Sefton Council have unveiled a new mural at its Salt and Tar site in Bootle, dedicated to the local band Red Rum Club.
The announcement coincides with Independent Venue Week, which takes place from Monday, January 29, to Sunday, February 4. The yearly occasion brings attention to the significant work that is done at independent music and art spaces across the UK, such as Bootle’s Salt and Tar. It acknowledges the crucial part that these independently run venues play in both the local community and the industry. One of the most innovative and recent outdoor event spaces in the UK is Salt and Tar.
The mural at Salt and Tar, which showcases the band’s unique logo, honours Red Rum Club’s Sefton roots and their engagement in headlining Salt and Tar’s first-ever music event in 2023.
Paul Curtis, who is renowned for his Beatles mural in Seaforth and the Ainsdale Sand Lizards, which is the largest mural painted by a single artist in the UK, is the artist behind the mural.
In July of last year, Salt and Tar hosted its first music weekender. Despite the rain, thunder, and lightning, headliners Red Rum Club performed for a sold-out audience and left a lasting impression. They have since toured the UK, supported The Wombats on their North American tour, and are scheduled to return to the US later this year.
Furthermore, Red Rum Club has partnered with Sefton Council to serve as ambassadors for Salt and Tar as well as the Borough’s music industry. Through this special partnership, they intend to jointly promote both the band and the area.
In addition to working with the community to promote pathways into the music industry, plans for the partnership include joint production of music videos and events in the future.
The band has already returned to their origins for inspiration, using The Strand’s abandoned apartments as the setting for their recently released single, Hole in My Home.
Cllr Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council said:
“We have such a rich and diverse Borough full of talent and we were delighted that Red Rum Club headlined at Salt and Tar in July 2023.
“The band are fantastic ambassadors for Sefton and it’s only fitting that they are memorialised in this new mural at Salt and Tar, where they put on such a fantastic sell out set last summer.
“We hope there will be many mutual benefits to this collaboration. Salt and Tar is the start of an exciting regeneration programme for Bootle town centre, with music and events at its heart.
“Paul’s beautiful artwork is another sign of Salt and Tar becoming a significant landmark in the Borough and a big part of The Strand redevelopment project.
“Our work in Bootle has already made a huge economic impact, with people travelling from all over the world to visit the town last summer. Collaborations such as this one will only strengthen Bootle’s position as a town that is inviting and attractive to residents, visitors and businesses.
“The opportunity to work closely with Red Rum Club creatively is truly unique and I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
People can view Red Rum Club’s new single on their Youtube channel. Their fourth album, Western Approaches will release on Friday 23rd February via Liverpool label Modern Sky.
Francis Doran, lead singer of Red Rum Club said:
“Salt and Tar is such an exciting project to be a part of. It’s aimed at bringing together people through art, culture and music, which is deep within the ethos of Red Rum Club.
“The venue, like a Red Rum Club Gig, is a place where everyone is welcome to come, have a good time and take in new experiences together.”
Bootle MP Peter Dowd said:
“Salt & Tar has rightly become a hotly talked about new venue, creating a real opportunity for a vibrant renaissance for Bootle town centre.
“Reflecting on the success of our music festival last year, it is fitting to pay tribute to Red Rum Club’s pivotal role headlining the first event, via their mural so expertly created by Paul Curtis. And with discussion between the Council and Red Rum Club continuing since their performance, a formal collaboration seemed the natural next step.
“We are delighted to have them as our ambassadors and privileged to be supporting them on their journey. Their new single (“Hole in my Home”) is fantastic. It was filmed in the nearby Palatine Flats and serves as a final historic cinematic tribute before they are demolished later this year, making way for the Council’s multi million pound regeneration of the Town Centre”
The cherry picker Paul Curtis used to work on the wall was provided by Dowhigh, a civil engineering firm located in Bootle, which helped make the mural possible. The company has previously contributed to Salt and Tar by offering equipment to help bring the site to life, as well as civil engineering, infrastructure, and surfacing works.
From Friday, February 9 through Friday, February 23, the Royal Liver Building will host an exhibition featuring additional works by Paul Curtis.
Stay up to date with what’s happening by visiting the Salt and Tar website.
READ MORE: STATUS QUO JOIN STAR-STUDDED LINE UP AT SALT AND TAR MUSIC WEEKENDER
