Welcome to the Liverpool Acoustic news and reviews blog. Here you'll find news about acoustic events in and around Liverpool, and reviews of gigs and CDs. If you've got something to add use the 'Contact us' page on the main site.
The wonderful Seth Lakeman is coming to town, and will be performing at the Novas CUC on Wednesday 7th April. Last time he was in Liverpool he sold out the Liverpool O2 Academy, so if you want to see him again (or for the first time, if you've never seen him before) then get your tickets while you can.
The show starts at 7.30pm and the tickets are £16.50, but....
...wait for it...
...and here it is! The special ticket deal!
You can get your ticket for only £10 from any member of the Kevin Critchley Outfit, who will be providing support at this gig. Kevtastic!
Full details are at the Novas CUC website here and you can contact KCO at KCOmusic.com
I was wondering why I love the View Two Gallery so much. Maybe it’s because it exists in its own little bubble of reality, detached from the hustle and bustle of Mathew Street below (“above the beaten track”, as Mellowtone would say). Maybe it’s because you have to put in some effort to find the front door and then to climb to the performance area up three flights of stairs. Or maybe it’s because that performance area is the perfect size for music events, being not too big and not too small, surrounded on all sides by thought-provoking works of art from local artists, and with a licensed bar in the next room. However, I think what really helps my love of the venue is the quality of music that you’ll find playing there on any of the regular and irregular events that take place there. OK, so maybe I’m biased because I host the Liverpool Acoustic Live event at the View Two, but I’m biased for good reason, as the following review will show. I’d never heard of David Ford before I was told about the gig. I added it to the online diary on the Liverpool Acoustic website then promptly forgot about it. It wasn’t until I found out the gig was sold out after only a few days that I looked up David on the Internet, and what I heard I really liked. So when I was offered a spare ticket to attend the gig I jumped at the chance.
The night opened with a set from Norwegian songstress Ragz who, in my opinion, can do no wrong. She enthralled the attentive audience with her beautiful voice and songs. Many people have already reviewed Ragz’s live shows and they all come to the same conclusion, that she is an amazingly talented individual who deserves bigger and better things.
Next up was Hannah Peel - “the meat in the sandwich” as she was introduced by David. Hannah’s set was a combination of traditional Irish and original songs, with one cover thrown in for good measure. This would have been just a regular set in the hands of the vast majority of acoustic performers, but in the hands of Hannah Peel it was transformed into something really quite special. She started with Bury Me Under The Almond Tree, a song inspired by a Brothers Grimm tale. Played on the pianorgan (Google it!) it had a catchy lilting style which perfectly matched her singing voice. Hannah’s next offering, a translation of the Irish song about a man who falls in love with a pretty maid milking her cow, was accompanied by a music box. Yes, you read that correctly - a music box! The music box in question was attached to a mandolin body with electric pickup and the music, on a roll of punched paper, was wound through as Hannah sang along as if it were the most natural thing in the world! The original song My Mother Told Me was followed by another music box classic - this time a cover of Soft Cell’s Tainted Love. On paper it just shouldn’t work, but played live at the View Two it did, and then some! The final song was the traditional Parting Glass - “Good night, and joy be with you all” - and Hannah certainly left us filled with a sense of joy at such a rare musical treat.
If Hannah Peel was the meat in the sandwich then David Ford was the thick, tasty, wholesome crust, the kind you can really get your teeth into. For David’s set he performed his new album Let The Hard Times Roll from start to finish, and what a rollercoaster of a ride it was, showcasing the range of both his songwriting and performance skills. For the opening track Panic, David skillfully built up layer after layer of looped sound on the music box, keyboard, resonator guitar, organ, tambourine, and electric guitar, to reach a magnificent crescendo. Making Up For Lost Time showed us that David is just as talented playing just the one instrument - in this case the acoustic guitar. Hannah Peel joined David on keyboard for Waiting For The Storm, a radio-friendly song that could very easily be a massive hit in the hands of Westlife or Ronan Keating. Surfin’ Guantanamo Bay was a dirty, bluesy number which covered the unlikely pairing of surfing and the Geneva Convention. In this song David once again made good use of the live looping pedal to build up a wall of sound which at one point sounded just like a powerful, angry surfing wave crashing down on the audience. Brilliant stuff! To Hell With The World saw David move to the keyboard for a ballad castigating the cult of the celebrity and all the things in the world that frustrate him, but also containing the message that there’s hope to be found in love and the beautiful things in life if you only know the places they hide. For song 6 (the end of side one, as David likes to think of it) we were treated to Stephen, a song which does what songwriters throughout history are obliged to do - to document the age in which we live. In this case, the song captures a real-life story from the troubles in Northern Ireland, with the hauntingly sobering refrain ‘A piece of land’s only a piece of land, and you will not come home tonight.’
