Review
Reviews of Liverpool music, restaurants, bars and more
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Top Ten Things To Do In Liverpool In December
Warning! This list will be quite festive! Independent Liverpool Christmas Festival – The guys at Independent Liverpool really know how to throw a party! They return to the Great Baltic Warehouse to host another spectacular festival bringing together some of the city’s best independent restaurants, bars and craft shops to get you in the Christmas spirit! Family Friendly event. 8th-11th December. Get tickets here. Christmas Cinema at the Palmhouse – The best Christmas films, screened…
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Alt-Rock Newbies Lasso Moon Unveil Debut Track
Jumping onto the music scene earlier this year, Lasso Moon have been slowly teasing more and more details about the men behind the music. With a five-man line-up compromising Bobby Westhead, Tom O’Brien, Dan Allen, Ben Whittingham, and Josh Perry, the Liverpool rockers have given a little taste (pun intended) of what’s to come, with their debut single. ‘A Taste of You’ sets them off in good stead, but is by no means a ‘little’…
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Spinn Set To Release Second Single ‘Bliss’
Fledgling indie band Spinn are set to release their new single ‘Bliss’ on 2nd December, following debut track, the laid back ‘Green Eyes’. ‘Green Eyes’ received attention from Dave Monks, who played the song on his BBC Merseyside Introducing show and has over 5,000 plays on the bands Soundcloud page. ‘Bliss’ is another slice of easy listening jangly guitar pop, with a slightly darker tone to their debut, dealing with issues of betrayal. It is…
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The Wicked Whispers / DUSST: The Buyers Club
This was the Wicked Whispers‘ first hometown gig in two years to support their excellent latest single release “If I Set You Free / Zodiac Girl”. They, and the main support from DUSST, did nothing on the night to detract from the air of excitement and anticipation. In DUSST, we have a band whose tonight’s short set only served to add to the general buzz that surrounds them at the moment. Borne to be on stage…
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Chaophraya; Incredible Edibles From Revamped Menu
Now I don’t think of myself as much of a VIP, especially not sat here on my bed, writing up this restaurant review wearing mismatching Moomin pyjamas at the age of 25. However on Thursday last week, there I found myself at the exclusive launch of Chaophrayas first menu revamp in over 3 years. I don’t know what I enjoyed more – the incredible edibles, the stunning surroundings or the open-armed staff who ensured…
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New Single From The Shipbuilders
Categorising their own genre as ‘gypsy scouse surf’, the lads behind The Shipbuilders have definitely hit a unique spot with their music. At their core, the band retains their Liverpudlian roots with a Northern twang rippling through their music. But there’s a low-fi South-Cal vibe mixed in too. New single ‘Feeling In My Pocket’ is uplifting, no matter how low your mood might be from the winter weather. The four-piece – comprising Matty Loughlin, Danny…
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Band Feature; DUSST
There is a long history of bands whose arrival is signified with a groundswell of critical praise. However, a closer look sometimes reveals an artistic promise that flatters to deceive. We all know of such artists. We debate over their creative strengths and weaknesses; friendships are forged and lost over such discussions. In their short tenure, DUSST have garnered similar reviews, championed as the latest buzz band of the week, the group identified by the…
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Lags E.P Review; Lags Capture The Essence of Youth In Their Jangling Indie Tracks
Drawing inspiration from the likes of indie gods Oasis, The Stone Roses and Artic Monkeys, Lags’ songs make for easy listening on a roadtrip or when you’re stuck in the house on a rainy day. The Kirby lads – Danny, Liam, Anthony and Brad – have recently released three tracks on their debut EP, with more expected on the way. Opening track ‘Feeling Alright’ is a catchy number, showcasing the band’s youth. The lyrics really…
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Lawoftheland Fill the Expanse With Their Instrumental-Only Sounds
It’s not an easy job for musicians to paint a picture with their songs, harder still if a song is devoid of lyrics and stripped back to just instrumentals. That’s where Lawoftheland have struck gold though – their songs fill an expanse that most musicians can only hope to. The Liverpool trio, Stephen Miceli, Adam Caine and Teddy Smith, evoke a progressive landscape in their title-track opening of EP Dancing Explosions. During the five minutes…
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The Butes Bring Their Rock ‘n’ Roll Tunes Into Your End-of-Summer Playlist
Relatively new to the music scene, The Butes have just announced their first single releases on a Double A Side EP – two chilled rock ‘n’ roll songs that are sure to become top of your late-summer playlist. The Wirral boys – Philip Collier, Adam Webb, Jon Couch and Sean Dagnall – all have a background in music, and it’s clear from these two tracks that they know how to collaborate to produce some catchy…
