England Rocks from Abbey Road to Penny Lane

There’s no longer any need to be rocking all over the world; it’s now possible to do it right here on your doorstep, thanks to an innovative new campaign.

The new England Rocks! Campaign from Enjoy England, has highlighted 113 locations – from the Isle of Wight to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne - on an innovative map that celebrates a wide range of home-grown artists spanning the last five decades. The map puts England firmly at the top of the charts as a must-see destination for musical heritage and history – both past and present.

The six-month long campaign, launched in association with Liverpool - European Capital of Culture, promotes the wealth of musical sights and sounds to be enjoyed throughout the nine regions of England. The CD-sized colour brochure opens out into an A1-sized map, which colourfully illustrates and lists places of interest, venues and festivals for consumers to discover. You’ll also find special interest sections for artists specifically associated with various geographical locations – such as Beatlemania in Liverpool, The Smiths in Manchester and Pink Floyd in the East of England. London has a focus on Camden and its significance on the music scene for the likes of Madness and Blur.

Further information relating to each landmark is also detailed, for example Derbyshire’s Cromford Railway Station featured on the sleeve of the Oasis single Some Might Say; The Leadmill Club, Sheffield, where local bands Pulp and the Arctic Monkeys erupted; and 23 Heddon Street – the site where the cover of David Bowie’s iconic album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the spiders from Mars was shot in the 1970’s.

Why not start your journey in the cultural home of English music, Liverpool? Enjoy a magical mystery tour from the legendary Cavern Club - which celebrates its 50th birthday this year - to Strawberry Field; or hop on the Ferry across the Mersey. Alternatively, visit a more contemporary musical haunt, like Parr Street Studios (Coldplay, The Doves and New Order record here) or BabyCream for funky drinking and dining. Take a trip to the Heart of England and discover Duran Duran’s homeland, Ozzy Osbourne’s former drinking den or the renowned potteries town of Stoke-on-Trent that brought us the distinctly diverse talents of both Robbie Williams and Slash from Guns n’ Roses!

If it’s festival fun you’re seeking, England Rocks! will help you find plenty of musical haunts to pitch your tent this season – from Glastonbury to Gigbeth, Leeds to Leicester (Summer Sundae) and beyond. The resurgence of the Isle of Wight Festival and the emergence of Bestival in the last couple of years has secured the Isle of Wight’s reputation as a haven for music fans. Dimbola Lodge in Freshwater boasts a museum of memorabilia devoted to the eponymously titled island event.

The online version of England Rocks! is themed in the style of a 1950’s jukebox. You can tune in to 186 destinations and or search for your favourite rock star hangout, birthplace, venue, album cover locations and places that inspired the music. Additionally, you can test your knowledge with the ‘Pop Tramps’ game and receive exclusive downloads for your PC.

A free copy of the England Rocks! map can be viewed at http://www.enjoyengland.com/rocks

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