THE LEFTBANK SOUNDTRACK
The Leftbank Soundtrack is an audio adventure on the banks of the Mersey, featuring new commissions from Andy McCluskey (OMD), Bill Ryder-Jones, Forest Swords, She Drew The Gun, Half Man Half Biscuit and Andrew PM Hunt.
Presented by Future Yard in conjunction with Wirral Council, The Leftbank Soundtrack is designed as a sonic walking tour through the streets of Birkenhead, uncovering its tales of past glories, future stories and the culture that has shaped the town.
Newly commissioned compositions can be discovered in situ at various locations, created by some of the town’s iconic musical talent. Including Andy McCluskey from OMD, Louisa Roach of She Drew the Gun, Matthew Barnes of Forest Swords, musician and composer Andrew PM Hunt, musician and producer Nigel Blackwell from Half Man Half Biscuit and singer and songwriter Bill Ryder-Jones.
The animated music walk is the result of a collaboration between music and place. Each of the artists has been twinned with a location in the town’s centre. The piece of music they have created is inspired by that place’s sounds, history, people and heritage. From the banks of the River Mersey to the imposing Ventilation Tower, the historic Priory or Argyle Street, visitors will be able to walk the route and access the new compositions at each site via their smartphone. Each composition is only available on the walk.
The project is open 365 days a year and is waiting for you to discover it whenever you want. No ticket or purchase is required to take part in the Leftbank Soundtrack audio tour. All you need is a smartphone and a pair of headphones (recommended).
Full details can be found at:
⇨ leftbanksoundtrack.org
Craig G Pennington, Future Yard co-founder: “Birkenhead, like the whole of Wirral, has music in its DNA. We have a unique story to tell. The Leftbank Soundtrack will tell the stories of our town through the musical perspectives of some of our finest noise makers. This will be a journey of musical discovery and urban exploration, an opportunity to reimagine spaces you pass by each day and discover a whole new perspective. Grab a smartphone and, pair of headphones and let the journey begin.”
Andy McCluskey of OMD: “It’s a fascinating and interesting concept for Birkenhead and as a Wirral boy born and bred I am delighted to be a part of the Leftbank Soundtrack. My first bass guitar was bought from Park Selling services over 45 years ago. Perhaps this is me coming full circle?”
“The Ventilation Tower is an iconic building hard against the Mersey and it’s a really exciting challenge to create a musical piece for it. I stood next to the Tower doors in early July and recorded the sound of the wind whistling through them. These recordings became my inspiration and bed track for the music. For those who are curious. The Tower whistles in the key of A.”
Louisa Roach, She Drew The Gun: “I’m really happy to be adding a song to the Leftbank Soundtrack. Birkenhead is a big part of me, all my family are from here, it’s one of the places I spent a lot of time growing up, and I’m getting married here in September. It’s good to see some new creative things happening in the area, we’ve got a connection to Future Yard as well, being the first band that played here so it’s nice to be doing a song based around the venue.”
Visit leftbanksoundtrack.org for further details on each of the venues and artists, including a map to follow on your route.