New event - Satori & Song

07cafebar.com

Satori & Song is a new acoustic night taking place on the last Thursday of every month at 07 Cafe Bar, Mount Pleasant. It runs from 7pm to 11pm.

For those of you who don't know (er... I had to look it up!) 'satori' is the Japanese Buddhist term for enlightenment, and literally means 'understanding'.

The launch this Thursday 31st July features:

Spellbinding classical guitarist PHILLIP TWEEDLE
www.myspace.com/philtweedle


the chocolatey tones of VIRGINIA HAZE
www.virginiahaze.com


fantastic acoustic duo 21ST FRET
www.myspace.com/fret21st


heartmelting tunes from singer/songwriter IAN BAILEY
www.myspace.com/ianbaileymusic


and Liverpool's own sweet songstress, HANNAH PLATT
www.myspace.com/hannahplattonline

This is not open mic, so anybody who wants to play the next night please get in touch with Hannah.

Hannah (facebook) (MySpace)

Oxton Art Fair looking for performers

Lisa Waldman posted the following on the Liverpool Fringe facebook group.

Hi,

I am looking for musicians, dancers, performers e.t.c (preferably living in The Wirral) to do something for our open night on Friday 21st November 2008

It will take place at The Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Road and Balls Road, Birkenhead/Oxton

I'm open to ideas - maybe an hour slot.

We are having an Art Event that weekend and Friday is the exclusive opening night.

Please click on the link below to find out more. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10383492379&ref=ts


Please contact me if you are interested

Lisa

07969301274
mail[at]lwsilver.com
www.lwsilver.com

T-J & Murphy album review

ALBUM REVIEW

CD: Weary Nights

Artist: Thomas-Joseph & Murphy

Website: myspace.com/thomasjosephandmurphy

One of the ways I measure the quality of a new cd is by working out how long it has been in my car cd player. Take, for example, my previous favourite cd of the moment, Campbell Todd by Campbell Todd. That disc spent five solid weeks in my car before being ripped to my mp3 player (and placed back in the car!). And I have a feeling that this five week record may well be broken by Weary Nights.

At the album launch event I sat next to a guy who obviously knew good music (he'd recently been to gigs by Robert Cray and Kate Rusby) and he told me that he'd had a copy of the cd for three weeks, and in his view there wasn't a bad track on it. As I write this I've had the cd for two weeks, and I tend to agree.

It's ever so easy to fall into the trap of comparing T-J & M with a certain famous male duo, big in the 60s, started on the folk circuit, had lots of hits, played guitars... But such a comparison wouldn't be fair, and I prefer to judge this duo on their own merits. What makes these guys, and this album, so good is the combination of a number of factors. Just one factor on its own would have made for a good cd, but when combined the result is pure magic.

Factor 1: the vocals. Lead vocals are taken by Thomas-Joseph who always seems to sing the lyrics like he means every word. He's joined with complementary, understated harmonies by Murphy.

Factor 2: the guitar-playing. So often when I hear two people playing acoustic guitars together they play the same tune in exactly the same way. The brilliance of what T-J & M do is that they each play their own guitars in their own individual ways, with the two tunes seeming to dance around each other in a playful, symbiotic way, complimenting but rarely copying the other. The fact that they are both excellent guiartist in their own right obviously helps.

Factor 3: the songwriting. The songs are top quality. Never cliched, and always genuine, telling tales of real life and fictional stories. There are a number of real gems, with my personal favourites being What Went Wrong, Old Dog, and The Vine Fields.The credits on the cd simply state "all works solely written by Thomas-Joseph and Murphy" with the words and music being a collaborative effort.

Factor 4: The guest musicians playing bass, percussion, harmonica, violin, viola and piano add colour and depth to the songs - they complement but never overshadow the real stars of the piece.

So, when Thomas-Joseph & Murphy combine all four factors they present us with Weary Nights, a special CD, with great music and musicianship, and wonderful songwriting and singing. These guys deserve that big break and Weary Nights may well be the thing that gets them noticed.

'Weary Nights' is available to buy from Zavvi (formally Virgin Megastore) and is soon to be on CD Baby.

