Author Archives: admin

Cinderella, Theatre Review. St Helens Theatre Royal.

Richard De Vere as Dandini. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Tina Malone, Leanne Campbell, James Waud, Charlie Griffiths, Richard De Vere, Marc Lawlor, Simon Foster, Nick Cochrane, Schnorbitz.

The village of Stoneybroke and its love deprived prince are in need of good fortune and a princess to bring love to its desolate and poor people. They certainly don’t come any poorer than Baroness Hardup and her daughter.  It may be a fairytale but for those that go along to the St. Helens Theatre Royal to catch one of the classics of the panto season, the tremendous Cinderella, it will be impossible not to feel touched and elated at the grand piece of theatre on offer.

Cinderella, Theatre Review. St Helens Theatre Royal. full post

(366 words, 1 image, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)

Ian Skelly, Cut From A Star. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Ian Skelly may have already tasted and enjoyed incredible success with The Coral but that doesn’t mean that the man ever sits on his extensive laurels and waits for the new long-awaited album by the band to take shape. If anything he has been kept busy by the release of his own album, Cut From A Star, and whilst fans of The Coral wait patiently for a new studio album, the anticipation will be made all the more worthwhile by listening to this excellent recording.

Ian Skelly, Cut From A Star. Album Review. full post

(332 words, 1 image, estimated 1:20 mins reading time)

Green Day, Tre! Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating *

The trilogy is complete, Green Day have finally released the third and final album and all in all, it was two albums too many, roughly 25 songs that could have quite happily been written, composed and destroyed by any another band with half the talent that these three men have normally in abundance.

Tre! follows an unfortunate pattern that has arisen by the American band since they decided to publish three consecutive albums within a short space of time. It has also the inappropriate feel of a group deciding to go all out and make as much out of publicity and hype in a short space of time, by doing that, the quality they attained after a great career has now been dissipated and spoiled.

Green Day, Tre! Album Review. full post

(398 words, 1 image, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)

The University of Liverpool’s Symphony Orchestra, Classical Review. Eleanor Rathbone Building, Liverpool.

Emily Ferrie at The University of Liverpool’s Eleanor Rathbone Building. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

The University of Liverpool’s Symphony Orchestra is a wonderful sight to hold when in full flight, when tackling the works of Beethoven, Bartok, Mozart and Mussorgsky then it is a positive delight for the seasoned Classical music buff and interested novice alike.

The University of Liverpool’s Symphony Orchestra, Classical Review. Eleanor Rathbone Building, Liverpool. full post

(344 words, 1 image, estimated 1:23 mins reading time)

Galloway, Culbert and Doyle. E.P. Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

For lovers of traditional English folk music, there is a new name to get to grips with that has emerged from the halls of the University of Liverpool. The University may not be the first name that comes to mind when thinking of this genre of music, more known for almost every facet of composition available, traditional folk barely gets a mention. However in Galloway, Culbert and Doyle the scene has a new champion and their self-titled E.P. is an expression of all that is good in the youthful playfulness they exude.

Galloway, Culbert and Doyle. E.P. Review. full post

(370 words, 1 image, estimated 1:29 mins reading time)

Orange Room, Always Get My Way. Single Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Following in a long line of great musicians and bands to come out of Australia comes Orange Room and their fantastic debut single Always Get My Way. The four young men may have swapped the climate and leisure life of a country renowned for its great guitar riffs and unceasing brilliant rock for the cold dreary shores of Britain but by making this choice they have done themselves a huge favour and also the rock/indie fans of the U.K.

Orange Room, Always Get My Way. Single Review. full post

(252 words, 1 image, estimated 1:00 mins reading time)

A Christmas Carol, Theatre Review. The Lantern Theatre.

Photograph by John Garfield-Roberts

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Mark Smith, Lewis Bray.

A Christmas Carol is almost akin to staple fare at this time of year. From the television adaptations to big budget films to the outlandish theatrical spectacles, Charles Dickens’ most famous creation, the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge has spent so much time being dissected and discussed that it is always a constant surprise if anyone can get anything more out of it.

A Christmas Carol, Theatre Review. The Lantern Theatre. full post

(358 words, 1 image, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)

The Human League, Gig Review. o2 Apollo, Manchester.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

The Human League is one the seminal bands to come out of South Yorkshire and alongside Heaven 17 and A.B.C. formed a successful triumvirate that took the U.K. charts by storm in the 1980’s. Fast forward 35 years and the crowd at the Manchester Apollo are brimming with excitement at seeing Philip Oakey, Joanne Catherall and Susan Sulley stand on stage once more.

The Human League, Gig Review. o2 Apollo, Manchester. full post

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

Liverpool Sound And Vision: The Saturday Supplement, An Interview With Kaya Carney.

Kaya Herstad Carney is part of the tremendous band Science of the Lamps. Born in Norway, a six hour drive north of the Arctic Circle, she came to Liverpool to study at L.I.P.A. and graduated in 2003. Her band Science of the Lamps released a self-titled E.P. a few weeks ago and it has captured the imagination of all those have listened to it. I was able to catch up with this hugely likeable, talented and enthusiastic musician for a short while after one of her Threshold meetings at the Bridewell.

 

Liverpool Sound And Vision: The Saturday Supplement, An Interview With Kaya Carney. full post

(1524 words, estimated 6:06 mins reading time)

Madness, Gig Review. Liverpool Echo Arena.

Suggs at the Liverpool Echo Arena. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

The curtain draws back at the Echo Arena and suddenly one of the biggest indoor parties opens up before an excited and fervent audience full of passion.  A collective desire to see one of the best bands of their generation perform their new songs and greatest hits for them, it can only mean one thing…that Madness are back in town again.

Madness, Gig Review. Liverpool Echo Arena. full post

(456 words, 1 image, estimated 1:49 mins reading time)