Category Archives: Live

Jenny Strand, Gig Review. Strings And Things, Studio 2, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

In recent years Norway has given so much to Liverpool’s present musical heritage that it is almost becoming a true tradition to be able to walk into any venue in the wider city and hear the flowing tones of the Nordic ability for storytelling transformed into epic song played, and fully appreciated.

It is the long standing convention that people of Scandinavia have their culture and their physical geography to thank for that, like Britain, of Europe but not immersed fully into the characteristics of their land locked neighbours further south or the mysterious tales that come from Mediterranean culture. With the addition of Jenny Strand to that heritage, the future has yet more reason to be hopeful.

Jenny Strand, Gig Review. Strings And Things, Studio 2, Liverpool. full post

(434 words, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)

The Hazel Empire, Gig Review. Strings And Things, Studio 2, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

A certain combined wisdom can come together when like-minded people are in sync, inspiration can strike and the effect is not only tangible but far-reaching.

For The Hazel Empire, inspiration and wisdom go hand in hand with musical enjoyment and like all flourishing Empires, the seeds of knowledge cast their net wide and more people find themselves drawn to the apparent mysticism contained within.

The Hazel Empire, Gig Review. Strings And Things, Studio 2, Liverpool. full post

(361 words, estimated 1:27 mins reading time)

Nadjia, Gig Review. Strings And Things, Studio 2, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Truer words are rarely spoken at any gig. The visiting band might say at some point how much they love a particular town or city, they might perhaps, and with great sincerity attached to their name, say that the audience has been the best on the tour, after all one gig in arguably ten is going to be right. However, when Nadjia sings inside the Parr Street’s Studio 2 about Time not being a creature to be tamed, the truth of existence is placed naked before the world, that the time between the tick and tock might be kind, it might treat you well, but it will still ravage your very soul in the end.

Nadjia, Gig Review. Strings And Things, Studio 2, Liverpool. full post

(539 words, estimated 2:09 mins reading time)

Gretchen Peters, Gig Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

It’s not often Liverpool has a member of the prestigious Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame within its midst. The rare occurrence, as uncommon as the sight of solar eclipse without it being obscured by both dark threatening clouds and forethought in positional judgement, is one that should be relished. In Liverpool terms it is like going across to Nashville and finding the great Pete Wylie delivering a monumental set to wild enthusiastic Country music lovers, it is a set many in the city would dearly love to happen for the auspicious and celebrated lover of Merseyside.

Gretchen Peters, Gig Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(489 words, estimated 1:57 mins reading time)

Me And Deboe, Gig Review. Constellations, Threshold 2015, Liverpool.

Me and Deboe, Threshold 2015. Liverpool. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

To perform in unison when the weather is perfect is to be expected. To perform with an air of gliding ease indoors with the natural ambiance afforded to you, and the audience smiling with a sense of satisfaction, that is almost a given.

Me And Deboe, Gig Review. Constellations, Threshold 2015, Liverpool. full post

(552 words, 1 image, estimated 2:12 mins reading time)

Jo Bywater, Gig Review. Constellations, Threshold 2015. Liverpool.

Jo Bywater, Threshold 2015, Liverpool. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Jo Bywater stands aloft on the stage at Constellations and the world feels as though it is about to shift, quake and feel the pressure of talented guitar fury. To be fair to Ms. Bywater, whichever stage she graces, that same feeling emanates from the tips of her fingers to the assembled crowd, it is not new but it is surely immensely powerful and as part of the fifth year of Threshold, that guitar fury, not thrashed, not beaten, just quiet reflective anger but held in a song which sounds as sweet as the first drops of rain after a long protracted drought, is as needed as the very act of breathing, it is a Liverpool soul.

Jo Bywater, Gig Review. Constellations, Threshold 2015. Liverpool. full post

(363 words, 1 image, estimated 1:27 mins reading time)

Three Minute Hero, Gig Review. Constellations, Threshold 2015. Liverpool.

Three Minute Hero. Threshold 2015, Liverpool. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Stuart Todd may go by the name of Three Minute Hero but this conscious driven musician is no flash in the pan, no three minute wonder when it comes to delivering songs with social bite and society angst. Every city, every market place in every village, town centre or urban conurbation deserves someone like Three Minute Hero, someone to whom the maverick town crier can be held up as an example to, not delivering news to the masses which has been scripted, shaped and fawned over by ministers and their collected yes men, but the ideas and truth of what we have in place.

Three Minute Hero, Gig Review. Constellations, Threshold 2015. Liverpool. full post

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

Joan Armatrading, Gig Review. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool.

Joan Armatrading at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. March 2015. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

When a musician of the legendary status decides to announce the last days of major touring, the polite thing to do is to go and watch a marvel say their goodbyes somewhere, anywhere, on tour. For someone of the quality and assurance of Joan Armatrading, the decent and respectable thing to do is to turn up and be quiet apart from the large spontaneous applause at the end of each song. To generally bask in an absolute legend and trail blazer who came through the ranks and became a much admired figure, even with the still dreadful race relations that haunted 70s Britain.

Joan Armatrading, Gig Review. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool. full post

(559 words, 1 image, estimated 2:14 mins reading time)

Liz Owen, Gig Review. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

There is good and bad news if you like or love music and you live with a gnat’s armpit of Liverpool. The bad news is, you will never hear everything that comes out of Merseyside, The Wirral or Cheshire. The fantastic news is, you will never hear everything that comes out of those same areas, for no matter how many nights a week you go out, no matter how pubs, venues or doorways you visit, there will always be someone new of interest to come along and shake your cosy perceptions up and who will add new colour to the proceedings.

Liz Owen, Gig Review. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool. full post

(409 words, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)

Mike Peters, Gig Review. 02 Academy, Birmingham.

Mike Peters at the Birmingham Academy, March 2015. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

The message of the night was simple, that the power of love, hope and strength is an overriding force of nature which can help overcome the widest of chasms, the tallest of mountains and can hold the attention of a sold out audience right down to the newest of fans who weren’t alive when the century started, let alone those that have been on board The Alarm train for over 30 years.

Mike Peters, Gig Review. 02 Academy, Birmingham. full post

(731 words, 1 image, estimated 2:55 mins reading time)