Review © 2008 Graham Holland

Acousticfest booking acts NOW

ACOUSTICFEST - Manchester's premier acoustic showcase - is currently booking acts for

• Beatles Festival - Sunday 26th October
  ‘Help’ – Beatles Festival – acoustic acts and Bands wanted for Beatles inspired Acoustic Festival. Starts 1pm. Acts play two Beatles numbers within their set plus their own stuff. Launch weekend for www.levenshulmefestival.co.uk
  
  
• Oasis Festival - Sunday 9th November
  Acts play two Oasisers within their set plus their own stuff. Closing weekend for www.levenshulmfestival.co.uk
  
  
• Jazz and Blues Festival - Friday 28th November

The events take place at M19 Bar, 847 Stockport Road, Levenshulme, Manchester, M19 3PW, Tel 0161 224 8135 www.m19bar.com

If you'd like to be booked to perform at any of the above festivals then email rockfest24@hotmail.com

www.myspace.com/acousticfest

Tickets are available for all the Acousticfest gigs from:

• www.skiddle.com
• www.ticketline.co.uk
  
• www.ticketweb.com
• www.quaytickets.co.uk
• www.wegottickets.co.uk

All of the Acousticfest gigs are listed below. Apart from the ones listed above, all gigs are now fully booked with artists.



Fri 25 July - Doors 7pm

Acousticfest – James’ Selection – Manchester Acoustic Gig of the Year

£3 adv or with flyer (download from www.myspace.com/acousticfest) £5 doors

Features Pretty Ripped, Joni Fuller, Lee Bailey, Rob McCulloch, Kev Fox, Dave Hulston, Jason Dunkley & That Girl Sue and Music by Numbers



Fri 29 August – 7pm
Sat 30 August –7pm
Sun 31 August – 2pm

Dylanfest – 45 acts paying homage to the God of Acoustic Music.

Performances in outdoor area and first floor acoustic room

£3 adv or with flyer (download from www.myspace.com/acousticfest) £5 doors

£6 weekend pass. Arrive early it is going to be very busy.



Sun 21 Sept – 12noon

Gig for Peace – 21 acts mark United Nations World Peace Day with an all day gig in first floor acoustic room and outdoor ‘John Lennon inspired Peace Garden’ plus body Painting with Fizzical Graffiti

£3 adv or with flyer (download from www.myspace.com/acousticfest) £5 doors



Fri 26 September – 7pm

Autumn Acousticfest – 9 acts

£3 adv or with flyer (download from www.myspace.com/acousticfest) £5 doors



Sat 4 Oct – 7pm
Sun 5 Oct – 12 noon
Mon 6 Oct – 7pm

Acousticfest inthecity weekend, ‘Tradfest’ takes place on Saturday night, ‘24Busk for Tony’ on Sunday and ‘Jazz & Blues’ showcase on Monday.

£3 adv or with flyer (download from www.myspace.com/acousticfest) £5 doors

£6 weekend pass. Advance booking recommended.



Saturday 25 October - Doors 7.30pm

Levenshulme Festival launch night with Claire Mooney and the Moving House Band

£3 adv, £5 doors



Sunday 26 Oct – 2pm

‘Help’ – Beatles Festival – acoustic acts and Bands wanted for Beatles inspired Acoustic Festival. Starts 1pm. Acts play two Beatles numbers within their set plus their own stuff. Launch weekend for www.levenshulmefestival.co.uk

email your details to rockfest24@hotmail.com mark ‘Beatlesfest’ www.myspace.com/beatlesfestival



Thurs 30 October - 7.30pm

Official Levenshulme Festival after show for Outdoor Party in the Park with RIP records showcasing acts from their record label



Fri 31 Oct – 7pm

Acousticfest – levfest special in 1^st floor Acoustic room



Saturday 1 Nov – 7pm

Levfest Jazz night with Sargasso, support acts wanted email hugh.peters@hotmail.co.uk for details

Levenshulme Festival – Sunday 26 October – Sunday 9 November

If you would like to put your own event on during the festival or be part of one of our events email us at rockfest24@hotmail.com



Fri 7 Nov - 7pm

Tom Hingley of Inspiral Carpets plus support

Tickets now on sale £6 adv, £10 doors



Sunday 9 November - 1pm

Oasis Acousticfest - All day Oasis festival

acoustic acts and Bands wanted for Oasis inspired Acoustic Festival. Starts 1pm. Acts play two Oasisers within their set plus their own stuff. Email your details to rockfest24@hotmail.com mark ‘Oasisfestival’ www.myspace.com/oasisfestival



Fri 28 Nov – Sunday 30 Nov

Jazz & Blues weekend – now booking

Artists wanted for 08 Place gigs

Peter Worthington sent this message to the members of Liverpool Fringe Facebook group. http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6177109892

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Subject: Great Opportunity!

Hi there everyone,

The Liverpool Fringe Festival will have 2 slots a day throughout August in the 08 place in Liverpool, coinciding with the place being heaving with tourists waiting for the bus tours. People can play or perform for an hour and distribute leaflets about their events, provided they show the fringe logo of course, and can leave their leaflets in the 08 place for the tourists.

