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The city of Liverpool is not a typical northern city because of its port status. Liverpool’s influence on British and American music is remarkable. It’s no secret that Liverpool is the birthplace of The Beatles, could be argued, one of the best-known musical bands in the history of modern music. While The Beatles arrived on the Liverpool music scene in the early 1960s, over 45 years ago, spreading Beatle Mania all over the world, their music is still playing today with much affection. The Beatles, in fact, spawned a musical revolution, especially in Liverpool, and their self-expression in musical form led to a new wave of thinking in England and across the globe. Tellingly, their new way of thinking created a distinct era in Liverpool history, which has made the city the Mecca for musical artists that it is today. The city of Liverpool claims to have produced more chart-topping artists and bands than any other British city, offspring, such as The Searchers, Teardrop Explodes, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Wah, The Searchers, and OMD. Self-proclaimed “iconic” eighties bands that also called Liverpool home, The La’s, Echo & The Bunnymen, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, The Christians, among others. Music has evolved in Liverpool and the dance scene is now at the forefront. The same clubs that were pumping out the guitar & drum combo’s in the sixties are now heaving with clubbers and embracing the DJ culture. In fact it could be said that Cream, a hugely popular club,was responsible for the explosion of dance. Alas Cream no longer exists having amassed huge debts. Liverpool now hosts “Creamfields,” which boasts to being the United Kingdom’s most popular dance event. While The Beatles as a band are not playing gigs anymore, you wouldn’t know it in Liverpool; in August every year, they organize The Beatle festival —Beatle Week, which is the best and busiest time to visit the city of Liverpool. It is not only a city affair, but an international one as well, with guests and “groupies” coming from all parts of the globe. Moreover, Beatle Week is the best time to check out the up-and-coming musicians and artists as well, with concerts and gigs at all hours of the night, and all throughout the day. It truly is a musical experience, with auctions and flea markets and conventions and art exhibitions to make it an even livelier and full-sensory experience! There are on average 100,000 people attending. The organizer of the Beatles Week event, Cavern City Tours, touts that over 200 bands participate in this celebration, and it has been organized for over 20 years. Yet, Liverpool is still thriving in its musical explosion and bands like The Crescent and The Coral have emerged just in the last few years as Liverpool descendants! In even more recent years, Liverpool has had a rebirth in its population and such a rebirth has increased the occurrence of musical venues as well as night clubs. With clubs popping up each week, Liverpool inhabitants sometimes find it hard to keep track of all the music. In fact, the city alone is home to The Royal Court, the Krazyhouse, The Cavern, Zanzibar, the HeebieJeebies, the Barfly, and too many more to list. Many locals believe that the city has more nightclubs than the city can handle. Nevertheless, Liverpool residents believe that the city has reached a new level in musical experimentation and expression, and it is moving on to bigger and better musical agendas. With new and fresh musical cultures and their genres emerging in the clubs, the city reportedly has begun to flourish in its musical wealth. In fact, this has borne new and more wonderful musical cultures and a wave of new musical talent is sweeping the city, along with more up and coming musical venues as well. In reflection, such musical growth can be attributed to The Beatles, who inspired Liverpool into being the city and Mecca of musical talent it is today. It isn’t surprising that Liverpool—home to The Beatles, are strong contenders for the title of the most musically influential city in Britain. While some of the United Kingdom’s most influential and successful musicians have called Liverpool home since the early 1960s, the city still has that same, budding musical flavor, and it remains high on anyone’s list as one of the most extraordinary musical towns, and will remain in musical history forever. |