Liverpool’s Annual Youth Event Gets Injected with Colour

On the weekend of May 29th and 30th the UK’s largest free urban youth event, The Hub Festival in Liverpool played host to the hugely successful Combat Calligraphy jam. The event brought together folks to rock some graffiti on a massive scale with a host of national, international and local writers. Dodging heavy rain and swamped by excited kids, this is what some of the participating writers had to say.

Really good jam. Great chance to see loads of quality graffiti and on a personal level, an opportunity to meet and see some of my favourite writers in action. Roll on next year! –Bonzai

After arriving in the city a few days early, we quickly discovered that Liverpool has tons of empty walls and just a few writers to cover them. So after rocking around the city for a few days and painting massive walls in the nice summer weather, we were ready to rock at the Combat Calligraphy. With a lineup from Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Ireland and everywhere in the UK, the vibe was international and the weather was local. Well er, wet. –Tiws

A super slick organised jam. Everything running as it was supposed to be and a great weekend from pre-jam walls, the jam to the UK book launch of Will I Go to Hell for This? A 25 year History of Copenhagen’s Famous S-Train Graffiti. –Rask

Lots of real oldschool UK writers attended, making for some very interesting walls and stories. –Tiws

Liverpool is the shit! I really liked it. –Ikarozz

35 hours in Liverpool was super great fun, even the rain couldn’t stop us from putting up a production. Is every day in Liverpool like New Year’s evening? –Done

First day at the festival had massive rain and it was a struggle to finish the walls nicely. But the giant teenage crowd was loving graffiti and asking for tags on everything, shirts, hats, shoes, pants, skirts, arms, legs, bellies, butts and boobs. “Spray my face, Mister?” Second day saw lots more sun and summer vibes and the massive amount of walls at the Hub area were all rocked to the fullest. –Tiws

Top turn out from everyone from all over considering the unfortunate weather we had. Emulsion fills in the rain was our game! –Krek

Big thanks to Zap Graffiti Arts for making it all happen, Molotow for the paint, and shouts to all the writers for a great weekend. –Tiws

Well done to Mr Beta and Co. for a slick operation. Put me down for next year. Liverpool might have a small graf scene but the NSA boys have big hearts and big dedication to get things done. Do yourself a favour take a trip to Liverpool and see for yourself. Thanks for the opportunity. –Rask

A big thanks to Zap Graffiti Arts and Molotow for everything. The jam could never have happened without you guys.

For more info and images check out: www.zapgraffiti.wordpress.com