"Murdering Songs" at Mello Mello

Almanac Folk present "Murdering Songs" @ Mello Mello

On Saturday evening 11th July, if you're at a loose end (of a rope) and you want to hang...

...out at an evening of folk new and old, traditional and alternative, all on the age old theme of murder, then head on down to Mello Mello on Slater Street.


Artists performing their murderous songs include Dave Owen, Andy Hickie, Lizzie Nunnery, Nina Jones and John Smith, plus storytelling, food, drink and general merriment. Let's hope they don't die on stage.


The event is run by Lizzie Nunnery and her friend Lindsay, and it all starts at 8pm. Oh, and it's free :-)

Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "Town was murder"!

Ghost Stories - A Night Opera - at St Lukes on 16th July

Ghost Stories - A Night Opera, is taking place on Thursday 16th July at St Luke's, the bombed-out church at the top of Bold Street.

It's described as a haunting and beautiful sound and visual experience, made all the more atmospheric by the 9pm sunset starting time.

'Ghost Stories – A Night Opera' - is a classical composition written by Liverpool musician and composer Neil Campbell. Since its release in October 2008 on CD simply titled 'Ghost Stories', it has received unanimous acclaim from both the UK and International music critics. The subtitle 'A Night Opera' was added to the title following collaboration with Bill Elms who will work with Neil to stage performances of the piece across the region. It is also being performed as part of the Wirral International Guitar Festival in November at Birkenhead Priory. Plans are being made to tour ‘Ghost Stories – A Night Opera’ to other cities and festivals across the UK and abroad in 2010.

'Ghost Stories - A Night Opera' was written and recorded by Neil Campbell over 2007/08. It started life as a number of short sketches for classical guitar which Neil was interested in enhancing through the use of electronics (in collaboration with electronic musician Michael Beiert). After working with wordless vocals on The Neil Campbell Collective's 'Particle Theory' album (produced concurrently with 'Ghost Stories' and involving soprano Anne Taft as a guest vocalist) Anne was invited to sing on some of the 'Ghost Stories' pieces. The various short movements were then developed into a coherent suite of music segued together by an electronic soundscape built by Michael Beiert using samples of Anne Taft's voice.

Compositionally 'Ghost Stories' draws on French impressionistic music such as Debussy and Satie, ambient music such as that of Harold Budd or Brian Eno, as well as some jazz (especially Pat Metheny) and progressive rock (particularly Steve Hackett). The music is delicate, shadowy, slow, atmospheric and elegiac.

Bill Elms (Director of Bill Elms Associates) said “I instantly fell in love with the piece late last year and approached Neil to work on this project, which is to be my first producer role. It’s a world-class composition and Neil is an incredibly talented local composer. I want the live performances to be an overall experience for the ticket holder, the venues are as important as the piece itself, St. Luke’s will be a stunning venue on a summers evening ”.

Since the recording has been released, the performance aspect of the piece has taken on a life of its own and the aim is now to perform it in interesting architectural locations with the music surrounding the audience (and often presented with visuals) to enhance and build upon the experience. The aim of 'Ghost Stories' - as a recording and a live piece - is to completely immerse the audience in the experience.

The St. Luke’s performance will begin at sunset on the evening of Thursday 16th July, doors will open at 9pm prompt and an atmospheric sound installation will build up to the performance which will begin at 9.32pm.

Performance Details:

St Luke’s (Bombed-Out) Church
Leece Street, Liverpool, L1 2RT

Thursday 16th July 2009 - Doors: 9pm prompt

Tickets £12, Concessions £10

Box Office: 0151 709 4988 or in person at the Unity Theatre, Hope Place, Liverpool. Tickets on sale to 08 card holders from Friday 22nd May and then on general sale from Wednesday 27th May.

Ghost Stories will also be performed in November 2009 in Birkenhead Priory as parof the Wirral International Guitar Festival. Tickets go on sale soon.

Read reviews and hear music at www.myspace.com/neilcampbellsghoststories

Full details about the event are available at Skiddle including details of how to get tickets.

URGENT MESSAGE!!! - STEPHEN LANGSTAFF SUPPORTING THE LIGHTNING SEEDS??

This special message has just come through from Stephen Langstaff.

Can you help by supporting one of our own musicians?


Hi everyone!

I need to ask you an urgent question please!!

I've had a phone call asking me would I like to be put forward to support The Lightning Seeds at the Philharmonic Hall on Sunday 26th July!

It's really exciting and I desperately want to say yes - BUT they need me to bring at least 100 people to the gig. The tickets they've given me to sell are £12:50 (which is half price to the box office price). This is more than what you'd normally pay to see me live but you'd also be getting The Lightning Seeds and a much 'plusher' venue! All ages are welcome to come to this gig.