With barely enough time to flip the disc, Side Two of the album kicked off with Nothing At All, about how we never seem to turn out to be what our younger selves imagined us to be when we grew up. Another looping track using shaky egg, shaky box(!), foot stomping and hand clapping to create a driving rhythm to accompany the song. Sylvia was a catchy number with a chord progression that reminded me of McFly’s All About You. We were told it’s the only song he’s ever written with a girl’s name in the title because he didn’t want to offend anyone he knew who might happen to share the same name. Apparently he doesn’t know a Sylvia, or at least not one that’s still alive! Meet Me In The Middle was another song with a memorable chord progression - a great song with a great sound, and some clever lyrics thrown in for good measure - wonderfully reminiscent of Loudon Wainwright III. At 1 minute and 30 seconds long, Missouri is the shortest song David Ford has ever written, and tells how a drop of water falling into the Missouri River could conceivably make into the sea, across the ocean and onto the shores of his home town. She’s Not The One For Me was a rollicking honky-tonk number inspired by the love affair the British people had for Margaret Thatcher in the heady days of the 1980s. The live looping made a return for this one and enabled David to build up the backing track, including backing vocals, before launching into electric piano and guitar. Hurricane saw David back in a quieter, completive mode with a simple keyboard arrangement and the line that the album name was taken from - “let the hard times roll”. The final track on the album is Call To Arms, and David was joined back on stage by Hannah Peel for an anthemic ballad with a good, old fashioned repeat phrase.
After much applause, David opened the floor to requests, or ‘golden oldies’. And there were plenty of them from an audience obviously enjoying every moment of the gig. Requiem, I Don’t Care What You Call Me, Song For The Road, and State Of The Union were all met with rapturous rounds of applause before the lights went up and we made our way home. David Ford was the true star of the show - an accomplished performer with more talent than you can throw a radio DJ at. This is real music that deserves a wider audience, and it’s an eternal mystery why the likes of David aren’t signed to a major record label and being promoted to the wider general public. David wore one of his trademark hats throughout the whole evening, and I take my hat of to Ragz, Hannah Peel, and David Ford for three blistering sets, and to Mellowtone for arranging the gig in such a wonderful venue. David, Hannah and Ragz certainly have lots of new fans after tonight, me included!
David's website is davidfordmusic.com For those of you interested, you can download a recording of David's entire set from the gig here.
Don't forget, Liverpool Acoustic Live is this coming Friday 26th March, at the View Two Gallery, with Chris Selman launching his brand new album, talented Canadian songstress Dana Wylie, amazing guitarist from London Matthew Ord, and local cheeky lads The Lees.
Tickets are available online for £3 until the end of Thursday, after which entrance is £4 on the door.
And if you're at a loose end tonight, Thursday 25th March, then head on over to the O7 Cafe Bar on Brownlow Hill for a new evening of acoustic music presented by Rash Records.
The last Thursday of each month will feature a number of booked acts, and today's musical delights are from The Big I Am, James M Carson, plus special guests.
The Masque provides an unlikely setting for the return of Nick Harper, who is promoting his new CD The Last Guitar, the long awaited follow up to the acclaimed album Miracles For Beginners. There was support from the ever reliable Jeff Jepson, who filled in for the Dead Cities. Jeff warmed up the cool venue with a brief acoustic set of heart felt love songs before heading off to play another gig in Studio 2 at Parr Street. He’s also responsible for recording and co-producing music for the next act. Where’s does he find the time?
