ, which soon became known throughout the UK for its unique brand of music, film and media, winning several awards for innovation and creativity.

In 2012, Yaw set up music consultancy agency Nothin’ But The Music (NBTM), which has gone on to support Liverpool International Music Festival, BBC Radio 1 Academy and MTV. Yaw Owusu said: “On Record is a real reflection of what is often untold in mainstream discussions about Liverpool’s music culture – that black music has and still does influence and inspire so much that makes the scene so special. On Record is a celebration and exploration of this.

“On Record sees new voices and respected professionals helping to restore some of the often forgotten or left out elements of the city region’s music culture narrative.

“I hope it provides some justice to these fascinating subjects and demonstrates how black music is a cornerstone of this great cities musical prowess.”

There were several people involved in the initial debate, including Kevin McManus, Liverpool City of Music

Officer.

He said: “There is a massive reach now, nationally and internationally.

People aren’t just looking for people from London anymore, they’re looking for talent and Liverpool has that.”

One main topic for discussion centred on the location of talent and the myth that to ‘make it big’ you must be in the capital city.

Liverpool has a huge representation for music and a strong history, but in order to revel in their talent, artists are still leaving to find bigger opportunities in cities such as London, Birmingham and Manchester.

Remée @ the OnRecord x Culture Deck live session Photo by Remée

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his celebration of black music in Liverpool highlights the ever-growing talent and the pressure the city has to ensure these up-and-coming artists have the support to progress in their home cities.

Barbara Phillips, 60, from Liverpool, is a board member for the Liverpool City Region Music Board and Manager for MiC LOWRY, a UK urban boy band from Liverpool who also performed in the festival.

During the debate she emphasised the necessary support the artists need from their own city in order to progress and make it big.

She said: “We have incredible artists slipping away because they have better opportunities elsewhere.

“They’re going to Manchester to work in the studios or being contacted by musicians from London to work with them.

“We need to give these black artists reasons to stay here and use our facilities, but we just don’t have that yet, and that’s why we need to support them.”

There were over ten performances from black artists during the On Record festival, performing different genres of music from soul, RnB to rap and one aim of the festival was to uncover that diversity.

Remée, 22, and from Liverpool, performed for On Record but still feels her music genre doesn’t fit in with the music scene in the city.

She aaid: “The vibe in Liverpool

‘We have incredible artists slipping away because they have better opportunities elsewhere ...’

On Record panel © Robyn Couling has always been very indie, you know.

“The Liverpool music scene I know is very hidden and full of really sick artists but they’re not on the same vibe which is highlighted for typical Liverpool.

“I’d say I’m more of an underground artist and see myself in Norway or Germany with the kind of music I make and like to perform.”

Black history month provides an opportunity to recognise the contributions people of African and Caribbean descent have on the world and a major part of that has always been music.

Liverpool’s celebration of black music in the city offered local people exactly that - the appreciation of talent and diversity in the city.

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Contact us: @: liverpoollifenews@gmail.com Follow us: Liverpool Life news magazine @LivLifeMagazine Fireworks over the Albert Dock by PAUL McAULEY