A LIVERPOOL dock could be drained to create the city’s biggest concert venue for 2008.

The Salthouse Dock would seat 25,000 people, more than twice the capacity of the Liverpool ECHO Arena.

The dock is the open-air venue of choice for the Liverpool Sound concert, one of the major highlights of Capital of Culture year.

The scheme involves draining the dock, which is between the Albert Dock and Wapping, and then building a stage and tiers of seating.

Event organisers hope to then refill the basin so the stage appears to be floating on the water.

Culture Company chief executive Jason Harborow said: “We want to make this one of the key events of 2008.

“It will be a once-in-a-lifetime occasion celebrating the music of Liverpool in a unique location.”

Negotiations with a host of organisations are still going on to turn the proposals into a reality.

Full details are not likely to be revealed before the announcement of the full 2008 programme this autumn.

Capital of Culture officials were also remaining tight-lipped about the concert’s line-up.

They hope the showcase event next May will attract global coverage, and Sir Paul McCartney has been widely touted as the headline act.

But the rumours have so far been denied by a spokesman for the former Beatle.

The music legend was also approached to perform at the Liverpool Number One Project concert in the Liverpool ECHO Arena on January 19, but has not yet confirmed whether he will play at either event.



Dock stars - 10 acts who could play on the water

1. Paul McCarpney

2. Mel Sea

3. Cod Stewart

4. Tangerine Bream

5 Paul Anchor

6. Tina Tuna

7. Chub Checker

8. Squids from Fame

9. Coral King

10. The Krillers

IC Liverpool