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The first exhibition of its kind, The Beat Goes On reveals Liverpool’s rich musical heritage through a vast collection of material from record companies, institutions and private collectors. Eclectic influences that seeped into the port city from across the Atlantic during the 1940s and 50s are traced through the phenomenal success of Merseybeat and the continuing popularity of Merseyside musicians today.

Guitars owned by The Coral

Highlights of the exhibition include memorabilia from The Beatles, including the first ever public display of the Woolton church stage where John and Paul first met in 1957. Of course, this historic pop collaboration put Liverpool onto the world’s musical map.

Other Fab Four rarities include the jacket worn by John Lennon during the band’s 1964 tour and the vibrant All You Need is Love bedcover from John and Yoko’s Bed-in-for-Peace demonstration in Montreal in 1969 along with audio from the event.

Marion Leonard, curator of the exhibition says: “The exhibition takes a thematic approach, exploring aspects of Merseyside’s music scenes and highlighting the creative processes behind music making. It looks at the many acts, however big or small, that have played a part in creating the sounds of Liverpool and helped to spread its music around the globe.�

Images from Liverpool's musical history

Objects from other major Liverpool artists of the early periods include Billy Fury’s guitar and a dress made for Lita Roza, the first British female artist to ever have a UK number one hit in 1953 with 'How Much is that Doggie in the Window?'

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Another key part of The Beat Goes On focuses on influential Liverpool club ·¡°ù¾±³¦â€™s, which opened in 1976. A plethora of bands and artists came to prominence during this period, such as Echo and the Bunnymen, Ian Broudie, OMD, Pete Burns and The Teardrop Explodes. On display are a Vivienne Westwood suit designed for the cult band Deaf School and a collection of band t-shirts, photographs, posters and badges.

Original posters and tickets on show

In terms of the more contemporary Liverpool sounds, one area of the exhibition is an immersive space exploring the dance scene in Liverpool in recent decades. Through visual effects and music, visitors can relive the hedonistic joy of early 90's night club Quadrant Park, or its modern-day counterpart Cream.

A further nod to modern interactivity allows visitors to sing along to their favourite Scouse band or artists by choosing from a menu of karaoke tunes including Ferry Cross the Mersey by Gerry and the Pacemakers, Valerie by The Zutons, Whole Again by Atomic Kitten, From Me to You by The Beatles, You to Me are Everything by The Real Thing, and All Together Now by The Farm.

The Beat Goes On is at World Museum Liverpool from Saturday July 12, 2008, William Brown Street, Liverpool. Admission is free. Open 10am-5pm every day. For more information call: 0151 478 4393.