This is such an amazing opportunity not only for people to promote themselves and what they may be doing throughout August, and maybe later in the year, but also to do something in front of an audience.

Peter will be coordinating the schedule and if you'd like to take advantage of this then please let us know when you'd be available. The slots are at 11.30am and 2.30pm (TBC). You can do one a week if you think it will help you promote your events.

Don't forget, if you haven't registered and paid your admin fee of £10 then we cant put you on the list, so please get that done ASAP!!

email liverpoolfringefestival@yahoo.com

And don't forget to put your existing events on the registration form so we can promote you.

Things truly are hotting up!
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New Monday weekly open mic @ The Casa

Looking for something to do on a Monday night? Nothing on the telly? Then why not head on down to The Casa on Hope Street and give the brand new weekly Open Mic night a try?

Frazer is the man responsible for the event and is ready to welcome you with a couple of mics, a couple of guitars, a warm welcome, and a cool pint. Of couse, you have to buy the pint yourself but the rest of the package is on the house!

The whole thing kicks off at 8pm and runs until late.

If you need more information then give Jacqui Richardson a call on 0773 663 5207

T-J & Murphy album launch review

Thomas-Joseph & Murphy Album-launch gig- Weary Nights

Friday 11th July, 2008 at View Two Gallery, Liverpool

I arrived almost breathless to catch a spare seat next to local artist, Tommy Everett, who was fittingly poised with pen and sketchbook in the cube of art-space at the top of the gallery building situated halfway up Mathew Street.


Who's-who in musical/arty Liverpool acknowledged one another with smiles and nods while fans, friends and family of TJ & Murphy filled the room with excited chatter. Lighting was fixed to ambient for the ever-warm presence of Jeff Jepson (a local solo artist you should know well) who crept above chatter to open musical entertainment with a long set of his original classics. Jeff is a busy music man, well-heeded and respected. [link]


Thomas-Joseph & Murphy, two guitar vocalists serious and unpretentious in demeanour, arrived with simple intent to showcase their album. Song-writing, fine-tuning, rehearsals, collaborations and recordings were celebrated with a professionally packaged CD. Already promoted on local radio and in music store, Zavvi, this evening was to celebrate the process and to indulge a live audience with all tracks featured on their album, including accompaniment with violin and piano from Alison Campbell, and from bass guitar (aforementioned) Jeff Jepson.


Tommy sketched, a young lady took lots of photographs, everyone happily drank, the majority listened intently, and Thomas-Joseph and Murphy sang and played their guitars until the very end. Altogether, it was a successful launch from a highly promising duo.


Leaving with CD in hand, my only thought was: I can't wait to listen to this at home, tonight, in peace.


Album available now in Zavvi, Clayton Square, Liverpool, CDBABY online from Monday 21st July 2008, or from their manager:


www.myspace.com/thomasjosephandmurphy

Review © 2008 Amanda DeAngeles

Artists required for paid gigs

This just in from the Liverpool Fringe facebook group.

Peter Worthington sent a message to the members of Liverpool Fringe .

--------------------
Subject: 2nd Aug Fringe events

Fringe update

Hello everyone, as always, sorry for being so slow with mails, but, there is lots of good news for performers.

The Fringe is officially open on Saturday 2nd August, a large amount of venues from The Living Rooms, Mosquito, Zanzibar,3345, Slug and Lettuce, Lord Nelson, Hogs Head, Williamson Tunnels, Tess Rileys, JRs, and about 30 more venues still need performers for Aug 2nd and the following weeks, all gigs are paid, individual details to be sorted, promotion and publicity through the Fringe and venues and Echo.

The venues want, musicians, plays, (appropriate to venue), magicians and comedians, events and anything that will bring in the public, all performers must contact me first to be directed to the most suitable venue, also if you have gigs or events on which would benefit from our publicity and promotion, tell us.

Call me with details on 0779 114 5190, or mail on peterworthington1[at]yahoo.co.uk

There are also smaller venues such as café’s and shops which need performers, if you know a venue that wants performers for the Fringe month let us know.

Peter

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If you're a member of facebook you can join the Liverpool Fringe group here http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6177109892

Acoustic artists wanted

Here at Liverpool Acoustic we aim to provide the best resource for acoustic music for the city of Liverpool and the surrounding area.

We've got our online diary, and the news and reviews page (hey, that's what you're reading now!).

On the Spotlight page we highlight a single artist, group, band or duo from the region, read out lots of information about them, and play four of their songs.


Now there's a new page on the website.

