Episode 1: Liverpool, Music City - An Introduction to Hidden Music Histories

Episode 1 - An introduction to Liverpool’s Hidden Music Histories
Recorded at the British Music Experience in the heart of the city, Kevin McManus, Head of UNESCO City of Music for Liverpool and a former NME-journalist, offers the students an introduction to the city’s musical heritage.
After a tour around the museum, Kev shared his own personal perspectives on the four key themes - Black Music, Electronic Dance Music, Hidden Beatle Stories and the Built Environment - revealing stories around the people, places and events that have shaped them.
Music is the lifeblood of Liverpool. It’s the city’s heartbeat and the cornerstone of what sets Liverpool apart and makes it special. This series of 14 weekly podcasts is a magical history tour of just some of the sounds, people and places - sometimes off the beaten track - that help shape the city’s musical and cultural identity.
The Hidden Music Histories programme was produced by Liverpool Sound City, in partnership with the Institute of Popular Music. Each podcast is based on audio recordings taken from the programme, which was created for young people to explore and celebrate the rich and diverse musical heritage of Liverpool. The project’s aim was to inspire and educate the next generation of aspiring creatives on some of the defining musical moments that have helped make Liverpool a UNESCO City of Music.
The city’s musical scenes are deep-rooted and vast. Hidden Music Histories delves into the lesser celebrated stories, focussing on four themes - Black Music, Electronic Dance Music, Hidden Beatle Stories and the Built Environment - spotlighting the historic and the contemporary.
Each session is delivered by a guest music industry expert. They include musicians, producers, academics, writers, managers, venue owners and DJs. Throughout the 14-week programme sessions, students visit many of the key locations, that contribute to Liverpool being seen as the Capital of Pop - studios, pubs, museums, rehearsal spaces, venues and neighbourhoods.
One thing is certain, in Liverpool, the beat goes on.
All podcasts produced by Culture City