A Liverpool 8 guitar group is upping the stakes as it takes to its biggest stage to help tackle social isolation.
The Florrie Guitar Group, set up seven years ago by Tim Tierney, has been encouraging players of all standards to come together once a week at the distinctive Dingle building. Usually attracting around 50 members, it successfully saw around 200 players take over the upper hall of the Florrie in March of this year – with a range locals and even Oasis’ Paul Arthurs in attendance.
Next month the group is gearing up to take on its biggest stage to date. It is hoped that 600 players will come together to play inside St George’s Hall on Wednesday, June 14.
READ MORE: Guitar heroes bringing people together in Dingle
Tim, a musician who works at The Florrie, is confident the March record can be smashed. "In this city we get behind things," he told the ECHO, “but it is not about the record.”
Previously the group leader has spoken of the guitar not being the “main point” of the sessions. A similar thought is behind this scheduled meeting at St George’s Hall.
He added: "Every single day people come into The Florrie and that might be the first conversation they’ve had. Social isolation in this city and country is a killer.
"There are people out there who might be neighbours, people who you see on a bus – smile and ask how people are doing.
“The guitar is a disguise really. There are lots of people across the city with a guitar lying around.”
Money raised by the event will also go towards sustaining The Florrie and keeping its doors open for the local and wider community. The event at St George’s Hall will also feature a choir, brass band and vocalists, according to Tim, who added: “The Florrie is always trying to knock down barriers.
“It will give people the chance to go somewhere and will be a memorable thing to be a part of. What better place to do it.”
Get the top stories straight to your inbox by signing up to our what's on newsletter
READ NEXT:
Drug baron who imported £1bn of cocaine found dead in prison cell
Meet the husband and wife team behind Sefton Park's coffee cart
Headteacher handed in retirement forms weeks before devastating diagnosis
Matalan launches bank holiday sale on summer garden essentials