Sefton Council has today unveiled a new mural dedicated to local band Red Rum Club at its Salt and Tar site in Bootle.

The news comes as part of Independent Venue Week, which runs from Monday 29th January to Sunday 4th February. The annual event highlights the important work that takes place at independent art and music venues like Bootle’s Salt and Tar across the UK. It recognises the vital role that these independently owned venues play in the industry and their local communities. Salt and Tar has emerged as the newest and one of the most exciting outdoor events venues in the UK.

Roots

Featuring the band’s distinctive logo, the Salt and Tar mural celebrates Red Rum Club’s roots within Sefton and their involvement headlining Salt and Tar’s inaugural music event in 2023.

The mural was created by Paul Curtis, who is well known for his Beatles mural in Seaforth and the Ainsdale Sand Lizards, which hold the title of the UK’s largest mural painted by a single artist.

Sold-out crowd

Headliners Red Rum Club played to a sold-out crowd at Salt and Tar’s first music weekender last July, putting on a memorable performance despite the rain, thunder and lightning. Since then, they have supported The Wombats in a North American tour, are touring the UK and are due to return to the United States later this year.

In addition, Red Rum Club have joined up with Sefton Council as ambassadors to Salt and Tar and the music sector within the Borough, with a unique alliance and plans to work together on promotion of the area and the band.

Plans for the partnership include collaborating on future music videos, events and working with the community to promote pathways into the music industry.

The band have already come back to their roots for inspiration, using the vacated flats by The Strand as a backdrop for their new single Hole in My Home, which is out now.

Full of talent

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.”

New single

People can view Red Rum Club’s new single on their Youtube channel. Their fourth album, Western Approaches will be release on Friday 23^rd 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.”

Hotly talked about new venue

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” 

Mural

The mural was made possible with the help of Bootle-based civil engineering company Dowhigh, who provided the cherry picker used by Paul Curtis to work on the wall. The company have previously worked on Salt and Tar, providing civil engineering, infrastructure and surfacing works, and equipment to help bring the site to life.

An exhibition showcasing other work by Paul Curtis is taking place in the Royal Liver Building from Paul Curtis’s exhibition from Friday 9th to Friday 23rd February.

You can use this link to stay up to date with what’s happening at Salt and Tar.