T-J & Murphy are an acoustic duo who have built up a large following on the local scene over the past couple of years. There’s great chemistry and interplay between the two players. The audience was building up around them as they took to the stage. It was a rather subdued, mellow set highlighted by tasteful finger picking guitars and gorgeous vocal harmonies. One song about a fourteen year soldier killed during the Second World War was a poignant moment in their set, which consisted of highlights from their current CD Weary Nights as well as a couple of new songs.
Where T-J & Murphy displayed subtlety and restraint, Nick Harper held nothing back as he stormed the stage. Armed with just an open tuned acoustic guitar and multiple effects, Harper bashed his instrument at full throttle. It was a bombastic performance, which served as a wake up call to those who may have fallen asleep.
Harper is a skilled guitarist and expressive vocalist and he didn’t have to try too hard to win over the crowd. He has a loyal following and they were clearly delighted to see him back in the city. The full sound and vocal delivery on stage could make the average band sound modest in comparison. However, there was a lack of definition in the guitar, with the acoustics bouncing off the wall, and despite the engineer's best efforts the overall sound wasn’t great. The material wasn’t really my bag either but that didn’t matter too much as Harper gave it everything and was quite a showman.
The CD The Last Guitar is available now from Nick's website harperspace.com
Would you like the chance to play in front of 23,000 people at the HUB festival at the end of May (would you!), and possibly even Liverpool Sound City in May and Liverpool Music Week in November?
If you think you've got what it takes then Streetwaves wants to hear from you. It doesn't matter what type of music you play so long as you've got what it takes to impress a panel of industry experts.
We don't know how we missed it (sorry guys) but there's another gig to add to the list for tonight, Saturday 20th March.
T-J & Murphy are headlining a fundraising gig for Cancer Research UK, and will be supported on the night by Jeff Jepson, and the Alun Parry Band.
Three fantastic acts on the same bill - what could be better than that?
It's taking place at the Static Gallery on Roscoe Lane (off Berry Street) and starts at 7.30pm. Entrance is only £5 on the door, with all proceeds going to a great cause.
Facebook event is here, and the Directory of Liverpool write-up is here.
Saturday 20th March - The Songbook Sessions 7.45pm @ The Zanzibar Club
Hosted by Marc Sunderland (Peter and the Wolf), and featuring music from The Baudelaire Brothers, Seedy Player, Ste Williams, Carrie-Anne Hayden, Ben Blance
Saturday 20th March - Almanac Folk present Songs From The City 8.00pm @ Mello Mello
A night of city songs, both traditional and alternative, featuring Hannah Peel (launching new LP Rebox), Lizzie Nunnery (launching new album Company of Ghosts), Stealing Sheep, Greta Svabo and Maev McDaid.
Saturday 20th March - Under The Influence VOL 17 9.00pm @ Studio 2 at Parr Street
Under The Influence VOL 17 is Keep On Rocking - the Neil Young one!
Hosted by Kaya, featuring original material and creative covers, this month inspired by Neil Young, with guest sets from Ian Mc Nabb, Jonny Sands and Dog Man Dave.
DJ sets from X-Ray Cat (CMWMSMDM)
Free entry
And as a taster, Dog Man Dave has kindly given us a track called Home Fire which you can listen to here.
Unfortunately, if you're an email subscriber you'll have to visit the website to hear it...
The guys over at Lemon Hippo Promotions are not ones for sitting on their laurels (or any other sort of foliage, for that matter).
Not content with providing the excellent Back In The Jac on a weekly basis for free, they are branching out and are starting a brand new free weekly event called Back On The Tracks which takes place at The Railway Pub on Tithebarn Street.
Back On The Tracks runs from 7.00pm to 11.00pm every Thursdayfrom 18th March, and sticks with the same winning formula of a handfull of booked acts - in the case of the opening night it's The Cassette Tape Collective, and Harrison Drive - plus a heap load of open mic slots.
There's a great night in store this Saturday 21st March at the Liverpool O2 Academy with iconic Liverpool band Amsterdam playing their first hometown gig of the year.
Support is provided by Paul Hagan's new band Last Gambados, with the main support from the marvellous Kevin Critchley Outfit.
If you'd like to be there in person you can pay the full price of £12 (plus booking/delivery/collection fee) by booking here, however...
