SOME of Merseyside's best up-and-coming artists
are providing strong support for this year's Summer Pops.
And New Zealand classical starlet Hayley Westenra
has also confirmed she will appear next month as special guest of fellow superstars
of opera, Il Divo.
Still only 18, she already has a host of platinum
discs and has sung with many of the classical greats, including Andrea Bocelli,
Jose Carreras and Bryn Terfel, as well as performing in front of the Queen and
Tony Blair.
There are only a few tickets remaining for
the show on July 21.
Pops organisers are also committed this year
to supporting local talent with both Lipa graduate John Smith and Runcorn favourites
Muddyhead being announced in support slots.
Smith will play at the opening night of the
Pops on June 29, which is being headlined by Jools Holland.
He is described as 'the future of acoustic
guitar music' with a highly original style but which also brings to mind legendary
talents from Nick Drake to Bert Jansch.
Smith, who last month released adebut album
The Fox and The Monk and toured with John Martyn, will appear at both the Wickerman
Festival and Green Man Festival this summer.
Meanwhile Muddyhead will support Simple Minds
on July 10. The group's debut, Land And Sea, was released earlier this year and
they have already had a taste of the big time after opening for super-stars Roxy
Music.
Muddyhead is Andy Steele from Runcorn, (former
China Crisis frontman) Gary Daly from Liverpool, Graham Chesters from Widnes,
Colin Lambert from Frodsham, Laura Campbell from Liverpool, and Russ Williams
and John Dowling, both from HoughGreen.
Jamie Bowman, of Pops promoters CMP, said: "The
Pops brings some of the biggest names to Liverpool but we're also committed to
supporting Merseyside's own musicaltalent.
"We're proud of the fact the Pops' line-up
is strong all the way through, and that goes for the support acts too.
"In previous years support acts have
included the likes of Jamie Cullum and Natasha Hamilton, so it really is a prestigious
gig."
Thurs, June 29: Jools Holland and his Rhythm
and Blues Orchestra + John Smith supporting Fri, June 30: Best of the Australian
Pink Floyd Show - Part One Sat, July 1: Oscar Peterson Sun, July 2: Pet Shop
Boys Mon, July 3: Whitesnake Tues, July 4: Deacon Blue Wed, July 5: The Who -
Sold Out.
Thurs, July 6: The Who - Sold Out. Fri, July
7: James Brown Sat, July 8: New Order Mon, July 10: Simple Minds + Muddyhead
supporting Tues, July 11: Corinne Bailey Rae Wed, July 12: Jeff Beck/Buddy Guy
Thurs, July 13: The Darkness Fri, July 14: Ronan Keating Sun, July 16: a-ha Mon,
July 17: Westlife Tues, July 18: Simply Red Wed, July 19: Simply Red Thurs, July
20: Sugababes Fri, July 21: Il
Divo Sat, July 22: Best of the Australian Pink Floyd Show - Part
Two Sun, July 23: Bryan Adams
