Legendary venue The Picket to Re-open!
One of Liverpool's most famous music names will be at the heart of a
cultural quarter, which opens next month. The Picket has finally found a
new home after a two-year search. When the £1.5m Jamaica Street venue opens on May 27 the Picket will be the base for a new culture zone in the city.
The area, recently named the Independent District, is being developed into an event and festival site in the run-up to 2008 by organisation Love
Culture, working with the Picket and with support from city officials.
The original Picket in Hardman Street closed two years ago because of
debts. A Save the Picket campaign supported by names including Sir Paul McCartney,the late John Peel and Joe Strummer, Elvis Costello, Pete Townsend and Paul Weller failed, and the site is being redeveloped. A licence has been granted for the new venue in an old printer's in Jordan Street, near the River Mersey.
Liverpool legends Deaf School have reformed to headline the official
opening event on Saturday 27th May, with support from brand new
local band The CB's and DJ Stormin' 'the Cat' Normin'.
Picket founder Philip Hayes said:
“The past 12 months have been up and down. We've found the availability of space in the city is limited; luxury apartments are occupying lots of it. Long term we'd like the area to become a locality forindigenous cultural organisations, we're working with Love Culture and theCity council on that idea. We'd like to get the area ring-fenced for local organisations and festivals. Our plan, which is being well-received, would create a positive cultural legacy for the city and would go a long way to addressing concerns that Capital of Culture has become about property and investment in apartments.”
Jayne Casey, director of Love Culture, said:
“The opening night represents a milestone in our long journey, and a
significant moment of opportunity for a whole new generation of musicians and independent music promoters who plan to make the Picket and the Independent District their own.”
Elvis Costello said:
“It's great to see the Picket back on the Liverpool scene. It deserves your love and support, whether you're in the corridors of power or just walking in the door with a guitar in your hand.”
Liverpool City Council leader Warren Bradley, who has been in discussions over the development of a new cultural quarter, added:
“It's great news for Liverpool that the Picket is to reopen.”
Catherine Jones.
For a Virtual Tour of the Picket in Liverpool's Independent District,
please go to link
Tickets for Deaf School/'the Picket is Back' gig on Saturday 27th May 2006, are now available from, in Liverpool, Probe Records, Slater Street,L1. Tel-0151 708 8815. Radio City Box Office, 58a Houghton Way, St. Johns Centre, Liverpool, L1 1LP. In Manchester: Piccadilly Box Office,8-10 Exchange Street, and St. Anne's Square, M2 7HA. ONLINE: link Credit Card Hotline:0870 100 0000. Cost £10.00. plus booking fee.
“The re-born Picket, happily restored to the heart of a resurgent city, is
the perfect place to witness Deaf School together once more – both band and venue are living symbols of Liverpool's musical resilience”.
Paul Du Noyer,2006.