The Artists section is for acoustic artists in or around Liverpool. If that's you and you fancy having your mugshot and details up there for all to see then let us know. Full details are on the Artists page.

Please note, however. The Artists page is only for those who are serious musicians who are available to be booked for gigs, concerts and events. If all you do is play covers of The La's songs at the occasional open mic or jam session then this page is probably not for you. Original music and songwriting is really what's being promoted here!

Blues on the Rock - new event

Blue C @ Fort Perch Rock

Would you believe it? There's yet another regular event starting this month. And you're in for a real treat if you're a blues fan!

Blues on the Rock is a new monthly Sunday afternoon blues gig hosted by Liverpool blues duo Blue C (above) at the unusual but fantastic venue Fort Perch Rock in New Brighton. The first one is Sunday 13th July, 1pm-4pm.

Blue C will open and close the afternoon, with special guest Al Willard Peterson performing in between. Blue C are Raphael Callaghan (vocal, slide guitar & harmonica) and Christine Purnell (bass guitar).

Here's a little taster of Al Willard Peterson to whet your appetite! This is Willard and the Poor Boys singing Robert Johnson's 'Dust my broom'

More information about Al from Groovin' Records.

There will be CDs to be won, a blues disco and Talkin' Blues, where Al will be quizzed about his own slice of blues history by Raphael Callaghan.

Admission is £3. There is a cafe and bottle bar.

Further Sunday blues sessions are on August 10th and September 14th.

All enquiries to Raphael on 0151 709 5484.

Paul Wilkes to support Joan Armatrading

STOP PRESS!!!

This exciting news just in from Paul Wilkes.

Hey there, hope you are all well.

Some news for you all;

July 2008 - Me and the band to Support Joan Armatrading on her UK tour

Me and the band are supporting the hugely influential and pioneering British singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading on all UK dates of her world tour, including a date in our hometown at the Liverpool Empire, so don't miss out and get booking your tickets now! Full UK tour schedule:

Sat 26 July 08 - Perth Concert Hall (0845 612 6323)

Sun 27 July 08 - Liverpool Empire (0870 6063536)

Mon 28 July 08 - Buxton Opera House (0845 12 72190)

Check out these links for more info where to buy tickets -

www.cmpentertainment.com

www.joanarmatrading.com

Also we are playing at St.Brides Church Liverpool on Saturday 19th July as part of the Family Folk-up event; this should be a great gig again with the band playing some new stuff. Its a fiver in, you need to bring your own ale, doors 8, hope to see you there.

There will be plenty more gigs coming up soon so keep your eyes on the site, including more in Liverpool, London, Scotland and Ireland.
Nice one,

Paul

www.paulwilkes.com

Liverpool Acoustic newsletter - July 2008

It's July, and here in Liverpool we're half way through our year as European Capital of Culture. It's been a brilliant six months so far and the next six months are sure to be jam packed with events right across the region.

SPOTLIGHT
In the Liverpool Acoustic Spotlight this month is Tony Kehoe. Head on over to the Spotlight page to hear four great songs on the audio show. The blog contains a transcript of the show just in case you missed anything.

There's now a waiting list of musicians wishing to be featured in the Spotlight. Names are pulled at random from the list so that everyone has the same chance of being chosen. If you'd like to add your name to the list and you're an acoustic musician from Liverpool or the surrounding area then email contact[at]liverpoolacoustic.co.uk

DIARY
The Liverpool Acoustic Diary is going from strength to strength with more monthly and weekly events than ever before. If you're a musician and you'd like to add your local acoustic gigs to the diary then drop us an email or use the contact page on the main website.

Some of the highlights for July include:-

Thursday 3rd - Stephen Langstaff supporting The Bangles(!) @ the Carling Academy 1
Thursday 3rd - Liverpool Music Today CD launch @ 3345 Parr Street
Saturday 5th - Jessicas Ghost single launch @ The New Picket (part of Haunted House Acoustic event)
Friday 11th - Thomas Joseph and Murphy 'Weary Nights' CD launch @ View 2
Saturday 19th - Family Folk-up presents... @ St Brides Church featuring Tramp Attack, Paul Wilkes, John Elliot and The Random Family

And for those of you interested in folk music from around the world Shanties 08 is taking place from 18th to 21st at various venues throughout the city.

You can find out more information by clicking on the name of the event in the Liverpool Acoustic Diary.

NEWS AND REVIEWS
Finally, if you've got something you want to tell the world about then why not do it on the News and Reviews page. Let us have your acoustic news and gig reviews and we'll publish them here.

Graham (on behalf of the Liverpool Acoustic team)