Saturday, 28 June 2008

Jessicas Ghost single launch - 5th July


Allow me to introduce Jessicas Ghost! They are a Liverpool based band with a difference.

With a line up of cello, double bass, mandolin, keyboards, bongos, acoustic guitar, drums and tight vocal harmonies, the band have been taking the North West by storm since forming in June 2006.

Jessicas Ghost's debut EP "Return To The Start" was released
shortly after the band formed and tracks from this recording helped them to reach the final of the national battle of the bands competition "Climb the Tail" in 2007.

After performing at the final showcase, the band were approached by one of the judging panel, Richard JL Smith, a music lecturer at NEWI, Wrexham.
Richard worked closely with the band on the recording and production of the band's debut single "Breakdown", recorded at The Wall recording studio in Wrexham.

The band are in the process of completing the recording of the as yet untitled debut album with Richard due for release in early 2009.
"Breakdown" will be released on iTunes on 5th July along with the B-side "New Shoes".


The band will be hosting a launch party at The New Picket Liverpool on 5th July, playing alongside some of their favourite Liverpool bands , at which guests will be able to purchase the limited edition CD single. Other bands featured on the night will be;
  • The Salamanders
  • The Mono LPs
  • The Jeff Jepson Band
  • The Palominos
Tickets are £3 in advance and £4 on the door. Doors open 8pm.

Sunday, 15 June 2008

Family Folk-up presents - June 2008

The Family Folk-Up presents.... (June 2008)
  • Martin Simpson and Andy Cutting
  • Nula Mathers
  • The Random Family

The Family Folk-Up presents.... is a monthly music event showcasing some of the best folk and acoustic acts around. Taking place in the cultural hub of St Bride's Church on Catherine Street each event is hosted by, and features music from, The Random Family.

The next event is Friday 20th June at St Brides Church, Catherine Street, Liverpool [map]

Tickets cost £13 and are on sale now from Probe Records, Slater Street, Liverpool - or from
www.myspace.com/therandomfamily1



MARTIN SIMPSON & ANDY CUTTING

At the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2008 Martin Simpson won Best Album for Prodigal Son and Best Original Song for Never Any Good, and Andy Cutting won Best Musician.




MARTIN SIMPSON is one of the finest acoustic finger-style and slide guitar players in the world. Winner of 5 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, including this year’s Best Album and Best Original Song Awards, an Indie Award for his album Cool & Unusual, and the 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ards Guitar Festival, he is also a superb interpreter of traditional music and song from Europe and from the American South. Both spell-binding, and highly entertaining, he is a master of his craft.

www.martinsimpson.com




ANDY CUTTING, was voted Musician of the Year at this year’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards - a fantastic achievent and really exciting news! Andy is one of the most in-demand English musicians working today. A top English folk musician and composer who plays diatonic button accordion and has had instruments made by Castagnari to his own specification. The diatonic button accordion is transformed into a modern, emotionally-rich, instrument by Andy Cutting. Although rooted in traditional music, Andy has brought a fresh approach to the traditions. fROOTS praised Andy for his "pure, wholesome, wondrous, playing".

www.cutting-tweed.demon.co.uk





NULA MATHERS is a singer, harpist and flautist based in the North West. Nula is now enjoying a busy freelance career having recently graduated from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. A highly accomplished musician and experienced performer, Nula has won many awards and performed in some of the country’s finest concert halls. Her repertoire embraces a broad range of genres, extending from art music and folk, to classical music and opera, musical theatre, jazz, and pop.

http://www.charm-music.co.uk/Classical/Harpists/Harpist%201-10/Nula%20Mathers/Nula%20Mathers.html





THE RANDOM FAMILY are a small collective of multi-instrumentalists based in Liverpool who combine acoustic guitars, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, double bass, flute and clarinet, alongside stunning 3 and 4 part harmonies to create an acoustic folk sound which is simultaneously traditional and contemporary. Led by a core 4 piece band, the key family members are also regularly joined on stage by members of their extended family who add trumpet, violin, cello, trombone and percussion to the ensemble, resulting in an even more striking stage presence and contributing a further level of depth to the arrangement.

Having accidentally found each other whilst aimlessly wandering in around Liverpool’s flourishing acoustic live music scene, The Random Family have spent the past year busily writing, gigging all over the country, recording with a variety of producers and and have just released their second E.P.

www.myspace.com/therandomfamily1

Saturday, 7 June 2008

Get ready for Oxjam08!


Oxjam is back in town, and this time it's bigger and better than ever.

Taking place at the 3345 Parr Street venue, the event is being run by Guy Taunton www.myspace.com/guytaunton and hosted by Kaya www.myspace.com/kayaherstad with all proceeds from the night going to the work of Oxfam.

The music kicks off at 7pm and runs until late.


So far the people lined up to play are...

Richard Mcguire - www.myspace.com/finsburytunes

Rachael Dunn www.myspace.com/rachaelveronicadunn

Nadya Shanab www.myspace.com/nshanab

Sensorites www.myspace.com/sensorites

The 10p Mixes www.myspace.com/the10pmixes

Alun Parry www.myspace.com/parryal

Kingomar www.myspace.com/kingomaronline

The Backdrifts www.myspace.com/backdr1fts


33-45 Parr Street
Liverpool, L1 4JN
Map here

Sunday, 1 June 2008

Liverpool Acoustic newsletter - June 2008

Welcome to the month of June

SPOTLIGHT

In the Liverpool Acoustic Spotlight this month is Ragz. Head on over to the Spotlight page to read all about her and to listen to four great Ragz songs on the audio show.


If you are an acoustic musician from Liverpool (or the surrounding area) and you'd like to be featured in the spotlight then email contact[at]liverpoolacoustic.co.uk The same applies if you're a fan of someone and would like to nominate them for inclusion.


DIARY

The Liverpool Acoustic Diary is really starting to fill up with even more events, gigs and open mic nights having been added. If you're a musician and you'd like to add your Liverpool/Greater Merseyside acoustic gigs then drop us an email or use the contact page on the main website.


In addition to the regular weekly and monthly events June also sees the Wirral Folk On The Coast festival (6th - 8th), Oxjam08 (12th), and Songwriters By Candlelight (13th).

And if that wasn't enough, there's the launch of (another!) brand new monthly event called Funny Club on the first Tuesday of the month. The night will feature comedians, acoustic music and funny poetry and will take place at The Scouse House in Birkenhead from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. For more details see the entry in the diary.


NEWS AND REVIEWS

Finally, if you have anything you'd like to plug, any news you'd like to share, then let us know and we'll post it here on the News and Reviews page.


Have a happy, acoustic June!

Graham (on behalf of the Liverpool Acoustic team)