(LIVERPOOL) - The British city of Liverpool continued festivities to mark the start of its year as European Capital of Culture Saturday with an all-star musical about its rich history.

Featuring acts including ex-Beatle Ringo Starr, Echo And The Bunnymen, the Wombats and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, "Liverpool -- The Musical" told the city's story through reinterpretations of classic songs.

The 90-minute show touched on the north-west English port's links to slavery as well as the social upheaval caused by a recession in the 1980s.

It also covered happier memories including the 1960s, when Liverpool shot to musical fame thanks to the worldwide success of the Beatles.

Forty years on, Beatlemania is still rampant in the city -- many of the 10,000 spectators who came to the city's Echo arena for the show said that Starr was the main attraction.

And he did not disappoint, performing one of the band's most famous songs, "With A Little Help From My Friends", which prompted a singalong with the crowd.

More than 700 performers aged six to 78 took part in the event, which came after the launch party Friday night of Liverpool's year as culture capital, at which Starr also performed.

Officials hope that culture capital status will boost the numbers of tourists coming to the city and stimulate economic development. Around 350 events are planned for the coming year, many of which will be free.

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