Image Credit: Alice Conway Photography This may sound slightly strange – but I have sometimes viewed music as in terms of night and day. What I mean by this is that to me, some music evokes the night, while others the day, For example, “Happy” by Pharrel is a massive sun-shiny day of a song; “Riders of the Storm” by The Doors is definitely of the night. And Edwin Pope’s latest offering under his Mutant Vinyl…
PALOMA FAITH is the latest artist announced for the 2018 summer season at Haydock Park Racecourse, joining previously announced Plan B who will headline on Saturday, 21st July. With her acclaimed Number 1 album ‘The Architect’ riding high in the charts and a BRIT nomination for Best British Female, Paloma Faith will be bringing hits old and new to the course for a stunning headline performance. Paloma Faith returned to the charts in 2017 with ‘The Architect’ following…
Probably Liverpool’s premier small venue, 81 Renshaw Street, played host to the first Klee Music Acoustic Night. This isn’t your normal acoustic evening, as there is a twist. Okay, the musicians all play a thirty minute set, but then they come together for the evening’s denouement, to perform two more songs as a trio, but also to perform a cover of each other’s songs. This was probably the first time each musician had heard a…
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – the brunch scene in Liverpool is really hotting up. From inventive takes on the traditional fry up, to Vegan friendly options and as many smoothie bowls as your heart desires, Liverpool is doing it best to keep up with the world’s new favourite meal time (one avocado at a time) and Naked Lunch on Smithdown Road is one of the best brunch spots in the…
To celebrate this year’s Chinese New Year a three day celebration will take place across Liverpool’s Chinatown; an area of Liverpool adorned by an iconic Chinese Arch, that was gifted to the city in 2010 by twin city, Shanghai; The largest outside of China itself. Lighting up the Chinese Arch, the Black-E and The Arch, there will be projections, music and lighting, that together will tell the story of Liverpool’s incredible Chinese history and culture.…
When I was younger I would dread Valentines Day, but there are so many fun things you can do with your mates or your other half now that there is no need to hide at home! Here’s our alternative Valentine’s Day suggestions: Burn Your Ex (17th Feb) Camp and Furnace are throwing an anti-valentines disco for you heartbreakers out there. It’s free to attend and the first 50 to turn up with a photograph of…
The incredible stage presence and persona of Red Rum Club hits you hard, from the start. This is what struck me perhaps more than anything at last night’s Independent Venue Week Launch, hosted by the infamous EBGBs. The basement venue was completely packed, and will surely be entirely too small for the hugely popular Liverpool sextet very soon. It is true that they are still relatively new, but it is undeniable that their powerful sound…
This week is Independent Venue Week across the UK; a week that nods to the hard work and invaluable efforts of the nations independent music venues. In Liverpool, the first night was headlined by Red Rum Club, at the infamous EBGB’S bar. If you don’t know Red Rum Club by now, where have you been? They are a powerful Liverpool sextet with a cool cinematic sound that you are not likely to forget. Ahead of…
IVW is a seven day celebration of what essentially is the life blood of music as a continuing, evolving cultural art form: the small venue. Here in Liverpool we are blessed with a variety of venues which help maintain Liverpool as an influential musical hotspot. Below is a quick round up of what to expect from two of the Liverpool venues involved. EBGB’s Monday 29th January Promoter – Vinyl Junkie Red Rum Club: Fran Doran…
There’s a groundbreaking weekly event coming to Camp and Furnace which you’ve never seen or heard anything like it before! Running every Friday from 7pm until late, Friday Night Furnace which launches on February 9th has live music and performance at its heart, giving event-goers a BIG night out, kicking off the weekend in style. Weekly residents, The Furnace House Band will act as musical hosts to the event, playing a mix of modern tracks, and giving them…
Sound City is making its hugely anticipated return to the city’s centre, kick-starting the UK’s 2018 festival season into life on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th May. The festival is very much going back to its roots for its 11th year in a vibrant celebration of music and arts from around the world and much closer to home. Sound City will embrace the spirit of the underground and seek out the next generation of talent…
Not many new singer-songwriters can say they’ve received international airplay, but for Esme Bridie, her angelic vocals and folky music has already been warming hearts across the UK and beyond. Hailing from Merseyside and studying at Leeds College of Music, the young singer’s debut album, Today It Rains, is set for release in February through independent Liverpool music label, Klee Music. The singer’s freshness that comes with her youth offers a spark of vitality to…
The Jockey Club Live has revealed two incredible performers who will be coming to the North West this summer, in their first announcements for the 2018 summer season. The BRIT Award winner, cultural commentator, critically acclaimed director and actor, and musical maverick Ben Drew aka Plan B will headlining Haydock Park Racecourse on Saturday 21st July, with Liverpudlian Legends The Lightning Seeds opening the season on Friday 18th May with a special hometown show at Aintree Racecourse. Plan B’s…
Full of Wonder EP is the latest musical offering from Dan Astles, and is intriguing in both production and compositional senses. This amounts to a challenging and enriching artistic experience, and points to Astles growing musical maturity. We met in a convivial Liverpool hostelry, and as Dan was a few minutes late, he got the round in. Over a couple of pints, we talked of musical themes, recording and production, and the influence of one…
Since plummeting onto the Liverpool music scene with their caffeine-fuelled debut ‘Coffee’, Salt the Snail have been busily working away behind-the-scenes. Amidst a number of live slots last year, the band have focused their attention towards the studio, prepping for more riotous belters to be fired out. Newest single, ‘Spanish Announce Table’, follows on from where ‘Coffee’ left off, propelling the chaos tenfold. Once again, the video is a perfect pairing to the band’s earsplitting…
Bean There Coffee Shop contributed to the ever growing standard of Liverpool’s independent food and drink scene in May of this year and with this December being their first Christmas, they have produced a delightful and inventive new menu to help you celebrate all things merry and bright. Despite being the season of goodwill, Christmas is also a time for a little over-indulgence, and at Bean There you can do exactly that with their carefully…
Frankly, this is a collection of compositions which highlight the rich promise of the producer, which I am assuming is Dan Astles. Production wise, it is about evocative risk taking to convey the intensity of the songs. But, isn’t this what the art of musical production is about? That magical ingredient, the nuanced insight that elevates the composition to the listener? Astles, to these ears – its always subjective until you yourself are in a…
One of Europe’s leading metropolitan festivals of music and arts, Sound City, is making its much anticipated return to the city centre across the first spring bank holiday Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th May. Taking place across the Baltic Triangle and Cains Brewery in Liverpool, the festival is very much returning to its roots for its 11th year, focused on discovering an abundance of emerging new talent for everyone to savour whilst experiencing many iconic…
Sometimes all you want is dessert. It doesn’t matter how tempting the starters and main courses look, you’re there for the dessert and the dessert alone. Luckily there’s a new, growing trend for so called ‘dessert cafes’ where pudding is the only option. There’s been a couple pop up across Liverpool and now Heavenly Desserts is opening its doors on Strand Street just in time for December because after all, calories don’t count at Christmas…
This Christmas, independent Liverpool restaurant and bar group, Graffiti Spirits Group, has announced it will be launching Miracle on Seel Street, taking place from Thursday-Sunday in 83, from mid-November to January. 83 is a secretive venue tucked above both Salt Dog Slims and 81LTD, in the heart of Liverpool’s bustling drinking and dining district. Miracle on Seel Street will see the hidden bar completely transformed into a festive den of treats and delicacies, with an array of Christmas cocktails and delicious food offerings on offer,…