An in tents experience; Mike Chapple looks at the stunning successes of the Summer Pops.

Byline: Mike Chapple

YOU could say that in its 11 years of existence the Summer Pops tent has earned its stripes.

What started in 1993 as a big top experience for all things classical in the makeshift setting of the Kings Dock car park,has now been transformed into a showcase for all forms of contemporary music.

This year is set to be the most successful ever.

Well the organisers would say that, wouldn't they?

But promoter Chas Cole for CMP Entertainment says that the 2004 Pops -featuring 24 concerts over 28 days -will break last year's 100,000 total attendance figure.

This will make nearly all gigs staged in the intimate ambience of the tent's womb- like interior a 4,500 sell-out --no mean feat considering the tickets prices range from pounds 17.50, to a whopping pounds 150 for aVIP ticket.

This entitles you to a champagne reception with four course meal and unlimited drinks before being able to park your bottom or shake your booty -whichever you prefer -among the front row seats.

It may seem a million miles from the spirit of rock n roll -but there is a market for luxury and the promoters are not ashamed to say that is where the real money is made.

Some of the tickets -including those in the VIP sector -shifted faster than others.

Will Young,idol to a nation of latter day teeny boppers and their grannies, sold out within an hour.

Similarily the first of the two gigs by love able popsters Busted, the first to sign the dotted line for this year's Pop's,disappeared in one morning.

Other sell-outs include the young jazz sensation Jamie Cullum,covers band Australian Pink Floyd,Irish favourites The Corrs,Donny ``Puppy Love'' Osmond,Westlife,aging sex bomb Tom Jones and James ``You'veGot A Friend'' Taylor.

Taylor, whop lays the Pops on July 20,first came to world wide attention after becoming one of the first signings to the Beatles' Apple record label. Yesterday he had a special message for the city when he said: ``Liverpool has always been very special to me. As you may know I got my big break when four young men from Liverpool, signedme. So I'vegot a big debt to repay.''

On the subject of payment, however,if you are thinking of purchasing tickets for sell-outs from outside official sources be careful.

The promoters say it is always wise to check that an event has indeed sold out before entering the sometimes tricky and often expensive area of ticket auctions on the internet.

One signing for instance for which there are still a handful of tickets remaining is Peter Gabriel, whoop ens the festival tonight.

The former Genesis front man -who will be supported by Liverpool band Sizer Barker, whom Gabriel has just contracted to his Pre Records label -is making his first appearance in the city for 20 years and whose signing is looked on as something of a coup for the festival.

Cole says: ``Many of those on the bill are now on the stadium circuit so for them to play at a venue of only 4,500 capacity you'vegot to get the mathematics right by providing them with the required money without making the tickets too expensive.''

Meanwhile the promoters say that the company's legal representatives are keeping a close eye on the internet for any infringements in ticket sales law, a notoriously murky area where there seems to be no limit in prices for some of the Summer Pops gigs.

Two ordinary Will Young tickets can currently set you back pounds 130 on the internet while two for Westlife are priced at pounds 210.

And while the resale of football tickets especially outside grounds is banned the same does not apply to concert so expect an unhealthy sprinkling of touts en route to the Big Top on sell-out nights.

As city trading standards manager Peter Devaney explains: ``There is the argument that this is a market force and they're takingadvantange of it.

``What we can do is refer it to the Office of Fair Trading on the basis of the level of complaints that we have got and ask them if they can make any recommendations in terms of changes in the law. But you need a change in the law to bring it through. People can make the tickets not for resale so that if you bought one, technically the venue could say we'renot letting you in on this ticket. But that becomes a civil matter because of a breach of contract -it's not a criminal offence.''

By whatever means you get to see your favourites however those who have already experienced the Pops will know that it is a great venue,despite its transient state.

Cole says: ``They began setting up the tent in May and its taken six weeks to get this far -the last post will probably banged in tonight. Then it will take about half a day to take it down again!

``But it's great --people are generally very happy with it and there's always a real carnival atmosphere.''

It's an atmosphere that the council, which has co- promoted the Pops for the past four years, hopes will continue for some time to come despite the possibility that other more permanent developments may take up residence on the Kings Dock in the near future.

Council leader Mike Storey said: ``The Summer Pops is a hugely important part of the cultural life of the city,and has grown into one of the biggest music festivals in Europe since the city council became involved four years ago.

``As we approach 2008 it is important we build on its success and continue to grow the event.

``Clearly when Kings is a building site an alternative venue will have to be found and we will have to look at that closely.''

This is what you might call a proper declaration of ``in tent''.

CAPTION(S):

Jazz sensation Jamie Cullum is one of this year's big draws for the Summer Pops; Will Young was an instant sell-out; The famous marquee takes its place on the Liverpool skyline; Still a few tickets left for veteran Peter Gabriel