Celebrating 40 years to the day since the original Live Aid, this year’s Live Aid Liverpool event aims to raise vital funds for three wonderful causes, Zoe’s Place, Shelter Merseyside and Gift of Sight charities.
Inspired by Sir Bob Geldof’s 1985 Live Aid, Live Aid Liverpool is a music and charity event that unites local artists, businesses, and community members for urgent social causes. Building on the successful 2021 and 2023 events which drew over 500 attendees, this year’s event brought together the city’s vibrant musical talent with a shared goal of making a direct impact on local charities.
The venue for this fabulous charity concert was the impressive Grade 11 listed building, the Britannia Adelphi hotel in Liverpool, originally opened in 1914 and designed to be one of the most luxurious hotels outside of London. It is known for its architectural style, history and former celebrity guest list, which includes Winston Churchill, Frank Sinatra, Laurel & Hardy, Judy Garland and Roy Rogers and his horse Trigger.
Huge chandeliers adorn The Adelphi’s impressive entrance hall and the large room housing this event was rather grand with large candelabra style lighting suspended from the ceiling. Seating was arranged around large circular tables of ten and the room was completely full. The stage was set with a black backdrop decorated with twinkling lights with coloured spotlights beaming onto the stage, remaining constant for each act performing.
Performed by local artists this bi-annual fundraising musical event raises much needed funds for local charities and this year’s charities are Zoe’s Place, Shelter Merseyside and Gift of Sight with this years show incorporating a special celebration in support of 40 years Live Aid for Africa.
Since its launch, over 150 local artists have united giving their free time to provide a musical charity experience for the city, and all thanks to co-organiser and founder Tony Cook of TRAM Productions. I was fortunate enough to see some of the 20 artists performing; firstly John O’Connell of Simply Dylan who performed amongst his compilation ‘Where Do You Go To My Lovely’ by Peter Sarstedt and Joni Mitchell’s ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ including an excellent use of harmonica.
McDonalds farm blasted out ‘I Don’t Like Monday’s’ a nod to Bob Geldof’s Boomtown Rats hit, and ‘All Together Now’ and ‘Penny Lane’ by The Beatles, also ‘Band On The Run’ by Sir Paul McCartney’s band, Wings.
Angela Inkson and the Music Collectives AI Band were joined by their young AI choir to sing their song, ‘The Lighthouse’ whilst the video played on the big screen to promote this year’s charity single. Angela also sang ‘Dreams’ by Fleetwood Mac beautifully. Crowded Scouse sang ‘Fall At Your Feet’ and ‘Weather With You’ by Crowded House and Band Aid Brothers sang ‘Forget About Me’ by Simple Minds, ‘Drive’ by the Cars, ‘Another Brick In The Wall’ by Pink Floyd, ‘Songs Like These’ by Foo Fighters and the young ‘AI’ choir joined them on stage to accompany with their beautiful voices.
Talented Sam Leyden sang ‘Worth The Wait’ so beautifully accompanied by his acoustic guitar, and the Simply Soul duo gave us ‘You’re My Everything’ by Barry White, ‘Kingston Town’ by UB40 and ‘You To Me Are Everything’ plus ‘Can’t Get By Without You’ by The Real Thing, a nod to another fabulous band from Liverpool.
It was a tremendous celebration of talented artists and the audience reciprocated by cheering, singing and dancing along to the plethora of music performed so enthusiastically for them.
Donations may be made to the charities involved; simply check out Band Aid Liverpool, Live Aid, Liverpool’s sister project, together with The Mersey Music Collective 2025 who have released an original song called ‘The Lighthouse’ in June this year featuring more than 20 local artists and it is available for download or as a vinyl copy, also streaming on all platforms @the_mersey_music_collective.
On: 13:07:25
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