Audiences of The Capstone in Liverpool have plenty to look forward to during the Spring Season 2015, including Liverpool International Jazz Festival, classic and international cinema, and a Spring Jazz Series.
The contemporary programme is bursting with entertainment and features live music, cinema, drama and dance performances. Collectively, offering a truly diverse line-up set against the backdrop of a unique and hidden gem of a live performance venue.
The new season commences on Wednesday 14th January with the first in a new series, the Capstone Contemporary Piano Series. The first in the series sees Joanna McGregor present an evening devoted to the eccentric genius of Erik Satie, godfather of Minimalism and the inventor of ‘furniture music’. Joined by Stephen Pratt and Vanessa Williamson, Joanna McGregor explores Satie’s profound impact on the twentieth century. The Capstone Contemporary Piano Series continues on Friday 20th February with Re: Sono Piano Duo, a programme of contemporary music for two pianos by Lauryna Sablevicute and Nicholas Ashton including new work by Liverpool Hope University composers.
The Capstone continues to develop its reputation for bringing the very best of dance, with some exceptional performances this season, the first offering being two new pieces by butoh artist Joan Laage on Monday 9th February. Strand explores the choreographer’s personal journey inspired by the culture of hair and its links with one’s personal identity and Stations is the latest in a body of work inspired by the World War Two period and years following the war; capturing a time full of hardships, loss and dislocation for vast numbers of people. Later that month on Tuesday 24th February Deborah Light brings together a cast of three remarkable female performers to present Hide, incorporating layers of movement, image, sound and text to question notions of (dis)appearance and (in)visibility.
There has been an incredible buzz in the air ever since last year’s Liverpool International Jazz Festival, and The Capstone is delighted to bring the highly anticipated festival back for 2015 from Thursday 26th February – Sunday 1st March. With even more events than ever before at venues across Liverpool, the festival brings some of the biggest names from the jazz world including the Dennis Rollins Velocity Trio and the prolific James Taylor Quartet, as well as hotly tipped local and regional artists. Many performances are free admission and as ever there will also be a fantastic selection of workshops available throughout the festival. For more information and the complete line-up, visit http://www.hope.ac.uk/lijf/
Chicken Pox Fox presents the hilarious Donna Disco on Tuesday 17th March for the first in this season’s theatre productions. For anyone who thought being fourteen was easy, enter the crazy world of Donna, a bland and bespectacled 14 year old whose world begins to disband and the disco that plays in her heart is in danger of grinding to a glittering halt. Then Thursday 9th – Saturday 11th April, the comedy continues when The Ciggie Run touches down in its native home of Liverpool, after a successful run of almost two years in St. Helens. Watch the escapades unfold as hapless trio Chrissie, Franna and Lash depart on one of their regular jaunts to Spain to maximise their profits in the lucrative tobacco trade.
The Capstone’s partner organisation Milapfest has a strong presence throughout the season and a wonderful programme of free events. Bringing an incredible selection of world renowned and acclaimed musicians and artists all delivering a wonderfully diverse celebration of the finest Indian music, dance and culture. Highlights throughout the season include sarod maestro Rajeeb Chavkraborty performing a programme of beautiful north Indian ragas on Saturday 31st January. Acclaimed flautist Pravin Godkhindi brings his incredible skill, intricate rhythms and creative style to the Capstone on Saturday 28th March playing a mix of northern and southern classical Indian music, fused with Western jazz and folk influences. Then on Saturday 25th April, 2014 Yuva Ratna Award winners Uma Venkataraman and Nilanjana De present a showcase of music and dance. Saturday 30th May sees versatile multi-instrumentalist Rekesh Chauhan perform his new solo piano album Beyond Roots which continues to push barriers in contemporary world and Indian classical music. Highly acclaimed Indian musician Pandit Tarun Bhattacharaya completes Milapfest’s line-up on Saturday 27th June, presenting a contemporary Indian classical music concert featuring specially selected compositions.
Fans of the Liverpool International Jazz Festival will be delighted to hear that The Capstone is also presenting a Spring Jazz Series which includes great names such as Marius Neset on Friday 17th April who will take the listener on a journey with his highly original sound. Next Swiss trio Vein bring their surprising melodic, rhythmic and dynamic sound on Friday 24th April. Known for his distinctive sound and approach to improvisation, Max Luthert brings his Sextet to the Capstone on Friday 1st May after releasing his debut record as a leader in 2014.
The Jazz series continues with the distinctive sound of hotly tipped Stretch Trio. The unusual line-up of sax, guitar and drums features innovative approaches to playing and can be witnessed on Friday 8th May. The Capstone host the official launch of The Weave’s widely anticipated second album as the collection of some of Liverpool’s best established Jazz musicians perform in concert on Friday 15th May. Bringing the Jazz Series to a spectacular finale is Ant Law. Described as “an innovator” by The Guardian, Ant Law brings his Quintet to perform music from their highly anticipated new album due for release in Feb 2015, as well as revisiting music from previous album Entanglement.
With the addition of the new Jazz Series following on from the now annual Liverpool International Jazz Festival, it further acknowledges the venue’s commitment as being a leading host to the biggest names in today’s jazz scene, bringing world renowned artists to its stage.
