Liverpool kicks-off year of culture

LONDON (Reuters) - Former Beatle Ringo Starr kicked off celebrations on Friday as his home town Liverpool took on the mantle of European Capital of Culture for 2008.

Starr will be joined by more than 1,300 performers over the weekend to launch a year-long programme of 350 musical, dance and art events which organisers hope will attract an extra two million people to the city.

"The People's Opening" got underway in front of St George's Hall in the city centre at exactly 8:08 p.m., with rooftop performances by Starr, who was be premiering a new song, and other artists.

Former Eurythmics frontman Dave Stewart and up and coming local band The Wombats also featured.

On Saturday, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and well-known local groups such as Echo and The Bunnymen and The Farm will join hundreds of other performers including 100 schoolchildren for a musical extravaganza at the new Echo Arena.

Other events planned for the year include a concert in June by another former Beatle, Paul McCartney, at Anfield Stadium, home of Liverpool Football Club.

"It's going to be a great year," McCartney said when the plans were unveiled last September.

"I'm very proud of the city and I look forward to welcoming you all and showing you a good time."

(Reporting by Michael Holden)