...the good news is that our friends over at the KCO HQ are offering tickets for less money. That's right, cheaper tickets! And the added bonus is that everyone who buys a ticket from them for this gig will get in free to their special acoustic show at the View Two Gallery on 22nd May (which just happens to be Kevin's birthday).
To claim your discounted ticket for the Amsterdam gig contact any member of the KCO by following the links to their facebook, MySpace, or email from www.KCOmusic.com
Download the show for free (right-click to download)
Or listen online below (not available for email subscribers)
This month's Liverpool Acoustic Live takes place on Friday 26th March at the Vew Two Gallery on Mathew Street and features Chris Selman on the Liverpool leg of his album launch tour. Money's Everything will be available to buy from iTunes by the end of the month and there should be limited run of hard copies available on the night.
Joining Chris Selman on the night will be Dana Wylie [Canada], Matthew Ord [London], and local lads The Lees.
As for the last Liverpool Acoustic Live event there are only 50 tickets available online for £3 in advance from wegottickets.com
There will be a limited number of £4 tickets available on the door for this intimate and friendly gig at one of the best acoustic venues in the city.
Doors open at 8.00pm with music starting at 8.30pm sharp. The night finishes at 11.15pm
Chris Selman has been surrounded by music from an early age. The youngest son of guitarist parents Paul and Jill, he was born in Stirling in 1986. His family have moved all over the UK with his father's work, eventually settling in Sheffield, although at 18 Chris moved to Liverpool to study music at university.
His aspiration to become a singer/songwriter has slowly become realised during his years in the city, being heavily involved in the local music scene as a member of various bands, as a promoter and, most recently, as a solo artist. He is heavily influenced by American acoustic and folk music, but is not afraid to admit an appreciation of more popular styles; this combination has allowed him to write some memorable tunes with meaningful words - a combination seen all too rarely in today's music.
Chris' debut release, the Graffiti Dreams EP, was released through Pip-Music in March 2009. His new album Money's Everything is released March 2010 and is available to buy from iTunes.
Dana Wylie is an extremely talented singer-songwriter from Canada. She has lived and toured in the UK, Taiwan, and Canada, and is back in the UK this month touring as a solo artist and also performing with London-based musician Matthew Ord.
Dana receives rave reviews and makes new fans and friends wherever she plays, and she's sure to be a hit at the Liverpool Acoustic Live event.
"...while I was expecting good things, I wasn't expecting anything quite so ridiculously good as this." - Moles, Bath, UK
The Dana Wylie Band released their debut album Almost There in 2006, and their follow up album The Unruly Ones in 2008. Both are available to buy from iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby.
Matthew Ord is a London based singer and guitarist with a fresh take on the traditional music of the British Isles and North America. A dedicated musician with a deep passion for folk music from an early age, his repertoire reflects the length and breadth of these traditions, drawing together the Delta and Piedmont blues, Scots and English Ballads, jigs, reels, slow airs, nursery rhymes and protest songs, all skilfully performed with warmth and conviction.
After graduating from university in 2005, Matthew has pursued a career as a gigging musician, a journey which so far has taken him to Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Norway, the southern US and the far north west of Canada. Along the way he has shared the bill with legendary guitar players Albert Lee, Pierre Bensusan, Martin Carthy and Martin Simpson and respected folk performers such as Seth Lakeman, Tom McRae and Kathryn Williams. He has performed at many of the UK's major festivals including Glastonbury and Cambridge Folk Festival and twice at the SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas.
In 2008 Matthew was featured in Alex Walker's documentary film We Dreamed America, an exploration of London's Americana scene, for which he also provided part of the soundtrack.
Matthew has contributed to the following records.
Hey Negrita, "You Can Kick" (2008)
Dana Wylie Band, "The Unruly Ones" (2008)
Hey Negrita, "Burn the Whole Place Down" (2009)
Andy Sharrocks, "Dirt" (2009)
Scott Cook, "This One's on the House" (2009)
Matthew's latest solo recording, Early in the Spring, was completed in April of 2009. The album features a selection of traditional songs from Britain and America in fresh arrangements for voice and guitar and will be available on iTunes and for online purchase later this year.
Lee and Lee, otherwise known as, The Lees, are a duo from Liverpool. Formed around July 2009, they've spent their time together playing loads of gigs...