I have to ask - would you or your friends and family be interested in attending??

I'm sorry to ask so directly but I can't make a decision until I know I can guarantee them 100 people coming to support me at the show.

The promoter asked me to get back to him on Wednesday night so I'm looking for feedback asap!!!

If selected, it'll be a massive opportunity for me and an amazing experience. Your support, as for every gig you come to, would be genuinely appreciated.

THANK YOU very much in advance for helping me with this and thank you so much for all the support you give me by coming to my gigs and being part of this facebook campaign group!

Looking forward to hearing from you
Stephen :)

****

IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED PLEASE REPLY HERE!
OR CONTACT STEPHEN VIA HIS WEBSITE www.stephenlangstaff.co.uk
OR MYSPACE PROFILE www.myspace.com/stephenlangstaff
THANKS A LOT

Urgent Appeal from Alun Parry: Bass Player Needed

Below is a message forwarded from Alun Parry's mailing list. Please pass it on to anyone you know who might be able to help.

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. URGENT: Bass Player Needed For Alun Parry I'm looking urgently for a new permanent bass player. He or she needs to be a very good bass player, and ideally either a very quick learner or knows my music pretty well already. Also, I need someone who is available on average twice a week to either rehearse or gig. Some quality gigs coming up, including playing support to Chumbawamba in September. I am a signed artist with a new album out at the end of August, and a national distribution deal. If you fit the bill, get in touch by replying to this mail or by clicking here to contact me. Please circulate Please pass this message on to friends who you think may be interested - or may know someone who may be interested. My website address is www.parrysongs.co.uk You are receiving this email because you opted in at my website or at an event. Unsubscribe contact@liverpoolacoustic.co.uk from this list. Our mailing address is: Alun Parry c/o Acoustic Slice, Parr Street Studio, Parr Street Liverpool, Merseyside L1 0BW Our telephone: 0000000000 Add us to your address book Copyright (C) 2009 Alun Parry All rights reserved. Forward this email to a friend Update your profile

Liverpool Acoustic Newsletter - July 2009

Along comes July, and all of a sudden we're half way through the year! There are a number of highlights this month, starting with Ghost Stories - A Night Opera being staged at sunset inside the bombed out shell of St Luke's Church on 16th July. To say this is going to be atmospheric is probably a massive understatement.

On 25th and 26th July there's the small, relatively new, but perfectly formed L1 Festival taking place at two locations in the city. One stage is bands, and the other stage is acoustic, and both are free to attend. More info closer to the time.

You say goodbye...

• We've just heard that 4Play, which took place at Chameleon on the first Wednesday each month, is no longer running.
• Also no longer running is Acoustic Mafia
  which used to be at Chameleon every Tuesday evening. Is it something about Chameleon?
• This two are in addition to Neil Campbell's Sunday Afternoon which is on hold for the time being.

And I say hello...!

• The Hungry Wolf Band Night launched on 26th June. Every alternate Friday (and the occasional Sunday) sees one band and one acoustic performer playing on the night. Full details on the blog post from last month here.
• Starting on Wednesday 22nd July is a new evening of Folk and Irish music at Mojo's in West Kirby. The first one features the Phill Chisnall. More details will be on the News and Reviews blog closer to the time
• We're also hearing news of some more new, regular acoustic events on the horizon and we'll keep you informed once we have any info to share.

There are still a number of event organisers who aren't sending their event information to Liverpool Acoustic, and as such are missing out on the lovely free publicity. If you know of any acoustic gigs not in the Liverpool Acoustic diary then contact us and let us know. The more the merrier!

LIVERPOOL ACOUSTIC LIVE

Liverpool Acoustic Live last month was a great night. The wet weather didn't stop people coming out and enjoying fantastic sets from Vicky Neale, Barry Briercliffe, Emily Barden, and Blue C. Emily's final gig in Liverpool before her migration down south is on Wednesday 8th July supporting Wallis Bird at Korova.

The next Liverpool Acoustic Live is on Friday 24th July, and on the bill we've got Alister Said, Molly Jones, James Munro, and The Big I Am.

Full details are in the poster on the main website at liverpoolacoustic.co.uk

If you want to hear what they sound like then you can listen to the Liverpool Acoustic Spotlight #16 for July 2009 which is due out soon.

EXTRA - Put Friday 28th August into your diary now! This will be the Liverpool Acoustic Live event for August, and we'll be joining forces with Alun Parry for the launch of his new album at The Casa on Hope Street. Full details next month. Ooh! Can't wait!

DIARY

Here's a brief run-through of some of the acoustic events taking place in July that are worth a special mention. Click on the event in the diary for full details and links.

