A lake of wood
and former taut string
gathers underneath her feet.
She plays as relics of other’s
ambition and lost gaze cause
sweeps alongside her,
the fashioned, once polished,
timber falls out of shape
and warps the water
with its sound.
As the bow glides,
ripples of echoes
float towards a distant shore
and in the dream of inspiring hope,
she plays on, each note a siren
calling out to hear the sound
of the violin serenade, to join
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
No performer should be afraid to lose themselves in the beauty of the epic; what is good for the unknown poet who scribed the tale of Beowulf, for the symphony of expression that encompasses Progressive Rock, is more than an illusion for us all, we can all claim to partake one way or another in the pursuit of the grand scale of song, of the art, few though readily rummage deep in the hearts to make it happen; no matter the subject, no matter the detail or the genre, the epic is a virtue which is lofty and sincere.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
The ambience, the fizz of bohemian cool never changes inside the upstairs chamber at Leaf, and for that audiences should forever feel grateful, for there is something special about the venue, a sense of tangible distinction which radiates from out of the woodwork, from behind the carefully styled curtains and ideally decorated style that magnifies itself in the musician or act on stage. In that moment a truth opens up before the audience who sit or stand and congratulate with rightful passion and encouragement, that this is how all artists should be treated, with honour, and not with the taste of Saturday night innuendo thrown about like loose confetti at a fourth attempt of marriage.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Sam Elliott, Andrew Dice Clay, Rafi Gavron, Anthony Ramos, Dave Chappelle, Alec Baldwin, Marlon Williams, Brandi Carlile, Ron Rifkin, Barry Shabaka Henley, Michael D. Roberts, Michael Harney, Rebecca Field, Drena De Niro, Greg Grunberg.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 5/10
Cast: Rowan Atkinson, Olga Kurylenko, Emma Thompson, Jake Lacey, Charles Dance, Ben Miller, Miranda Hennessy, Adam James, Irena Tyshna, Pippa Bennett-Warner, Adam Greaves-Neal.
Rowan Atkinson will always be considered one of the finest pursuers of comedy truth that the U.K. has been blessed with nurturing, supporting and enjoying, of that simple fact there can be no doubt, no argument and yet as time goes on it is possible to wish he would concentrate his considerable talents on the straight television drama, or theatrical endeavour. As his time occupying the role of Inspector Maigret has proved, his talent for empathy, for the understanding of what drives certain men in the periods they live in is just as keenly honed as his notable characters of Edmund Blackadder, Mr. Bean, and the inept but ultimately decent Johnny English have been explored.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahemed, Scott Haze, Reid Scott, Jenny Slate, Melora Walters, Woody Harrelson, Peggy Lu, Malcolm C. Murray, Dope Aluko, Wayne Pere, Michelle Lee, Stan Lee.
There was a time when Todd McFarlane’s name was as arguably huge as the house of Marvel itself, an artist who breathed new and exciting life into the company for his work on Spider-man and who brought into being one of the most dynamic, deadliest characters in the world to fruition. Todd McFarlane’s name deserves recognition and awe in the same breath as Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Alex Ross and John Romita, a name that will undoubtedly endure and give graphic novel fans the chills when they think of one particular character above them all, that of Venom.
Can I impart
a whispered moment
of exclusive thought to you
my love?
I think
you are so very special,
so out of the ordinary.
Don’t worry,
there is no pressure,
no one will understand,
I am just going
to tell
everyone
that I meet.
Ian D. Hall 2018
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
Cast: Roy Carruthers, Emma Dears, Stephanie Dooley, Lynn Francis, Emily Hughes, Maria Lovelady, Nathan McMullen, Mark Moraghan, Danny O’ Brien, Eric Potts.
If not for the glorious sweep of water, arguably the most beguiling and entrancing river in the whole of England, the city of Liverpool would not be same place, carry the same memories and influence its environment as it has since people first settled in the area; the songs, the stories, the lifeblood of the great city stems, ebbs and flows like a giant’s pulse because of the Mersey, and By The Waters Of Liverpool is where all our lives converge and become clear.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
Cast: David Mitchell, Liza Tarbuck, Paula Wilcox, Harry Enfield, Helen Monks, Gemma Whelen, Tim Downie, Rob Rouse, Mark Heap, Dominic Coleman, Steve Spiers, Spencer Jones, Jocelyn Jee Esien, Adrian Edmondson, Rosanna Beacock, Joe Willis, Beattie Edmondson, Brandon Fellows, Ben Miller, Peter Hamilton Dyer, Ken Nwosu, Nigel Planer.
If there is one thing an audience can count on with Ben Elton, aside from being involved in some of television’s most iconic comedies in the last thirty years, it is his unequalled ability to take a moment and turn it completely on its head and leave you with the feeling of being driven over the edge emotionally, of having the laughter pulled from underneath you and understanding that with great comedy must come empathy and grief in equal measure.
Dancing Queen…
so obscene
to behave like you have licked
the cream, whipped
into a frenzy
as you embarrass us
coming to the stage
like the unhinged robot
in a disguise of self-deprecation
as its nuts and bolts come away,
come away,
come away, worked loose,
the puppet without her strings
is on the loose…
oh, may we have this dance
you believe in your head
we requested, and as you
pull another gun from out
of the bra straps, fluffy