"We play as many gigs as we can, anywhere; coz that's what music's all about, doing what you love."
Nick Harper has forged his own way ahead to become recognised as one of Britain's finest acoustic singer/guitarists (despite being destined to be forever known as the son of the legendary folk/blues singer-songwriter Roy Harper). Having played the guitar from the age of 10 (he is completely self-taught) and surrounded by the likes of Keith Moon, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and Dave Gilmour as he grew up, it was no surprise when Nick made his recording debut on his father's Whatever Happened to Jugula? in 1985.
With 4 studio albums, a double live CD and 2 EPs (including Instrumental, a stunning display of his guitar talents) under his belt, Nick's work is still as fresh and as vital as that of his first solo release in 1994. His 2006 album Treasure Island attests to his being quite rightly recognised as one of Britain's finest acoustic singer/guitarists and to his ability to craft songs that take in, absorb and spit out political scorn, social history comment, the seven ages of man, pride in his country, and turn them into catchy, robust tunes that grab the ear and remain in the memory long after the last track has ended. But as with his highly personal 2004 "family album" Blood Songs, he still has time to sing about the most important things in his world - family, friends, love, life.
To call him a superlative singer/songwriter could put his highly lauded guitar talent in the shade, and to call him a guitarist's guitarist might slight his distinctive, soulful voice and passionate songs. Not forgetting the wild ride that is one of his live shows - from personal introspection to biting political satire via a charmingly caustic wit that would make Groucho Marx proud. To see Nick Harper live (with a style that combines a multitude of musical influences from folk to rock, classical to flamenco) is an unforgettable experience. This is where his own material is frequently accompanied by segued offerings from Jeff Buckley, Blur, Led Zeppelin, Prodigy; a little Zappa here, a touch of Monty Python there - and even a few bars of Kylie at times - all are liable to be thrown into the mix of a two-hour set- that's when he's not walking across glass-littered bartops or never dropping so much as a single note as he re-strings his guitar, mid-song. This is all part and parcel of what an audience now comes to expect from this inveterate showman.
And you can see Nick performing live in Liverpool on Friday 12th March at The Masque venue on Seel Street. The gig starts at 7.30pm and tickets are only £10 from ticketweb.co.uk and you can also sign up for the facebook event here. This event is great value because in addition to Nick Harper you also get support from Thomas-Joseph & Murphy, and Dead Cities.
The song Radio Silence is taken from his 1995 release Blood Songs, and the track is available as a free download from here. All of Nick's albums are available to buy from his website here, Amazon, and iTunes.
Liverpool Acoustic Spotlight #25 - March 2010
If you get the chance, please support your local artists by emailing them, joining their mailing lists, leaving them comments, going to their gigs, and buying their music direct from them where possible.
You might remember last month we told you all about the launch of the Woody Guthrie Folk Club at the Ship & Mitre pub on Dale Street. Well, it seems the club was a victim of its own success with people being locked out when the upstairs room reached capacity. A memorable night was had by those who managed to get in.
After a brief consultation it was decided to issue online tickets for the next night on Thursday 25th March. These are £3 each (with 30p booking fee), but in the spirit of the club this will be refunded to anyone who is playing or singing on the night.
Sticking with folk, we've recently heard from the guys over at the Folk at the Monor, the friendly little club that meets every Sunday evening in Wallasey. They're planning an experiment - but don't worry, you won't need a white coat, protective goggles, or a clipboard. Let us explain...
In their words, they are experienced at doing 'folk club stuff' but don't know too much about the local acoustic music scene, whereas Suzanne Jones knows more than her fair share about the local acoustic scene but her knowledge of 'folky stuff' is somewhat lacking.
So... the two elements are going to meet each other this Sunday 14th March at 8.30pm in the giant petri dish known as The Old Manor Club. The first half of the formula will be given over to floor singers (that's 'open mic' without the mic!), while the second half will be distilled from the capable hands of Suzanne Jones (with a little sprinkling of Vinny T Spen).
The results of the experiment will be know by the end of the evening.
Thursday 11th March sees the first meeting of the brand new Liverpool Guitar Society.
It's taking place in the Cornerstone building at Liverpool Hope's Everton campus, from 7.00pm to 10.00pm.
