Mathew Street Festival

It doesn't feel so long ago. The beats are there. A little bit of jumping and minor headbanging. Oh and the drizzle.

Welcome to Mathew Street Festival.

It's one of my fondest memories of Liverpool. Merry people, interesting bands and lots of booze!

From covers of Queen, Guns n' Roses and Liverpool's own sons, The Beatles, it is one helluva experience. Fringe Bands they are called. Several stages are set up across Liverpool's streets. Rock, pop and hip hop. You name it. And most encouragingly, all these are free. All you need is buy a carton of booze that's it.

We sang along, we danced, we drank. Under a cloudy sky, everybody is enjoying and cheering with each other. It's truly a festival.

Cheering with a local Scouse.

Eventually there is rain, but that didn't deter us. It would be a sin to miss it. And we need to release ourselves after the stressful thesis-writing.

Walking down the crowded and wet CBD.

Of course, apart from the bands, small-time musicians took advantage to promote themselves too.

James Blunt wannabes.

You will think that all the English people will be down south enjoying the sun on a sandy beach. But hey, it doesn't seem to be that way.

Waves of people thronged the streets.

And if you can't get enough of it (well, apart from affording to come every year), you can get some souvenir from the vans nearby.

So there you go, a first hand sneak preview of Mathew Street Preview, albeit 2009.

This year's will be held from 28-29th August 2011. If you are at Scouse land, this is worth your energy.

P/S: I miss Liverpool.