The Live Music Forum

Hamish Birchall Bulletin

Tuesday 13th June 2006 - BBC: 'World Cup big screenings scrapped'

Following mass brawls in Liverpool and Canary Wharf during big screenings of England's match against Paraguay last Saturday, the BBC has cancelled its big screenings of the World Cup:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/5073434.stm

The Sunday Times of 12 June reported the violence in Liverpool and Canary wharf, but also apparently trouble-free screenings in Manchester, Leeds, Cambridge and Hull:

'Eight thousand fans packed into Manchester's Exchange Square. Before the match they were entertained by a karaoke of soccer anthems and a live interactive football game. Aiden Hooson, 14, a Manchester City fan, said: “The atmosphere is far better than sitting in the house.”  The happy scenes were repeated in Leeds, Cambridge and Hull as fans sang Three Lions with its refrain “Football's coming home” and jumped in the air as one when England scored.'

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-2220281,00.html

Perhaps the music helped:

Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast,
To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.
William Congreve 1670-1729 , The Mourning Bride

NB: I am waiting to hear from Manchester City Council whether Exchange Square has a premises licence authorising the performance of live music and the playing of recorded music.

Hamish Birchall

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