The society exists to promote classical guitar in Merseyside; members can get support and encouragement, and there will be opportunities to play solo and in ensembles.
Cost will be £2 from the second meeting onwards, and more details can be found at liverpoolguitar.org
Also tonight, Thursday 11th March, there's another new event starting.
Acoustic @ The Head of Steam pub on Lime Street starts at 8.30pm and will be a mix of invited guests and open mic.
It's starting as a one-off event, but if it's successful then it will become weekly. So why not get along and support it? Go on, it's free!
There's a real treat in store for you tonight, Wednesday 10th March, down at Studio 2 at Parr Street.
Drøm is the Norwegian word for 'dream' (but you knew that already, didn't you?) and there's a dream line-up (sorry!) in the form of two Norwegian songstresses, Ragz and Monika May, who are joined for a rare acoustic set by Nik Glover from the Seal Cub Clubbing Club.
It's hosted by NICE Festival's Ingi Thor-Jonsson, with DJ X-Ray Cat [CMWMSMDM] playing a selection of Nordic delights.
Doors open at 8.00pm and it's only £3 on the door.
Want to be an important part of the biggest charity music event in the UK?
Now recruiting: Oxjam Regional Managers (x 35 home-based volunteer roles)
Oxjam is a music festival made up of hundreds of events around the UK in October. Organised by people who know and love their local music scene. All in aid of Oxfam.
The highlight of the festival is the 35 city-wide Oxjam Takeover events: amazing multi-venue one-ticket-gives-access-to-all (think Camden Crawl) events in 35 towns and cities organised by our volunteer Oxjam Regional Managers and their enthusiastic teams.
We have 35 Regional Manager voluntary positions that are crucial to the smooth running and overall success of Oxjam 2010. As a Regional Manager you will recruit and manage a team of talented volunteers to hold a multi-venue music event in your local area as part of the Oxjam nationwide Takeover event. It’s a great way to meet new people, challenge yourself and be part of the biggest charity music festival of the year!
If you want to find out more about the role and how to apply then check out the link below.
Friday 12th March sees one of Britain's finest acoustic singer/guitarists, Nick Harper, performing live at The Masque venue on Seel Street.
Doors open at 7.30pm and the gig starts at 8.00pm.
Tickets are only £10 from ticketweb.co.uk and you can also sign up for the facebook event here. This is sure to be a popular event, so get your tickets while you can if you don't want to be disappointed.
This event is great value because in addition to Nick Harper you also get local support from Thomas-Joseph & Murphy, and Dead Cities.
Rachael Dunn’s Alpha Ghost delivers an engaging brand of soulful acoustic pop, with Dunn’s vocals beautifully conveying her image-laden lyrics overlaid on Alex Dunford’s skillfully crafted soundscapes.
The album opens with the soulful ‘Out in The Storm’, the bass line drives the song forward and flourishes of glockenspiel and lead guitar bring the track to life. This is contrasted by the albums eponymous track ‘Alpha Ghost’ with its simple acoustic feel and Rachael’s delicate vocals. The Mood changes with the darker ‘Closed Door’ its powerful lyrics and double tracked vocals reminding me of Alela Diane. ‘Falling Fast’ feels intimate with the piano adding greatly to the feel of the track. The expansive ‘Hold The Light’ continues the darker feel with crunching electric guitars and a feel reminiscent of Radiohead.
The second half of the album continues with the piano led ‘Violet’, Dunn resists the urge to overload the track instead opting for a simple, honest arrangement.
An unexpected gem comes in the form of the Stones-like ‘Walking Backwards’ with its catchy chorus, foot tapping percussion and more raucous lead guitar. This is immediately contrasted by the acoustic charm of ‘Hang in Time’ and the album’s most intimate track ‘Hide’. The simple acoustic arrangement closes the album beautifully. However it does make me think that perhaps some of the other songs would have benefited from a similar stripped back sound.
Alpha Ghost is a genre-spanning, varied record with Rachael Dunn’s soaring vocals being ably supported by multi instrumentalist and producer Alex Dunford. While I think some of the tracks could have benefited from a less slick production this does not detract from the engaging album Rachael Dunn has created.
March brings with it the end of winter, the start of spring, and the hope of better things to come. And the Liverpool acoustic scene certainly has a spring in its step as the online diary starts to fill up at pace.
