Suzy steps aboard for town ‘fest’ by the sea
AFESTIVAL Director has been appointed to deliver a brand new community-led festival due to take place in Southport this Autumn.
Suzy Walker, who has huge experience in the arts scene in the UK, says she is delighted to have been appointed to the role.
The initial concept was the brainchild of Southport Pleasureland owner Norman Wallis, and now Suzy Walker is pulling together a steering committee to help bring this idea to life.
Ms Walker said: “Norman Wallis has kindly offered to provide the seafront arena on the Pleasureland site to host the festival.
“It’s a perfect platform as it’s got all the facilities and licences in place already so that will save us quite a bit of time, money and effort”.
The festival is due to take place on Sunday, September 20, as part of the Sefton Borough of Culture celebrations.
Everyone in the UK is currently waiting to see what will happen with the next steps of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Meanwhile Ms Walker is looking ahead and planning the festival with optimism, hoping that it will eventually be able to go ahead as planned, yet mindful of any future Government guidelines as they are determined to follow the latest advice.
Ms Walker said: “Although we don’t know what will happen at this stage, I’m still working hard behind the scenes because I know that the Festival will be just what people need after they emerge following the current Government Coronavirus restrictions on movement.”
If all goes well, the festival will be all about family fun, music, culture, arts, community and inclusivity, with an official name for the new two-day event yet to be announced.
Ms Walker said: “I am calling on people across Southport and across Sefton to get in touch and to get involved!
“Now is the time to come forward with your ideas. Let us know what you would like to see at the festival this September, and if you would like to perform.
“Let’s all come together and put together a really super festival.”
Earlier in March, a packed public meeting about the festival was held at Ra Bar on Lord Street in Southport.
Numerous people and organisations have since been sending their suggestions, their offers of help and their offers to perform to the organisers.
All emails and other messages are currently being worked through as the plans for the event are gradually put in place.
Ms Walker said: “Some names have already been muted including “One Sefton Festival” and “Southport Festival 2020”, but my steering committee and I have decided that we would like a name that has real longevity, as we hope this will become an annual fixture in Southport’s calendar – so watch this space!
“We are delighted with the response we’ve had so far from people wanting to take part in the event.
“We’ve had interest from live music bands, all kinds of genres – folk, country music, jazz, and others – music which is going to appeal to everyone.
“I would love to see younger performers, older performers, street theatre – everything.
“Someone has emailed us about staging a paddle boarding event on the lake as part of the festival, and that really appealed to me.
“This is a real community event so we are open to all ideas!”
The festival is hoping to secure funding from the Sefton Borough Of Culture 2020 fund.
Highlights of the BOC celebrations so far have included The Nightingale’s Song, which saw spectacular video light shows projected onto the front of The Atkinson in Southport, Bootle and Waterloo town halls.
Acclaimed street artist Paul Curtis meanwhile painted a huge four-storey Red Rum mural on the side of a row of buildings on Scarisbrick Street in Southport town centre.
Ms Walker said: “A lot of people still don’t realise that we have Sefton Borough of Culture going on, and this festival will enable lots of people to get involved and to show the talent we have in our borough.