Its first festival took place 45 years ago
Music fans at the fondly-remembered Larks In The Park festival in Sefton Park, 1985(Image: Reach Plc copyright)
A long lost festival loved by a generation saw hundreds of music fans descend on one Liverpool park for years. Before the days of Africa Oye and the Liverpool International Music Festival (LIMF), many will remember heading to Sefton Park for an entirely different event 40 years ago.
First taking place in July 1980, Larks In The Park was a much anticipated fixture in the yearly cultural calendar by punks, indie kids, world music lovers and everyone in between. The festival’s unique layout saw the stage built upon an extended version of the park bandstand with a moat between it and the audience.
Initially, Larks In The Park was a series of one-day rock concerts running every Sunday over a month. But local bands and championing local artists was always at the heart of the popular festival.
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On July 18, 1980, the Liverpool ECHO reported how the festival was a result of three months planning by organisers Derek Murray, Terry Canning and Selwyn Hyams. Derek previously told the ECHO: “We wanted to do something for the young people of Liverpool.
“We thought It was about time we showed people something creative can be done if you put your mind to it. It is depressing enough for young people in Liverpool with the unemployment situation and lack of venues to see bands, so we thought it would be a great idea to do some free concerts in the park.”
Larks in the Park music festival, in Sefton Park, Liverpool. August 26, 1982(Image: Mirrorpix)
Days later, the first Larks In The Park took place and the bad weather didn’t stop the outdoor event being a success. On July 21, the ECHO reported: “A wet start for Larks In The Park.
“The sun didn’t shine, but that didn’t stop the bands playing on as Liverpool’s “Larks In The Parks” series of rock festivals started in Sefton Park yesterday. Despite the rain, over 500 people gathered to watch four local bands— Sneax, The Press, Its Immaterial and Paris 9 perform from the ornate bandstand in the centre of the park.
Echo and the Bunnymen at Larks In The Park, 1982(Image: Unknown)
“We’re just thankful that the rain kept off enough to get the concert going,” said Derek Murray, one of the Larks In The Park organisers.” The following week, five more local bands performed on the bandstand in the sunshine.
Larks In The Park ran from 1980 to 1985 and in its time showcased the likes of Echo and the Bunnymen, The La’s and Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Other UK acts that went on to experience massive success that also played the festival include Big Country and The Stone Roses.
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Such was the popularity of the music festival there have been many calls over the years to revive it. But Larks In The Park was followed by another memorable festival in Sefton Park.
Between 1986 and 1993, Earthbeat festival was a free three-day event that embraced music from different cultures – as well as new bands emerging at the time. On August 14, 1986, the ECHO reported: “The confusion about Larks is now over and, as I predicted, there will be two main music events happening in the city.
“Larks In The Park has finally gone to that big bandstand in the sky. In its place comes Earthbeat ’86 and a sort of son of Larks – Larks In The Car Park. Both events developed because of the uncertainty over whether there would be any Bank Holiday music this year.
Earthbeat festival, Sefton Park. August 15, 1988(Image: Mirrorpix)
“Larks In The Car Park at Leo’s by the Jolly pub, and this week Earthbeat ’86, who are part of the Club Logo people from the Mardi Gras, announced that they will be putting on a three-day event in Sefton Park. But happily both events should complement each other, and although they will overlap the music on offer will be different enough to have people trekking from the car park to the park and back again.
“Dianne from Earthbeat says: “We didn’t set up to be rivals to Larks in The Car Park. We just wanted to do something a bit different, and we will be putting on three days of entertainment at the old Larks bandstand site.
“I hope people will come and go to both events, as there should be something for everyone on offer.”
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For indie music lovers the following year, Earthbeat in 1987 would have been a dream come true. Like Larks In The Park, the festival went on to attract big names.
In 1987, Pulp, The La’s and The Stone Roses all played the festival. In recent years, Sefton Park has proudly hosted festivals such as Africa Oye and the Liverpool International Music Festival (LIMF).
Earlier this year, BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend also came to Sefton Park. But generations will have fond memories of summer days at Sefton Park to attend these long lost 80s festivals.