Some of the highlights this month included The Miserable Rich performing at the next Family Folk-up (5th), a sold-out Mumford & Sons gig at the Liverpool O2 Academy (9th), Nick Harper at The Masque (12th) supported by Dead Cities, and T-J & Murphy, The Dubliners (18th) at the Theatre Royal St Helens, and Amsterdam (20th) at the Liverpool O2 Academy, with support from the Kevin Critchley Outfit. There's plenty more in the diary so check it out if you're looking for something to do.
LIVERPOOL ACOUSTIC LIVE
February's first year birthday bash sold out two weeks before the event. Those lucky enough to get tickets were treated to fabulous sets from Barry Briercliffe, Ashley Théberge, Nigel of Bermondsey, and an extended set from the headline act Stephen Langstaff.
This month Liverpool Acoustic Live takes place on Friday 26th March and features the following fantastic artists.
Chris Selman is well known and respected on the local and north west scene. He has chosen this night as the Liverpool leg of his CD launch tour, and we're certainly honoured! www.myspace.com/chrisselman
The Lees are two local lads who just happen to share the same first name. They also share the same love of music and write songs about real life in Liverpool. Ones to watch. www.myspace.com/iwanttobealee
Dana Wylie is from Canada and is perhaps best known for her work with the Dana Wylie Band. After two successful albums and periods of time living and touring in Canada and Taiwan, Dana is now back in the UK performing solo, and as a duo with Matthew Ord. If you like Ashley Thebérge, you'll love Dana Wylie. An extremely talented young woman - not to be missed! www.myspace.com/danawylieband
Matthew Ord is a london based singer and guitarist with a fresh take on the traditional usic of the British Isles and North America. He has performed at Glastonbury, the Cambridge Folk Festival, and SXSW, and has shared the bill with the likes of Martin Carthy, Seth Lakeman, Martin Simpson, and Albert Lee. www.myspace.com/mattheword
There are only 50 tickets available online for £3 in advance from wegottickets.com
There will also be a limited number of £4 tickets available on the door for this intimate and friendly venue.
Doors open at 8.00pm with music starting at 8.30pm sharp. The night finishes at 11.15pm.
March is here, and new and returning events are coming thick and fast. It must be the promise of spring that's inspiring you all!
You say goodbye...
We've removed from the diary the Monday night open mic at Bar Du Fey after one helpful blog follower told us that not only could they not find the event, they couldn't even find the bar! If you know any different please let us know.
And I say hello...
There's a new weekly event at The Railway on Tithbarn Street, brought to you by the Lemon Hippo guys (the same crew behind the Back in the Jac night). It's called Back On The Tracks and is the same mix of booked acts and open mic. It runs from 7.00pm to 11.00pm and is free to get in.
The new Acoustic Open Mic Night at the Head of Steam on Lime Street is the brainchild of Adam and Angie from Stop!DontJump. It takes place on Thursday 11th March and if it's a success it will become a weekly event. So why not get down and support it? The night will be a mix of invited guests and general punters, and starts at 8.30pm
Having taken a longer Christmas break than is normal(!) Dogstar* returns to the Picture House on London Road for a fortnightly Open Mic event. It started yesterday, which means the next one is (reaches for calendar...) Sunday 14th March.
We've just found out about the 'Live Lounge' (what an inventive name!) at the Hard Days Night Hotel. It takes place every Friday and Saturday evening, and features live acoustic music in the lounge bar. There are three sets, two on Friday (5pm and 8pm) and one on Saturday (7pm). Gerry Murphy is currently entertaining the punters in the second Friday night slot.
The Liverpool Guitar Society is launching on Thursday 11th March at the Cornerstone building at Liverpool Hope's Everton campus. The society exists to promote classical guitar in Merseyside, and members can get support and encouragement, and there will be opportunities to play solo and in ensembles. Cost will be £2 from the second meeting onwards, and more details can be found at liverpoolguitar.org
MARCH DIARY SELECTION BOX
Here's a selection of some of the acoustic events taking place in March. Click on the event in the diary for full details and links. Don't forget that there may well be other events on the same night as those listed below that you'd prefer to go to - if that's the case then check out the diary first before making your decision!