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Sneaky Nixons Return With Their Provocative Rock ‘n’ Roll, Belting Out New Single ‘Schadenfreunde’
Always one to draw a crowd for their wild performances, the Sneaky Nixons have returned with a new single that’s exactly not what the doctor ordered. Their reputation as Liverpool’s ‘bad boys’ intact, ‘Schadenfreunde’ is the kind of belter you’ve come to expect from the band. The name says it all, with the single being a two-edged sword – both riotously loud yet sickly sweet at times. Catchy riffs, a steady drum progression, and lyrics…
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Slim’s Pork Chop Express Late Night BBQ; Review
So, Saturday night we were out watching the Champions League final and we had not eaten. Dangerous that. Slim’s Pork Chop Express have started a late night menu called the BBQ CLUB – perfect. After seeing Ronaldo score that winning pen I was driven to food, my go to comfort. We arrived just before 10pm; the menu is available 10pm till late Thursday – Saturday and 9 till late through the week. We ordered some drinks – a Beavertown…
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Archie’s Burgers & Shakes; Review
Archie’s is the latest burger joint to shake up the Liverpool food scene – a pink paradise of extravagant burgers and decadent milkshakes – and last week I was lucky enough to try it out. Perched on the corner of Ranelagh Street, it’s the third venue in the Archie’s family (there are already two well-established restaurants in Manchester) but this is the first one outside of the M60, and also the biggest. And it’s not your stereotypical American…
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Five Guys Liverpool; Review
So Five Guys has arrived in Liverpool!! Many people including myself have been waiting for this moment for the last few years. It has a good reputation in London and of course the USA, oh and also the Trafford Centre. It is a fast food concept but the burgers are restaurant quality I had been told. So, I thought it was about time I found out what all the fuss was about at Five Guys. Me and my eating…
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The Brink; Food & Drink Review
It’s no secret that Liverpool is famous for its pubs and clubs, but recently I was lucky enough to have lunch a completely revolutionary venue on the Liverpool food and drink scene – The Brink. It’s Liverpool’s (and Britain’s) first dry bar and cafe, and was set up by Action on Addiction in 2011 to provide a safe and welcoming place to socialise without alcohol. Most of the staff have suffered from alcohol addiction in the past,…
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A Man Vanishes: Review At Liverpool’s Small Cinema
Japanese New Wave filmmaker Shohei Imamura’s 1967 documentary A Man Vanishes had a one off screening as Small Cinema Liverpool this Friday and it remains a treat for any cinephile. Imamura had been an assistant and pupil of the great Japanese director Yasujirō Ozu, working with him on such classics as Tokyo Story. However, Imamura soon began to disagree with Ozu’s vision of Japan and A Man Vanishes is his acidic and biting pronouncement of his view of mid…
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Afternoon Tea At The Baltic Social
Update August 2022: The Baltic Social is now permanently closed. The Baltic Social is a firm favourite in the heart of the Baltic Triangle and known for serving up some of the best breakfasts in town, as well as a fresh new day and evening menu every season, I was quite literally drooling from the mouth when I read up about their ‘Punk Afternoon Tea’. And with friends telling me about their experience of when they last…
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The Brink To Host Merseyside Recovery Awards
Action on Addiction is set to play host to this year’s Merseyside Recovery Awards at the charity’s flagship social enterprise The Brink Café on Friday, July 17. Members of the recovery community together with the general public alike are set to descend on the popular Parr Street venue to recognise and honour individuals who have overcome drug and alcohol addictions – while commending those who have helped to aid recovery for others. Karen Hemmings, Head…
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The Jackobins 'Waiting On The Sun' Single Review
The new single, ‘Waiting on the Sun’, is another indication of just how far The Jackobins have come musically. The track begins with a spare yet catchy melody, which quickly fills out as different instrumental sounds add more and more texture to the introduction. The tune gains momentum as each new layer falls into place. By the time Dominic Bassnett’s vocals join the fray, the listener is already ensnared by the complex and sophisticated harmonies…
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Last Heart 'Blood & Bone' EP Review
The Liverpool band Last Heart have brought out an EP called Blood and Bone. The Lomax stalwarts have even managed to get Frank Hedges to sing on one of the tracks, making this a very personal record for the people supporting the re-opening of the grass-roots music venue. The band play a loose, rock/blues, and the tracks here showcase some fine slide guitar and clean, up- front rock vocals, especially on my favourite of the…
