Member Article

Fleetwood’s voice celebrates the past, present and future  

A sold-out Marine Hall witnessed Fleetwood and its stories come to life as part of a special performance by musicians from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

The event, Fleetwood Voice, was the culmination of a year long project to capture the town, its history and its hopes for the future through the words of the people who call it home.

Music in Mind, a charity which uses music to aid public health and wellbeing, worked in partnership with Regenda Homes to film a variety of local people, from business owners and ex-trawlermen to school children, discussing the identity of Fleetwood.

Composer John McHugh used the footage to create a unique composition based on the melodies and rhythms of speech which was then performed live on stage by musicians from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

The result was an electrifying performance which captured the hearts of the packed-out audience and was given a standing ovation.

The Fleetwood Voice was commissioned as part of Regenda Homes 10 Year Vision for Fleetwood. The performance was part of the organisation’s arts-based regeneration strand of the vision, which looks to go beyond typical bricks and mortar regeneration to help improve community well being.

John McHugh, Composer and Director of Music in Mind, said: “It has been a privilege meeting so many Fleetwood people and hearing their stories about the town.

“The performance was magical and you can see that the music had a huge impact on the audience.

“Fleetwood is a town steeped in history and I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to bring these tales and hopes for the future to life.”

Steve Newsham, Regional Director at Regenda Homes, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been able to bring this project to the town.

“It has been a fantastic experience working with Music in Mind for the past year and I would like to thank everybody who helped make this happen.

“The performance was awe inspiring and a reminder of what a great place Fleetwood is.”

The project has been made possible through partnerships with Arts Council England, Wyre Council, LeftCoast and Lancashire Council.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Gary Jones .