Wrapping up an extensive musical season is folk legend Peggy Seeger with Neil MacColl and Calum MacColl on Sat 13 June. Witness music from the remarkable singer-songwriter as she presents her new and, quite possibly finest, solo album Everything Changes.
Another full and varied programme in what promises to be the most ambitious, diverse and entertaining season to date for Liverpool’s International Arts Venue.
Performance Details
CAPSTONE CONTEMPORARY PIANO SERIES
Joanna MacGregor
Wednesday 14th January 2015, 7.30pm
Admission: £11.50 (£6.50 concessions)
CAPSTONE CLASSICS: Gandhi
Thursday 29th Jan 2015, 6.30pm
Admission: £5 (£3.50 concessions) door only.
Season Ticket for all six screenings: £15
Rajeeb Chakraborty & Kousic Sen
Saturday 31st January, 1pm
Free (Book in advance for priority entry www.milapfest.com)
Joan Laage
Monday 9th February 2015, 7.30pm
Admission: £12.50 (£9.50 concessions)
CAPSTONE CLASSICS: Casablanca
Thursday 19th February, 6.30pm
Admission: £5 (£3.50 concessions) door only
Season Ticket for all six screenings: £15
CAPSTONE CONTEMPORARY PIANO SERIES
Re: Sono Piano Duo
Friday 20th February 2015
The Great Hall (Liverpool Hope University Creative Campus)
Admission; £11.50 (£6.50 concessions)
HIDE by Deborah Light
Tuesday 24th February, 7.30pm
Admission: £12.50 (£9.50 concessions)
LIVERPOOL INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL
Thursday 26 February – Sunday 1 March
Please see http://www.hope.ac.uk/lijf/ for the complete line-up and details of additional workshops and other events taking place as part of the Festival. Tickets for events can be purchased in advance via TicketQuarter (can be linked to from http://www.hope.ac.uk/lijf/) or on the door as indicated.
CAPSTONE CONTEMPORARY PIANO SERIES
Visual Piano: Francesco di Fiore
Thursday 5th March, 7.30pm
Admission £11.50 (£6.50)
Chicken Pox Fox presents
Donna Disco
Tuesday 17th March, 7.30pm
Admission: £11.50 (£9.50 concessions)
CAPSTONE CLASSICS: Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
Thursday 19th March 2015, 6.30pm
Admission: £5 (£3.50 concessions) door only.
Season Ticket for all six screenings: £15
Pravin Godkhindi & Kousic Sen
Saturday 28th March, 1pm
Free (Book in advance for priority entry www.milapfest.com)
The Ciggie Run
Thursday 9th – Saturday 11th April, 7.30pm
Admission: £10 (£8 concessions) (door only)
CAPSTONE SPRING JAZZ SERIES
Marius Neset
Friday 17th April, 7.30pm
Admission: £11.50
CAPSTONE CONTEMPORARY PIANO SERIES
Gwilym Simcock (Solo)
Wednesday 22nd April 2015, 7.30pm
Tickets: £11.50 (£6.50 concessions)
CAPSTONE CLASSICS: Psycho
Thursday 23rd April 2015, 6.30pm
Admission: £5 (£3.50 concessions) door only.
Season Ticket for all six screenings: £15
CAPSTONE SPRING JAZZ SERIES
Vein
Friday 24th April, 7.30pm
Admission: £11.50
Yuva Ratna Award Showcase
Saturday 25th April, 1pm
Free (Book in advance for priority entry www.milapfest.com)
CAPSTONE SPRING JAZZ SERIES
Max Luthert Sextet
Friday 1st May, 7.30pm
Admission: £11.50
CAPSTONE SPRING JAZZ SERIES
Stretch Trio
Friday 8th May, 7.30pm
Admission: £11.50
Juan Martín presents
Dos Guitarras Malagueñas: Juan Martín with Chaparro de Málaga
Saturday 9th May 2015, 7.30pm
Admission: £16.50
CAPSTONE SPRING JAZZ SERIES
The Weave
Friday 15th May, 7.30pm
Admission: £11.50
CAPSTONE CLASSICS: Love Aaj Kal
Thursday 21st May 2015, 6.30pm
Admission: £5 (£3.50 concessions) door only.
Season Ticket for all six screenings: £15
CAPSTONE SPRING JAZZ SERIES
Ant Law Quintet
Friday 22nd May, 7.30pm
Admission: £11.50
Beyond Roots
Saturday 30th May, 1pm
Free (Book in advance for priority entry www.milapfest.com)
Peggy Seeger with Neill MacColl and Calum MacColl
Saturday 13th June, 7.30pm
Admission: £19.25
CAPSTONE CLASSICS: Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Thursday 18th June 2015, 6.30pm
Admission: £5 (£3.50 concessions) door only.
Season Ticket for all six screenings: £15
Tarun Bhattacharaya & Kousic Sen
Saturday 27th June, 1pm
Free (Book in advance for priority entry www.milapfest.com)
Tickets are available by calling TicketQuarter on 0844 8000 410* or in person at TicketQuarter Box Office, Queen Square, Liverpool, L1 1RJ or online at www.ticketquarter.co.uk*
*NO BOOKING FEES. (A handling fee of £2.25 per transaction applies when paying with a debit/credit card. There are no handling fees for cash bookings at the TicketQuarter Box Office)