CHURCHSTOCK - the birth of a new festival

10 September 2007

Everyone knows that Liverpool has a wealth of musical talent, but it’s not everyday we get the opportunity to experience some of the best local musicians in one place on one weekend. So when USL were approached by Paul McDowell of MI<MA>MO Music we jumped of the chance of working with him to get some of the best local talent to play in St Luke's Church. Paul put out a call to his seemingly endless list of contacts, all of whom were chomping at the bit to be involved. In fact the thought of playing the Bombed Out Church was so appealing that the word spread like wild fire, and we had too many acts interested.

After some work developing an eclectic programme, CHURCHSTOCK was born and about 500 people came to experience the birth.

Saturday opened with Sir John Mandeville – a great band with so much energy it’s exhilarating – the strains of their Led Zep influences could be heard floating down Bold Street, and they were the perfect act to open the weekend. USL closed the day, following our gig with the inimitable drum circle – sending the audience away uplifted and hungry for more.

Sunday’s acts were a little more laid back, and the substantial audience were entertained by musicians both young and old. The highlight of the afternoon has to be Stan Ambrose. Just one man and his harp – you could hear a pin drop. It seemed as if even the traffic outside on Leece Street stopped for Stan’s set. It was a beautiful thing. Paul McDowell’s set was gorgeous – guitar, vocals and cello – not a common combination but so very effective.

All the acts across the weekend were fantastic, and we know that programming a music festival in the Bombed Out Church is a winning idea. So much so that we’ll be doing more in 2008 and beyond – both independently and with other festival organisers. So watch this space … Churchstock will be back. And in 30 years time people will ask “did you ever go to Churchstock?”. Some of us will be able to say “Yes. I was at the birth”.

The full line up for Churchstock was ASBOS, CANOE MAN, DAVE OWEN, HEADS OF STATE, JEFF JEPSON, JOE KEELAN, KAYA, KINSHEEVA, MY AMIGA, PAUL MCDOWELL, RAGZ, SIR JOHN MANDEVILLE, SHANE BEALES BAND, STAN AMBROSE, THE SPORTING LIFE, TOM SNOWBALL, TODD AND CAMPBELL, URBAN STRAWBERRY LUNCH.