Capital of Culture Update: There's more to Beatlepool than the Livers

If we cast our mind back to the point of spending a small fortune on the Capital of Culture, it was to show the world that there was more to Liverpool culture than the Beatles. So far - if you ignore the coverage of the financial disasters - it's been marked with Ringo at the opening, McCartney at Anfield, and a guest appearance from Yoko. And Beatles topiary.

Now, then, they've added the "first ever" Beatles Day, an event marking the, erm, 44th anniversary of, um, the first time they returned home after playing America. Let's face it, we've all been on the edge of seats wondering exactly what they'd be doing for such a significant anniversary.

There are plans that the day will generate money for charity, which is fair enough, but really it's more like a confirmation that the official view of the city is that, pretty much, it's Beatles or nothing. Imagine if all the council and local media effort that goes into bolstering the Macca-Lennon myth had been spent on finding a way to keep the Picket where it should have been and the rehearsal spaces in the heart of the city.

[Thanks to Jim M for the link]