Dave O’ Grady and Mersey Wylie at Leaf. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *
If Dave O’ Grady was special before, then the added inclusion of the amazing talented vocals of Mersey Wylie adds another dimension to the man with a voice like velvet.
Robert Vincent at Leaf on Bold Street. Photograph by Ian D. Hall
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Even if you have been aware of an artist’s work for a while, there is something unimaginably superb at catching them live for the first time. With Robert Vincent opening up at Leaf before Dave O’ Grady, the audience realised very early into Robert’s set that they were in for a very enjoyable and exclusive, entertaining evening.
Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *
Ragnhild Nordset or Ragz to her fans and friends alike has been sadly absent from the loving scrutiny of those that come along to watch her perform for 18 months.
All that was soon forgotten as the young Nordic woman with the voice of a siren and the heart of an angel stepped on stage at Leaf on Bold Street and performed as if she had never been away. It might have been a short set but to Ragz and no doubt the assembled crowd, who must have been overjoyed to witness the ‘surprise guest’ make her appearance, every moment that she was once more in the spotlight was to savour and enjoy.
Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
There is something about the dreaming spires of Oxford that can sometimes bring out the very best and noble intentions in a musician.
For the musician that hails from Liverpool, The Mersey can be a constant source of inspiration and intrigue. The way it feeds into the local psyche is nothing short of admirable, the same can be said for the city of Oxford, its river, the Isis as it is known locally may not be as world renowned but it also carries the dreams of all those that enter the city’s safety.
Photograph by Ian D. Hall
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Add a dash of the exotic and mysterious Faroe Islands to a band and already the thought of the type of music you might expect from one of the young groups in the city of Liverpool creating a huge amount of talk, the exceptionally good Clean Cut Kid, and you have a group worthy of taking a huge interest in.
Clean Cut Kid are Jake Ford, Tom Ashbrook, Oliver Hardakre, Michael Halls and Greta Svabo Bech and together they appeared on stage at Leaf ready to win over a new audience and spread the ever growing word on their excellent music.
Jez Wing at Leaf. Photograph by Ian D. Hall
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Jez Wing may have been out of the live music scene in Liverpool for a while now but that should never stop talent, in any shape or form making an impact on a crowd. When you have the aptitude of Jez Wing it is a shame to let it go to waste and thankfully for the music lovers in the city, he chose the perfect time to bring his superb music back to Leaf and a welcoming crowd.
Photograph by Ian D. Hall
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Paul Straws might not be a name that the vast majority of music listeners in Liverpool and the surrounding area are aware of just yet but with his impish grin and delectable guitar playing, it won’t be too long before the music lovers of the city catch him somewhere.
Coming on stage at Leaf can be pretty daunting. It’s not a large area for sure but its close knit proximity to the audience means that there is nowhere to hide for someone who is anyway self-conscious or worse self-absorbed.
Photograph by Ian D. Hall
Originally published by L.S. Media. September 21st 2012.
L.S. Media Rating ****
No doubt Leaf on Bold Street will host many important night in the years to come, the space above the busy tea drinking den lends itself superbly to the music that has been performed there since it opened. However, the launch of Liverpool musician Alan O’ Hare and string virtuoso, Laura McKinlay’s latest project, the magnificent Only Child and their eponymous debut E.P. will take some beating.
Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. September 21st 2012.
Dave O’Grady has had a busy year already in music terms and by being one of the support acts for Only Child’s E.P. launch at Leaf on Bold Street he managed to inspire and show a new audience what exactly the fuss is about his playing ability and incredible charm.
On stage he weaves a musical composition as if he were Faustus or the Pied Piper of Hamelin playing his music for his loyal followers, it is quite an astonishing feat for example to turn The Beastie Boys hit (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party), possibly one of the most iconic songs of the 1980’s and symbolic of American youth disaffection, into something rather beautiful and laconic.