Capital Of Culture, My Arse?

A chance to shine, a chance to glow, an opportunity to let the city grow. These were the words I heard when the announcement came that Liverpool had been awarded the status, Capital of Culture 2008. People rejoiced and very important people crawled out of the woodwork and from behind their desks to whoop and holla. For many, the occasion passed by like a wet fart on a misty morning, not really knowing what the hell it meant and how it would affect their day to day life in the city. I saw a chink of light, the sound of a faint fanfare, a chance that this could be an opportunity for the powers that be, to really help music in the city.

We are now hurtling towards 2007, and before we know it, 2008 will be upon us. I of course look at this from a music perspective, what it will mean for the creatives of Liverpool I am still unsure. I haven’t seen any real dramatic impact so far, and as it stands, I cannot see anything coming down this rusty line. I am by nature a positive person, I have a forward thinking outlook on life in general, and when it comes to new music in the city I always look ahead , rather than at the floor. However, it has come to a point were I am now thinking that maybe it is ‘My Arse’. I shall tell you what I have seen so far. I have seen and met a team that has been brought in to co ordinate the thrust for 2008. I stare with disbelief at the lack of knowledge about the local music scene it posses, I am amazed at the ‘interface’ it has created, an interface that is supposed to allow a smooth process to operate. A hands off machine that feels cold and unwilling to have its eyes opened on ideas and suggestions.

We still haven’t rolled a six and moved off the start. We still have people in the city with ideas to help music grow and willing to give time to implement them, all they need is financial support or a nudge in the right direction; I haven’t seen that happen as yet. I see the organizations put in place to facilitate it, but I don’t see any action or commitment. All I see is a mountain of forms, relentless mountains of forms. Questions about Business Models and how is this going to make money. Not how is this going to give bands & artists opportunities to progress, but how is this idea going to make a profit. Read that again, how is this idea going to make a profit.

Is that what 2008 is? A profit making machine or is it there to help a city breathe new life and show what they have to the world.

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