Liverpool Echo Arena secures Number 1 concert

• 20th Jul 2007

A galaxy of stars will come together for a spectacular concert celebrating the fact that the city has had more number one hit singles than any other in the world.

Liverpool’s musical stars of the past and present will unite to celebrate 50 years of number 1 hits for the one-off event at the Liverpool Echo Arena next January. Every single Liverpool artist still alive who has enjoyed a number one hit has been invited to unite on stage for what organisers are describing as a ‘truly unforgettable night of Liverpool music.’ The event will be compered by Freddie Starr.

The Number 1 Project Live will take place on January 19 2008 and is one of the first to go on sale at the arena – Thursday 12th July 2007 at 9am.

The concert is the centrepiece of the Number 1 Project, which also involves the release of a single organisers hope will be the city’s first number one of 2008 and an album celebrating Liverpool’s 56 chart-topping hits. The single, produced by Ian Broudie, will be a version of Cilla Black’s classic ‘Anyone who ever had a heart’ performed by Atomic Kitten. Martin O’Shea, project co-founder, hopes this will be the first number 1 of 2008 and the 57th overall.

The Number 1 Project is backed by the Liverpool ECHO, Radio City and Radio Merseyside and is the brainchild of Atomic Kitten manager Martin O’Shea and Jon Ritchie, director of the Korova Corp, which owns Babycream. Lending his full support as project patron is Mike McCartney.

The Number 1 Project Live will be promoted by Chas Cole, organiser of the Summer Pops and Winter Pops.

It is hoped that the single, the CD and the concert will together raise over £1million for local charities including the Echo’s Sunrise Fund, Radio City’s Give a Child a Chance, the Radio Merseyside Charitable Trust, Alder Hey’s Imagine Appeal, Marie Curie Cancer Care in Woolton and the Marina Dalglish Appeal.

Martin O’Shea said: ‘We want to make a big statement for Liverpool and tell the world, through this project, that this is the start of a great year for the city.I am delighted that we are able to host this concert at the Liverpool Echo Arena, especially as it’s the first ever concert to go on sale there. This is another first for the Number 1 Project.’

Ian McNabb, who is co-ordinating the artists for the project, added: “The line-up will remain a closely guarded secret, but take it from me the concert will be an unmissable, unique experience featuring a stellar cast of past and present Liverpool artists. This will be one for the books!”

Chas Cole said: ‘Liverpool is the world capital of pop – 56 number one singles over the last 50 years are living proof! This is going to be some night, and an absolutely spectacular way of kicking off both Liverpool’s 08 celebrations and the new Liverpool Echo Arena. It will be a unique event, the coming together of every generation of Liverpool pop stars.

Warren Bradley, Leader of Liverpool City Council and Deputy Chairman of the Liverpool Culture Company, said: ‘This is going to be a fantastic event whose appeal will span the generations.
‘As one of the earliest big concerts in 2008, this will help set the tone for some of the other amazing events to come throughout the city’s year as European Capital of Culture.’

Tim Banfield, Liverpool Echo Arena General Manager, said: ‘The Number 1 Project Live is one of our first events after opening in January 2008 and there is no doubt it will get us off to a flying start.’

Tickets for the Number 1 Project Live are available from the Liverpool Echo Arena Box office now on 0844 8000 400. Tickets cost £22.50 or £32.50 for Gold Circle. Booking /transaction fees apply.

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