11/01/2008 01:07:10
Liverpool will this evening celebrate becoming Capital of Culture 2008, with an official opening party that features more than 600 performers.
The party, on St George's Plateau, is the start of a year-long celebration of the city's cultural contributions, which range across literature, music and the arts.
One of the most important port cities in the world during Victorian times, Liverpool's wealth funded great architecture – today the city has the highest number of listed buildings outside of London.
TV soaps such as Brookside and Hollyoaks, and Carla Lane's comedies including Butterflies and Bread have helped to popularise the city in recent years, while Liverpool's authors include Beryl Bainbridge and Lynda La Plante.
Arguably, the city's greatest influence is musical, with the 60s Merseybeat scene giving bands such as the Beatles and Gerry and the Pacemakers huge global success and influence. Echo and the Bunnymen and Frankie Goes to Hollywood helped to underline Liverpool's musical importance in the 1980s, while today bands including The Coral and The Zutons keep up the tradition.
Some 30,000 people are expected to attend tonight's ceremony which, appropriately enough, starts at 20:08 GMT.