The Red Shoes, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Picture from hopestreet.co.uk

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 4th 2010.

Cast: Holly Wilson-Guy, Julie Langford, Harriet Leah Preston, Aiden Lee Brooks, Graham Geoffrey Hicks, Mike Idris.

The Unity Theatre may be one of the smaller theatres in Liverpool but the productions it puts on are as big as the heart at its core. Groundbreaking and enthusiastic, its successes are numerous and with The Red Shoes it looks as though they can chalk up another much loved production to their expanding list of theatre accomplishments.

The Red Shoes, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(314 words, 1 image, estimated 1:15 mins reading time)

U.F.O, Gig Review. o2 Academy Liverpool.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 5th 2010.

For the best part of the last 40 years U.F.O. have been one of definitive names of the British Rock and Heavy Metal. They are consistent in their approach to studio albums and the energy they thrive upon is all laid out before them whenever they do a tour or show.

The band opened up a night of pulsating, ear drum splitting music with Saving Me from 2009’s The Visitation. This was the bands 20th studio album and on the evidence of the night’s performance, they show no sign of slowing down and calling it a day.

U.F.O, Gig Review. o2 Academy Liverpool. full post

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

The Human League, Gig Review. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 7th 2010.

To many, one of the stand out bands of the early 1980’s was The Human League. Genre defining and one of the early exponents of the slick style of video that the decade produced in abundance. Their music was considered much loved and has been parodied lovingly in certain advertisements since their early heyday.

The Human League, Gig Review. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool. full post

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

No Wise Men, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.

picture from everymanplayhouse.com

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 9th 2010.

Cast: Helen Carter, Annabelle Dowler, Javier Marzan, John Nicholson, Clare Thomson, Milo Twomey.

Take a pinch of Frank Capra’s It’s A Wonderful Life, mix it up with lashings of Hans Christian Anderson’s tale of The Little Match Girl and add the very best of humour from theatre company Peepolykus you end up with a compelling, sometimes heartstring pulling and totally absorbing production of No Wise Men.

No Wise Men, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(331 words, 1 image, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)

Aladdin, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 15th 2010.

Cast: Pamela Anderson, Les Dennis, Mark Moraghan, Pete Price, Dani Rayner, Marc Mulcahey, Sean Kearns, Djalenga Scott, Conleth Kane.

For the second year running the Empire Theatre pulled off a masterstroke of casting and persuaded one of the Hollywood glitterati to be the main draw at their Christmas spectacular pantomime. Last year, Liverpool was treated to the sight of Henry Winkler playing Captain Hook to great acclaim; this year treading the boards of the Empire was Baywatch star Pamela Anderson in the wonderful story of Aladdin.

Aladdin, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(435 words, 1 image, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)

Big Country, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. January 9th 2011.

Apart from a reunion tour in 2007, the band Big Country has been out of the public eye for the best part of a decade. With their lives being shook by the untimely passing of former band mate Stuart Adamson it is reassuring and a pleasure to see the other three original members and their two very special guests play to packed out venues and getting the reviews that a band of such stature deserves.

Big Country, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(497 words, 1 image, estimated 1:59 mins reading time)

Kate Robbins, Soho Nights. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. January 10th 2011.

It feels good to get out of your usual listening once in a while and appreciate something that will grab your attention and have you humming along without you even realising it. Liverpool’s own Kate Robbins new album Soho Nights is one such album.

From the opening bar of the title song, you feel as though you have been taken back to the heady days of the 1940’s jazz clubs that gave so much pleasure when there was very little in supply. Kate’s voice is a mixture of laid back and with a subtle hint of the great Karen Carpenter unique vibrato sound that made her a star.

Kate Robbins, Soho Nights. Album Review. full post

(380 words, 1 image, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)

Interview With Baz Warne Of The Stranglers. (2011)

Photography from 2008. By Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. January 12th 2011.

Baz Warne is one of those musicians you have to just meet once to know that they will give you an interview worth keeping and you will have the memory of meeting one of the nicest people in rock. He is Erudite, forthright and a lot of fun to spend in the company of. As a quarter of the rock/punk band The Stranglers his input into the British Music Industry is much talked about by fans and peers alike and the fact he will talk to anyone about the Stranglers and his life is testament to the man’s outlook on living not just for the music he has been connected with but also the laughter he generates when talking to him.

Interview With Baz Warne Of The Stranglers. (2011) full post

(1930 words, 1 image, estimated 7:43 mins reading time)

The Friendship Experiment, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. January 15th 2011.

Cast:  Matt Rutter, Tim Lynskey.

It takes two brave men to create the genuinely superb insanity that is portrayed on stage in the form of The Friendship Experiment. From the moment Matt Rutter and Tim Lynskey bound on stage, the audience is in for over an hour of mayhem which will lead them down several rabbit holes and coming out the other side asking “what the hell just happened”.

The Friendship Experiment, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(297 words, estimated 1:11 mins reading time)

Proxies, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. January 17th 2011.

If 2010 was a good a year for unsigned young bands like Mercury Midnight and Not Advised then 2011 seems to be carrying on in the same vein. One of the bands to come to the public’s attention recently is the Proxies. The band is an eclectic mix of decent, hard hitting rock and electronica fused with an incredible and justified belief in themselves and their music.

Proxies, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(276 words, estimated 1:06 mins reading time)