Monday 1st - 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. The last two months the set list has been full by 7.20pm so you'll need to be early to get your name on the list and to claim a seat. Why not come along earlier and eat before the event? comestrutyourstuff.co.uk
Monday 1st - Acoustic Live Lounge @ 3345 Parr Street. If you went to the Liverpool Acoustic Live gig in February then you'll want to get along to this event tonight because Ashley Théberge will be performing again. You can also see Pete Cunningham, and take part in the open mic. 8.30pm start and free entry.
Tuesday 2nd - Out of the bedroom @ Leaf Tea Shop & Bar. Open mic hosted by Johnny Sands. 8pm start
Friday 5th - Broken Bones Matilda @ The Zanzibar, featuring The James Witehouse Band, Rosie Jones and the Mystery Machine, Stuart Todd and the Freebies, Riot City, Our Innocence Lost, and Donja Vine. 8pm to 11.30pm - £4 on the door..
Saturday 6th - Big Her Night @ Toxteth TV. Eden Ink presents Big Her Day for International Women's Day 2010 with music from the Lonesome Georginas, Jo Bywater, Barbie Shop, and the Hope and Harmony Community Choir. Hosted by Nurse Karen 101. Tickets £5 pre-paid only from Jo 07810 267574
Sunday 7th - Folk at the Monor. A great way to spend a Sunday evening. Tonight is a singers night and everyone is welcome to play a tune or sing a song. Free for musicians, £1 for listeners. 8.30pm start at the Old Manor Club, Withens Lane, Wallasey.
Wednesday 10th - DRØM @ Studio 2 at Parr Street. DRØM (dream) is a Nordenglish night put together to welcome springtime, mixing Scandinavian and English vibes. Compared by Ingi Thor-Johnsson (NICE festival) it features acoustic sets from Ragz, Nik Glover (The Seal Cub Clubbing Club), and Monika May. 8.00pm - free
Thursday 11th - Acoustic @ The Head of Steam. This is mentioned above in the Diary News section. 8.30pm start, with booked acts and open mic. Starting as a one-off event it will become weekly if successful, so get along and help it out.
Friday 12th - Nick Harper @ The Masque. Seel Street's recently revived venue welcomes the wonder that is Nick Harper, with support from T-J & Murphy, and Dead Cities. 7.30pm start, and tickets £10 from ticketweb.
Sunday 14th - Open Mic @ The Picture House. Relaunched at the end of February this fortnightly event starts at 8.30pm and is hosted by Dogstar*
Friday 19th - Jackie Leven @ The Masque. Another great artist for The Masque! 8pm start, tickets £7 in advance from ticketweb.
Saturday 20th - Under The Influence VOL 17 @ Studio 2 at Parr Street. We don't know what the theme will be for this one yet, but it's sure to be a great night. Kaya is back at the helm and hosts from 9.00pm. Free.
Thursday 25th - Back on the Tracks @ The Railway, Tithebarn Street. This is the new weekly event from Lemon Hippo Promotions, featuring the same mix of booked acts and open mic. 7pm start and always free!
Thursday 25th - Woody Guthrie Folk Club @ The Ship & Mitre. 7.30pm doors, 8.00pm start, 10.30pm finish. £3 entry, or free to singers. The last one was a lock-out, so be sure to check the facebook page for more information about this one.
Friday 26th - Liverpool Acoustic Live @ The View Two Gallery. Our second year continues in fine style with Chris Selman's CD launch, Dana Wylie from Canada, The Lees from Liverpool, and Matthew Ord from London. 8pm doors, music 8.30pm to 11.15pm. Tickets £3 in advance, £4 on the door.
Sunday 28th - 1.00am Clocks go forward one hour to British Summer Time
AND FINALLY...
Liverpool Acoustic is expanding with the addition of Matthew Moss onto our reviewing team. You'll have seen some of Matthew's interviews already on the News and Reviews blog and mailing list, and he's looking forward to getting his literary teeth into some album and live reviews.
If you're interested in contributing to the Liverpool Acoustic website then drop us a line using the Contact Us form or by emailing contact[at]liverpoolacoustic.co.uk
We're always looking to add things that will make the site easier to use, so if you have any suggestions please let us know.
