In the modern world which embraces the instant and regular change as if it is a commodity in which to brokered and haggled over, it is refreshing to find the reflection of art and music that Liverpool Acoustic offers still going strong as it reached the tremendous milestone of being part of the city’s culture for 10 outstanding years.
A decade spent promoting, encouraging, endorsing, honouring the local music scene, through Folk values and bringing in all comers to learn, to actively take part, it is to that a night of music was on offer in the bohemian like space of the upstairs room at Leaf. A night which was not lost in reminisce but which openly supported the reasons and the memories of bands and solo artists that have found their way through the doors and onto the stage at many various locations, and into the hearts of the audiences who have had the pleasure of seeing some of Liverpool’s tremendous talent on show.
A decade on, music has adapted to new styles, new lyrics, heroes have come, they have gone on to bigger projects and yet like so many nights in the city run by lovers of the artful expression and the comfort of the well-played instrument, a decade on and Liverpool Acoustic has been there for it all.
A birthday party is always a keen affair, the bunting is hung, the drinks are plentiful, in the right spirit of commemoration and celebration it can be the finest of evenings spent in the company of your choosing, and there is no doubt that what Graham Holland, Stuart Todd and Derek King have achieved over the years is worth praising, rejoicing in, sharing stories and singing songs with passion; for that is what the night ultimately stood for, passion, passion in music and artist.
As the music unfurled itself like a flag of defiance on a sun-kissed beach, as artists that included Rachael Jean Harris, fresh from her own successful E.P. launch at Studio 2, Stuart Todd, who performed his superb song Django, Maddie Stenberg, Chris Callander, Rob Jones and Rob White, Alan O’ Hare, who eagerly releases his new album on Friday at The Philharmonic Hall’s Music Room, Rob Clarke, Derek King, the insanely gifted gentlemen from The Southbound Attic Band, the rightly admired and sensational Eleanor Nelly, Limerance, Gary Maginnis, Kaya Herstad Carney, who captured the hearts of all present with a couple of songs from her forthcoming album, including the sublime and beautiful Night Marine, and the sensational Robert Vincent, who also had another favourite of the acoustic circuit in Anna Corcoran playing on keys alongside him.
It was in this gathering of supporters, admirers, keen observers and lovers of the genre and the people that preform it that the 10th anniversary of Liverpool Acoustic was rightly received, a beacon of hope and enjoyment in the vacuum of a nation’s absurd relationship with art. To be the life and soul of the party is always an accolade worth aspiring to, to be the supporter, the unswerving guardian of such evenings is to be privileged; a position rightly fitting Liverpool Acoustic.
Ian D. Hall