300: Rise Of An Empire, Film Review. FACT Cinema, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

Cast: Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, Lena Headley, Hans Matheson, Callan Mulvey, David Wenham, Rodrigo Santoro, Jack O’ Connell, Andrew Tiernan, Igal Naor, Andrew Pleavin, Ben Turner, Ashraf Barhom, Christopher Sciueref, Steven Cree, Caitlin Carmichael, Jade Chynoweth, Fred Ochs, Price Carson, John Michael Herndon, David Pevsner, Kevin Fry, David Sterne, Clive Sawyer, Christopher Boyer.

The Mono L.P.’s, Gig Review. Leaf, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

There seem to be bands that somehow stay a secret far longer than they deserve to be. The clandestine way of the Universe just keeping them under the radar for just a little while longer before unveiling them with a flourish and watching the world go wow! Though by no means a cult band, The Mono L.Ps have been plugging away and getting huge attention, now is surely the time for the universe to say enough of the secrecy, this is the band, deal as you may find.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer Omnibus 7, Graphic Novel Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

With all the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus editions produced by Dark Horse, one overriding thought comes out of the dark like a stake aimed straight for the undead’s heart, that Series Editor Scott Allie had some incredible talent at his disposal during the long run and the result was arguably the best set of graphic novels and comic books produced, the most superb stories to grace anything outside of the Marvel and D.C. universe and ranked possibly on a par with the classic Watchman series.

Private Peaceful, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Andy Daniel.

How would you spend the final few hours of your life if you had been labelled a coward after a hearing that would have lasted less than an hour, placed in a cell by yourself and far from home? Would you kick and scream, raging against a world that was off kilter to your actions and perception or would you spend it in isolation with your thoughts, all moments of transitory life flashing before you and the memories of happy times keeping you company till the dawn awoke in time to see you die?

Echoes Of The First World War, Theatre And Interactive Review. St George’s Hall, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

The sound of the Last Post forever plays each night as the sun goes down over a French field, paid for by a man who lost his son to a futile, inexcusable war and who signed a parchment called Common Form there by exonerating the Army and The Government for any injuries or deaths that might occur to those too young or seen to be too disabled once they got to the trenches.

Rumours Of Fleetwood Mac, Southport Theatre And Convention Centre. Gig Review.

Rumours of Fleetwood Mac, Southport 2014. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Rumours of Fleetwood Mac, Southport 2014. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Great music never goes away, it has no need, it can just wait happily secure in the knowledge that at some point somebody is going to pick up a guitar; beat a rhythm out on a drum kit and the vocals will be performed with the right sizeable emotion for it breathe life once more.

Emily Smith, Echoes. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

There are very few things as stirring as someone who wears their Celtic heart firmly upon their tartan sleeve. The heartache and pride of a thousand and more years history, the memory of water being distilled and savoured as if the most precious thing on Earth and the sound of a fiddle being weaved gently into the still night air, only to be heard by the faithful like a rallying call to mourn those lost and celebrate life in the mist and midst of Brigadoon. Such is the power of Emily Smith’s latest album Echoes, that Brigadoon is only a memory away.

Dial M For Murder, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Christopher Timothy, Kelly Hotten, Philip Cairns, Daniel Betts, Robert Perkins.

They say a murder cannot be perfect for somebody will always at least know about it, even if they are the ones who end up dead. However a homicide can be near perfect when presented on stage in the form of Frederick Knott’s outstanding play Dial M For Murder.

The Broux, The Green E.P. E.P. Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

When Rose Greenwood first came into the thoughts and attentions of music lovers in Liverpool, the sound she created for her solo release was one that captivated the ears. Just a little while later, the solo artist has grown and become part of a band named The Broux. From solo artist to a member of a fully-fledged group of talented musicians and through this she will no doubt reap greater rewards, as will the three men who guide her voice on their debut release, The Green E.P.

Leave Hitler To Me Lad, Theatre Review. Actors Studio, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound & Vision Rating: * * * *

Cast: Kivan Dene, Leanne Rowley, Rachel O’Hare, James Mountain, Jonah Kensett, Luke Wakeman, Grace Mainon.

It is the early 1950s and the country is still recovering from war. Rock and Roll is making its mark, King George is dead and war torn England is changing. At Great Stony School Essex, young Brian (Jonah Kensett) is waiting for his dad to come and fetch him to take him home, but after watching all of his friends go off to loving new homes, Brian thinks that no one will come, until one day everything changes. Brian says goodbye to his best friends George (Luke Wakeman) and Gladys (Grace Mainon) and heads off to his new life with his sister.