Originally published by L.S. Media. May 17th 2010.
Everybody has a favourite place they have lived, the one place where no matter what was wrong with it, it was home. The squeaky floorboard on the stairs which woke everybody up every time you trod on it and the mould stain that would never quite go away no matter how much mould killer you put on it, all add to the memories of somewhere which is safe, loved and yours.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
Cast: Emma Bispham, Ben Boskovic, Adam Keast, Ai Kumar, Rebecca Levy, Alice Merivale, Tomi Ogbaro, Adam Scott Pringle, Michael Starke, Dylan Townley, Zoe West.
It is no hair-lucination, the style and delivery will cause a wave of laughter for all ages, and with the deadly Danny Ruff on the prowl to corner the hairdressing market, the buzz of the razor’s edge as it cuts through the dastardly machinations is only enhanced by the terrific sound of laughter that fills to the trim of the Everyman Theatre as the city’s audience are once more treated to the Rock ‘N’ Roll Panto, and as the Francesca Goodridge directed and the Jude Christian written Rapunzel brings families together no perm is left untouched and no pun safe from being teased out.
The year has perhaps been one of diverse feelings across the board in Liverpool, one in which reflection, triumphant returns, masterpieces and some sadness has been experienced. The Playhouse Theatre has undergone work for a while and yet held inside its doors one of the most magnificent scenes caught on camera as Annette Bening and Jamie Bell recreated one of the last days of the film star Gloria Graham for the cinematic love letter, Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool. The much loved Unity Theatre closed its doors for a time and reopened with a flourish as it too underwent a change in its decor and look and yet still retains the welcome that makes it one of the places to visit in the city.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
Jo Bywater has been away from her own walk of life for too long, the dedication to helping others achieve their own goals, whether through collaboration or intense work ethic has not been lost in the appreciation of the adopted Merseyside singer/songwriter but it has meant that the local area has missed with much inevitable sadness Ms. Bywater’s own insightful lyrics and contribution to the acoustic scene.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
There is an air of laid back assurance that is mixed freely and without argument the declaration of studious musical intent that comes across with great attitude whenever Mark Pountney comes to the forefront of any stage in the city. The much travelled, both in physical journeys and the cerebral voyages, musician is a man to be enlightened by, to enjoy and take in to your heart, after all, not many musicians can claim the pedigree of country background whilst having walked the walk in the fiery pit of the genre in its own backyard.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
The stage is always ready for musicians such as Herringbone John, the Blues come calling and the undisguised answer of the just and informed is always where and when and of course yes. The stage, no matter where, will give lofty inspiration and the eternal notion in the minds of those who witness such musicians, that they too can be true to themselves and hold a branch of cool slow groove to the next generation.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Like many young women before her in the Liverpool area, Maddie Stenberg has dreams, it shines in her eyes and shivers with anticipation in her voice as she prepares to hit the stage, the front of the room. It is an anticipation which is sincere and raw, one that cannot and should be contained. Like many young women, the confidence oozes out of her, not in way that would be noticeable at first, not at least till you hear her sing and then the teenage cool comes rushing out and the audience, timid at first, soon understands what beats in her heart.
To the outsider, to those who either come into Liverpool once every year for a stag or hen night or the chance to lose heavily at Aintree, Liverpool may well seem a city of contrasts, a place in which many have pre-conceived ideas of how its people act, play, work and enjoy life. However to be an outsider who embraces the city and the surrounding areas with every fibre of being, that’s when the city really shows its vibrancy and complete uniqueness.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
There are those who find spending a Saturday night indoors and talking about whose turn it is to clean the bin of its watery disgusting insipid farage* that has congealed at the bottom of the plastic container, somehow an enlightening part of their evening. It is inconceivable but apparently to talk of farage is enough to make them giddy with delight. There truly are much better things to do in life than let farage dominate the conversation.
Some moments in life are so wonderfully off kilter and off the cuff that you cannot help but smile at the situation they surround. Tea in hand at the Everyman Theatre, tape recorder ready and a barrage of thoughts on how to talk to a man who has made the art of the interview a joy to behold in modern times, Peter Gabriel’s seminal solo song Games Without Frontiers comes over the building’s P.A. Knowing that Mike Neary is a huge fan of early Genesis and knowing that he is listening to the intelligently written lyrics with the same appreciation and thought that he prides himself upon when listening to any of the major interviews he conducts for Gemma Aldcroft’s and Karen Podesta’s hugely well produced Little Atoms company in St. George’s Hall, puts me at ease. After all it can be a daunting task interviewing somebody who in a media driven society stands aloft and above 99 percent of interviewers concerned.