A world exclusive open-air concert encouraging the public to remember the role of railways during the Second World War is heading to Liverpool.

Edge Hill station will host an audio-visual performance featuring archive footage of train travel during the conflict set to the Grammy Award-winning work of American composer Steve Reich.

This is the first time in its 28-year history that Steve has permitted the creation of a film accompaniment to his ‘Different Trains’ composition.

Different Trains (1988), for string quartet and tape, was inspired by the journeys the composer made between New York and Los Angeles during the Second World War.

Presented by artistic laboratory Metal, filmmaker and artist Bill Morrison will work with Steve on the piece which will be presented in partnership with Southbank Centre, Culture Liverpool and Liverpool Biennial.

Steve will be present at the performance itself which will be live-streamed by online music broadcasting platform Boiler Room.

Shaun Curtis, director of Metal, Liverpool says: “Metal is very proud to be presenting artists of this calibre from our home at Edge Hill station, the oldest active passenger railway station in the world.

“As part of our continuing work in this location it represents a significant opportunity to celebrate the area’s heritage and the quality of the city’s arts and culture.

“Timed to coincide with Steve Reich’s 80th birthday celebrations, we are excited by the project’s potential to reach a huge and diverse audience through a work of such power and resonance with these globally uncertain times.”

Bill Morrison adds: “I am thrilled to bring a film element to Steve Reich’s landmark composition ‘Different Trains’ for the first time since its release in 1988.

“The challenge for me was to use both the imagery and materiality of film to respond to the delicate choreography Steve has set up between music and spoken word.”

The project is being funded by Arts Council England, Liverpool City Council, Film Hub NWC with additional support from ABW Architects.

Different Trains: Live featuring Steve Reich, London Contemporary Orchestra and Sound Intermedia will take place on 29 September at 7pm.

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