Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

There must always be a part of the day dedicated, if possible, to what has already been, the nod, the sincere salute to the past, for in any generation respect is due across the board, not just to the young groups taking a chance, but to those to whom have been perhaps lost to Time, the singles, the songs that made up such a vast and beautiful array of our music conscience.

It could have almost been seen as a small natural break in proceedings at this year’s Party in the Park at The Hub in Bootle, a set of songs that would have been at home in the field’s former life of the local Bowling Green, a set delivered by the Peter Dee Band with cool and a lot of panache.

To think of songs recorded by the Eagles, by The Searchers or noted songs such as Gypsy Queen, Resurrection Shuffle or Alberta being seen as filler in amongst the proceeding around them, is then to surely be badly mistaken, to be seen as wide of the mark.

If festivals such as Glastonbury show anything in amongst the sometimes hyped, is that diversity in music is to be praised, that not everything is to be catered for the hip and carefree; sometimes, and quite importantly at festivals aimed at the family and the local residents of the area, you have to ensure that music from across the ages will be played; not only are the vast majority of songs played with great feeling, but they also invoke a memory, a feeling of security in the day. You might find that you may know the odd song from across the spectrum of young bands making their way to your door but at some point everybody has turned on the radio and sang along with greats such as Peaceful Easy Feeling by the Eagles.

It was a masterstroke by the organisers of this year’s Party in the Park to involve the Peter Dee Band, fun, spirited and approachable, their dedication to the songs that paved the way for the modern era of music appreciation is to be admired and as the final beat of their set rang out, it was hard to imagine anyone presents who had not tapped their feet or been cheered by their presence or their songs.

Ian D. Hall