The Museum of Liverpool is bringing 16 unseen photographs of musicians from the city’s vibrant 1960s Merseybeat era, going on display this June. Beyond the Beat is set to explore the music scene in Liverpool’s bustling nightclubs in the period immediately after the Beatles, sparking the curiosity of many.
The exhibition was curated by the Museum of Liverpool, who bought 912 negative strips from Peter Kaye Photography, unveiling an abundance of shots showcasing Liverpool life during the 60s. As such, 16 never-before-seen images have made the cut and went on display for the first time in Museum of Liverpool’s Skylight Gallery for Beyond the Beat.
The display explores some of the local and international bands which took on Liverpool’s music scene in the wake of The Beatles stardom, uncovering a series of photographs of Liverpool’s Merseybeat scene.
Visitors can discover international artists who played in Liverpool, as well as local bands with ambitions of following in the Fab Four’s footsteps. There are even photographs of two unidentified bands that curators want to find and identify, so let’s hope the exhibition will bear some fruit.
What is more, musicians from rock and blues backgrounds including The Yardbirds, The Hollies, John Lee Hooker and Spencer Davis Group feature in the display.
Claire Hunter, assistant curator at Museum of Liverpool, said: “The Beatles may have dominated Liverpool’s music scene in the 1960s, but following their departure from the stages of Mathew Street, hundreds of artists wanted a chance to walk in their footsteps.
“This small selection of photographs, taken from a huge archive by Peter Kaye Photography, captures the essence of the Merseybeat scene. The energy of the clubs, the enthusiasm of the crowds and the power of the musicians to captivate their audiences.
“Beyond the Beat looks past the Fab Four and at some of the local, national and international artists that made the city swing.”