Monthly Archives: July 2014

Reva, Gig Review. Zanzibar Club, Liverpool.

Reva at the Zanzibar Club, Liverpool. July 2014. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

If only the so called Brit Pop phenomenon of the 1990s had been founded in the heartland of pop, the public houses, the bars and clubs that cosy alongside the River Mersey it would have arguably been as colourful as the Mersey Beat era of the 1960s. It would have also arguably been more substantial and lasted with more ferocity than what eventually fizzled out between a few bands, sometimes with the British press over egging it to the point where there was a farm somewhere in Lancashire on 24 hour production schedule to meet the near selfish demand.

Reva, Gig Review. Zanzibar Club, Liverpool. full post

(520 words, 1 image, estimated 2:05 mins reading time)

The Akalites, Gig Review. Zanzibar Club, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7^1/2/10

The Zanzibar Club has had so many bands and musicians pass through its large metallic doors that if there was to be a roll of honour made up, carved out of the same wood that adorns the walls at Lords Cricket ground when a player takes five or ten wickets in an innings then amongst the names of Alan O’ Hare, the legendary Pete Wylie and the sensational Mersey Wylie and a thousand fold others, the one that might catch the eye is the exciting The Akalites.

The Akalites, Gig Review. Zanzibar Club, Liverpool. full post

(522 words, estimated 2:05 mins reading time)

Richard Durrant, Cycling Music. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Imagine the days when a bike ride meant disappearing into the country for a while, round to nearest largest natural expanse of nature you could find or even when you could ride on the road unhindered by the feel of ever increasing technology dogging every turn of the wheel. Many have tried, and in some cases notably succeeded, to recapture what that feeling is like, to have the click of the milometer go up in stages before your eyes whilst taking in the surroundings without an engine interfering with the natural order of the world. Many have tried but Richard Durrant goes one stage further with his album Cycling Music, he captures the peace of the journey rather than the frenetic discombobulated three minute rage, the sunny day through winding roads and the taste of local food tempting the palate rather than the steam inducing affair of the Tour de France or of thousands of fans lining a route just to see a flash of sweat pass them by.

Richard Durrant, Cycling Music. Album Review. full post

(448 words, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)

Seve, Film Review. Picturehouse@F.A.C.T., Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: José Luis Gutiérrez, José Navar, Maria Molins, Alvar Gordejuela, Adrián Salzedo, Quim Àvila Conde, Nil Cardoner, Manuel Menárguez, Luis Carlos de la Lombana, Peter Alliss, Severiano Ballesteros, Gary Player, Nick Faldo, José María Olazábal.

Titans will always have time allotted to them in the end; some are so blessed that a film about them or a biopic will come out not long after they have passed on, lest the public mind every have the misfortune to forget about them. In the case of legendary Spanish golfer Severiano Ballesteros, it is highly unlikely that the world will ever forget this genuine talent, the matador of the fairway. However, it does no harm to take a stroll down memory lane and shake hands once more with arguably the most charismatic golfer of all time in the film Seve.

Seve, Film Review. Picturehouse@F.A.C.T., Liverpool. full post

(533 words, estimated 2:08 mins reading time)

The Music Of James Taylor To Be Performed At The Lantern Theatre.

Accomplished duo, ‘Sweet Baby James’ (Brian Dales & Jon Chamberlain), visit Liverpool on July 11^th to share the music of legendary troubadour, James Taylor.

Brought to you in the intimate setting of The Lantern Theatre, this will be a relaxing evening of James Taylor’s hits (including You’ve Got A Friend, Fire & Rain and Carolina in My Mind) plus more of the many varied songs that make up Taylor’s repertoire.

Sweet Baby James has been toured the U.K. throughout 2013 enjoying enthusiastic responses wherever they go.

The Music Of James Taylor To Be Performed At The Lantern Theatre. full post

(286 words, estimated 1:09 mins reading time)

Liverpool Calling Once More As St. Lukes Prepares For Space.

Having sold out across St. Luke’s Bombed Out Church and The Shipping Forecast in its debut year, Liverpool Calling has grown into a huge one day event for 2014, spanning across 10 city centre venues and hosting over 50 acts.

With bands such as Amsterdam led by Liverpool’s Ian Prowse, Obstacles, Orange Room, Vasa, The Shadow Theatre, the superb The Mono LPs and headliners British Sea Power creating a sensational day at St. Luke’s Church, it is no wonder the organisers of this tremendous event have ordered up another round but on an even bigger scale.

Liverpool Calling Once More As St. Lukes Prepares For Space. full post

(379 words, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)

Edinburgh Fringe Bound Play With Myself To Preview At 81 Renshaw Street.

Before heading up to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August, Graduate of the University of Liverpool’s Liam Hale’s Play With Myself will be previewing in Liverpool on 11th July at 81 Renshaw Street.

Character comedy parodying the world of theatre. Featuring parental love, tragedy, bizarre gypsy curses, dead dogs and buzz-saws…

Drama practitioner Gregory Bike invites you to witness a stage adaptation of the most important part of his life. Tasked with putting on a play Gregory not only has to write, direct, and act in his masterpiece but must also find love, avoid seeing his son’s presumably awful performances and avoid an early death at the hands of fairground attractions.

Edinburgh Fringe Bound Play With Myself To Preview At 81 Renshaw Street. full post

(148 words, estimated 36 secs reading time)

Midge Ure, Fragile. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Midge Ure is arguably a man who has seen it all and lived it all, certainly when it comes to music. A member of one of the finest bands to come out of the U.K., the rich tapestry of working with the legendary Phil Lynot and Thin Lizzy, writing several hit songs including the superb Visage track Fade To Grey, Love’s Great Adventure, If I Was and been a founding member alongside The Boomtown Rats outspoken frontman Bob Geldof of Band Aid; and somehow in amongst it all somehow finding the precious time to keep going on the road and performing with absolute elegance to audiences up and down the country, he cannot be accused of being delicate.

Midge Ure, Fragile. Album Review. full post

(463 words, estimated 1:51 mins reading time)

Niamh Cusack And Des McAleer To Perform In Gemma Bodinetz’ Directed Juno And The Paycock As Part Of Autumn/ Winter Programme At The Everyman And Playhouse Theatres.

Only the Everyman Theatre could celebrate turning 50 and its rebirth in the same year, in one of those rare and exciting oddities of timing that capture the imagination and make the theatrical taste buds quiver with anticipation on just how a theatre can ever top its marvellous re-entrance into the lives of everybody in Liverpool.

Niamh Cusack And Des McAleer To Perform In Gemma Bodinetz’ Directed Juno And The Paycock As Part Of Autumn/ Winter Programme At The Everyman And Playhouse Theatres. full post

(1114 words, estimated 4:27 mins reading time)

Off The Ground And Firwood Waterloo Rugby Club Presents Unique Performance Of Jason & The Argonauts.

This August, join Firwood Waterloo Rugby Club for Play Under the Posts as they present Off The Ground’s first public performance of Jason & the Argonauts on Friday 1^st August at 6.30pm.

Embark on an epic adventure in this unique setting, with Jason and his band of heroic Argonauts.

See how Jason uses all his strength and wit to evade the beastly Minotaur, how he and his gang avoid certain doom from the women on the Isle of Lemnos, and how they evade the lure from the enchanting sounds of the Sirens…and ultimately win in the quest for the Golden Fleece.

Off The Ground And Firwood Waterloo Rugby Club Presents Unique Performance Of Jason & The Argonauts. full post

(470 words, estimated 1:53 mins reading time)