Thursday 2nd - Homegrown @ 3345 Parr Street. Hosted by Letters in Red, this free event features music from Tricia McTeague, Rue Royale, and Zoe Nicol.

Saturday 4th - Monthly acoustic night at the Bell and Barrel in St Helens. Well worth checking out if you're in that neck of the woods.

Sunday 5th - MaXi Dunn has her first solo live performance at The Picture House on London Road.

Monday 6th - Come Strut Your Stuff @ The Egg Cafe. Open floor poetry and acoustic music takes place once a month in Liverpool's best vegetarian bistro. The event starts at 8pm but if you want to perform you'll need to be there before 7.20pm to get your name on the list.

Friday 10th - Atlantic Massey @ The Zanzibar Club. With support from Eugene McGuinness & The Lizards, The Albany, Rags and Feathers, & The Cavaliers. Doors 8pm, £5 in.

Saturday 11th - Almanac Folk @ Mello Mello - present 'Murdering Songs', an evening of songs old and new on the theme of murder.

Sunday 12th - Blues on the Rock @ Fort Perch Rock. This monthly Sunday afternoon event celebrates its first birthday in July. Blue C's special guest is Al Willard Peterson, back by popular demand. 1pm to 4pm, £4 admission.

Thursday 16th - Ghost Stories - A Night Opera. This is a very special event not to be missed. Get your ticket while you can!

Friday 24th - Liverpool Acoustic Live @ The View Two Gallery. Featuring music from Alister Said, James Munro, Molly Jones, and The Big I Am.

Saturday 25th - Under the Influence VOL 8 - Good Vibrations @ Studio 2, Parr Street. An feast of covers and original songs inspired by the Californication sound. Perfect for a summer's evening!

Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th - L1 Festival. Free music from two city centre stages.

AND FINALLY...

Once again, thank you to everyone who's contributed to either the Liverpool Acoustic website or the Liverpool Acoustic Live event. If you have anything you'd like to add then please let us know by using the Contact Us form or by emailing contact[at]liverpoolacoustic.co.uk

And remember, you can follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/lpoolacoustic

Graham (on behalf of the Liverpool Acoustic team)

Letters in Red single 'Feel Me' out now

The debut single by Letters in Red, 'Feel Me' is out now on Homegrown Records.

You can listen to tracks for the single on the Letters in Red MySpace profile here.

The Woodworks remix of the single was featured on Show 85 of the It's A Frog's Life Acoustic Podcast here.

The three track single 'Feel Me' is available to buy from the following places:

iTunes (available worldwide)

Probe Records, Slater Street, Liverpool (3 track CD, £2.00)

eBay.co.uk - (UK only) 3 track CD, £2.00 plus £0.50 p&p

Letters in Red direct from the band at live shows (3 track CD, £2.00)

Direct mail - Letters in Red accept payment via paypal - just provide us with your address, send your payment to our paypal account will@homegrownrecords.co.uk and we'll mail it out to you within a couple of days (3 track CD, £2.00 plus £0.50 p&p within UK or £1.00 outside UK)

Here's some of the reviews the band have been getting:

***** (5 stars)
iTunes (UK customer rating)

Feel Me is the sound of Letters in Red truly coming into their own; subtly blending their brand of acoustic folk with beats, synths and strings to create a lush and spacious backdrop for the evocative vocals - cinematic in scope
Arts Council, Merseyside (ACME)
www.merseysideacme.com

Letters in Red are ones to watch
Graham Holland (Frogs Life Podcast & Liverpool Acoustic)
www.liverpoolacoustic.co.uk

Skilled musicianship, innovative compositions & great vocals
Dave McTague (Mellowtone)

Melancholic folk with subtle electronics giving it presence and dynamics
Sub Cultcha
www.subba-cultcha.com

Thanks for your support,

Letters in Red

www.homegrownrecords.co.uk

myspace.com/lettersinreduk

Neil Campbell's Sunday Afternoon cancelled, and Ghost Stories news

Some late news just in...

Neil Campbell's Sunday Afternoon, which was due to take place at The Slaughterhouse Pub on Sunday 28th June, has been cancelled. The event is now on hold pending a possible future re-launch in September. Whatever happens, you'll here it here second (Neil's website followers will hear it first, obviously!).

Next week we'll be posting information about Ghost Stories - A Night Opera, which is taking place on Thursday 16th July at St Lukes, the bombed-out church at the top of Bold Street.

Ghost Stories musician and composer Neil Campbell and singer Anne Taft were on Billy Butler's Saturday morning programme on BBC Radio Merseyside today (27th June) so as a taster you can listen to the interview on the BBC iPlayer by following the link here. The programme will be online and available to listen to for seven days, and the interview begins 1 hour and 9 minutes into the show.

Full details about the event are available here.