Event, taking place in Birkenhead Park in autumn 2020, follows on from the success of the September to Remember festival in 2019. Tony McDonough reports
Mersey pop legends Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), The Coral and Echo and the Bunnymen will headline the Wirral Food, Drink and Music Festival this year.
The event, taking place in Birkenhead Park in September, follows on from the success of the September to Remember festival in 2019.
The two-day, free-to-enter, food and drink festival on September 5 and 6 will showcase the best of Wirral’s food and drink produce. The popular evening concerts will be ramped up with an extra night, with three ticketed events, headlined by Merseyside stars OMD, Echo & the Bunnymen and The Coral.
Friday, September 4, will see The Coral perform followed by Echo & the Bunnymen on Saturday, September 5. The weekend will be topped off by a performance on Sunday, September 6 by Wirral’s own OMD, including founder members Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys.
Over the past four decades, OMD have sold 25m singles and 15m albums. This will be their first ever full four-piece band concert in Wirral, and they will celebrate with all their hits. The band will be supported by pioneers of the Eighties art-indie scene Pete Wylie & The Mighty WAH!
Ticket offers include a VIP upgrade to The Art School VIP bar (a private ticketed enclosure with arrival drink, higher spec WCs, viewing area and food sales). Tickets are available by clicking here. Tickets can also be purchased ‘on the door’ for an additional fee at Birkenhead Park, sold on a first come, first served basis. To guarantee tickets, advance booking is strongly recommended.
Cllr Christine Spriggs, Wirral Council Cabinet Member for Culture and Tourism said: “I am absolutely thrilled to welcome the return of the Wirral Food, Drink and Music Festival to historic Birkenhead Park again this year. It is, quite simply, one of the key events of 2020, and an important legacy of our year as Borough of Culture.
“In 2019, the attendance figures spoke for themselves and we knew we had to bring the festival back. We have worked hard to make it even bigger and better. This event is great for residents, visitors and the local economy.
“It has already become such an important date in Wirral’s Cultural calendar – part of our growing reputation as a place where exciting creative things happen with its own vibrant home-grown talented creative community. We’re grateful to all our partners for making it possible.”
During two days of food-focused free entertainment, Wirral resident and Ambassador Paul Askew, Chef Patron of The Art School restaurant, will lead a strong line-up of chefs at the festival.
He added: “Beautiful Birkenhead Park plus food, plus music: what’s not to love? I’m thrilled to again be part of this Festival which brings together the best suppliers and food professionals that Wirral has to offer.”