The stage is set as Sir Tom Jones, Red Rum Club and Status Quo prepare to perform at Salt and Tar this weekend

Salt and Tar in Bootle is ready for a second successive August music bonanza, with the Music Weekender stage set up and ready to go.

Red Rum Club return to open the show on Thursday, followed by Status Quo on the Friday. The headline act is Sir Tom Jones, who makes his appearance in Liverpool on both Saturday and Sunday.

This year’s event is set to break the attendance record set by the Music Weekender’s 2023 debut when over 6,000 people enjoyed shows by Red Rum Club, Cast and The Lathums.

Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economy and Skills, said:

“The second Music Weekender at Salt and Tar is almost upon us, and we’re really excited to welcome music fans from all around the UK to Bootle.

“It’s another great chance for us to showcase Salt and Tar as a superb events space in this region.

“Last year’s inaugural Music Weekender was a huge success and we’re expecting to double the attendance this time.

“Tom Jones tickets sold out almost straight away, which shows us the intense demand for spaces like Salt and Tar, which we see as an important part of our ambitious plans to make Bootle the place to be for everyone from festival-goers to shoppers and tourists.”

As well as opening the doors to thousands of guests, Sefton Council is using The Weekender to support the Borough’s young people. Across the weekend, creative students from Scrapyard Studios, SAE Institute Liverpool, Hugh Baird and L20 Hub will be invited on site to experience the venue set up and have a unique opportunity to practice their content creation skills, including event photography and filming.

Cllr Lappin added: 

“I’m delighted that the Music Weekender is also giving us a chance to provide local young people with chance to gains some practical skills and experience as part of an exciting live event.”

The Weekender has teamed up with Sound City, Warwick North West, Unison, Avison Young and Ellandi to bring the star studded line up to Bootle this year. 

Greg Johnson, Managing Director of Warwick North West, the headline sponsor for the event, said: 

“We have been operating in Bootle for more than two decades and have demonstrated our longstanding commitment to this area and its people.

“It is extremely encouraging to see the surge in economic activity and investment in the last couple of years. Both Everton’s new stadium and Sefton Council’s investment into Bootle Strand will be catalysts for regeneration.

“We are proud to support this festival as it offers a visible representation of Bootle’s new-found confidence and sense of optimism. We look forward to a new era of growth and prosperity in this vibrant community.”

Glen Williams, Branch Secretary of Sefton UNISON said:

“Our Branch has over 4,000 members working and living in Sefton and particularly in the Bootle area.

“Anything that brings people together and creates unity will be supported by our union. This is the second time we have supported this event and it is fantastic to see growth that will bring economic regeneration and a profile fully deserved by this are of the Borough. Sefton UNISON is proud to be associated with such a high profile event that will bring pleasure and finance to the area.”

Robin Didier, Asset Manager for Ellandi said: 

“The success of last year and the star-studded lineup for this year’s Music Weekender serve as a huge testament to the team’s hard work. This concept epitomises how businesses and communities can collaborate to create genuine socio-economic value and begin to transform a place and its purpose. It’s monumental that this is just the beginning of Bootle’s transformation.”

Stephen Cowperthwaite, Managing Director for Liverpool at Avison Young UK, said:

“We’re thrilled to be returning as a major supporting partner of Salt & Tar Music Weekender. The event is fantastic news for the local community in Bootle and has been made possible by continued and strategic investment in the town in recent years.

“As a business firmly embedded in the community and committed to the ongoing development of the city region, we’re excited to be playing our part in this brilliant event.”

Tickets for Tom Jones have fully sold out, but limited tickets for Red Rum Club and Status Quo are available on Ticketmaster.

Find out more information about the Salt and Tar Music Weekender here.