Liverpool's European Capital of Culture celebrations will begin tonight with music from ex-Beatle Ringo Starr.
Ringo will perform at St George's Hall in the city, along with 600 local musicians, reports the Press Association.
This will be followed by performances by bands including Echo and The Bunnymen, Pete Wylie and the Farm over the weekend.
Some 350 events will take place in the region across the course of 2008, including the Royal Horticultural Society Flower Show, the UCI Track Cycling World Championships.
It is believed that the city's year-long reign will bring an estimated £100 million to the region.
Liverpool Culture Company predicts that 1.7 million tourists will descend on Merseyside during the course of 2008.
Previous winners of the title include Genoa, Lille, Lisbon and Copenhagen.
Individuals planning a trip to any cultural attractions may well be advised to contact
InsureandGo prior to setting off to enquire about a competitive deal on a
travel insurance policy.