The Long Walk Festival – More Music in Morecambe's response to the cockling tragedy of 2004 – will take place from March 23 to April 1. Visitor news editor INGRID KENT previews this ambitious international project which involves hundreds of people of all ages from the North West and China.
OVER the years there have been a great many festivals in Morecambe, but The Long Walk Festival promises to be one of a kind.
Conceived in response to the terrible events in Morecambe Bay on the night of February 5, 2004, The Long Walk will use music, song, poetry, art and other forms of performance by people from China and the North West of England to explore the theme of journeys.
Passionate and emotional performances are ensured as well as a rare insight into Chinese culture.
Members of all of More Music's community projects from the Over 50s singing group Seagull Café to the under-fives who go to Clapping Song sessions, have been working for months to create exciting new songs and music for The Long Walk Festival.
The festival week will include special performances at The Dome involving local singers, musicians and a professional orchestral ensemble, a new bands night, events for children, a street parade, and much more.
It will also involve acclaimed composers, musicians, writers and artists working towards a massed community orchestra and performances.
The Long Walk will expand over the next 18 months and in 2008 More Music will take the project to Gateshead and Liverpool with a range of partners including the Sage Gateshead and Liverpool Culture Company.
Further plans are in development to take the project to Hong Kong and mainland China in partnership with the British Council, HK Academy of Performing Arts and CASH (Composers and Songwriters of Hong Kong).
There are more than three million migrant workers living and working in the UK today and upon whom our economy depends yet they have no rights or protection.
Artistic director of More Music, Pete Moser, developed direct connections with China through a recent visit in October 2006 for the project.
He said: "It's great music that does everything it should – full of texture and rhythm, big melodies and big orchestration – lots of sound and stuff to tickle your ears!
"When people come together to sing and play something they have created, can relate to and understand, you hear a real passion in the performance.
"The new work has also given me, as a musician and composer, a unique chance to play with some brilliant Chinese musicians and gain a new understanding of Chinese culture and philosophy."
In addition to the music the event will be a visual spectacle with design by local designer Paul Kondras, images created by lens-based media artist Dinu Li, and images of Morecambe and its residents by local artist Shane Johnstone.
The cross-collaboration of multi-disciplinary artists includes composer and performer Pete Moser; composer musician/flautist Guo Yue; renowned writer Lemn Sissay, cellist Semay Wu and and lens based media artist Dinu Li, working together and with UK and Chinese communities to explore new ways of making music and sharing cross-cultural experiences.
Poet Lemn Sissay.
Parents and toddlers can join in a fun storytelling and music session as part of the Long Walk Festival.
Taking its inspiration from a beautiful Chinese lullaby Clear Moon, Quiet Water, is a unique story which has been developed with young participants of More Music's regular children's sessions, Clapping Song and Jiggly Wigglys.
The under-fives, and their parents, carers and friends, can join in the interactive performance, enjoying storytelling through music.
The event is open to all families whether or not they have attended sessions with More Music before.
It will be led by Ben McCabe and Anni Tracey from More Music.
An afternoon of free live music in the street is also being organised as part of its Long Walk Festival.
On Sunday April 1, from 1pm, the Promenade Gardens will host an exciting afternoon of free music with Lion dancers and street bands including Baybeat from Morecambe and Boom Dang from Dalton in Furness.
Passers-by who want to see more can pay £3 (£1 concessions) to enter The Platform to see the largest Chinese youth orchestra in Europe, The Pagoda Chinese Youth Orchestra with musical director Mr K H Lee.
The afternoon will also feature songs created for The Long Walk by Geoff Dixon and other local songwriters and choirs performing new songs and music inspired by the festival's themes.
Throughout the festival Morecambe will be an exciting place to be so get along to the events and take part!
For further details of all the events call More Music on: 831997 or look on the website: www.mormusic.net.
You can also call the box office at The Platform, Marine Road Central, Morecambe, on 01524 582803.
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