Most people know that the city of Liverpool turns an Irish shade of green on St Patrick’s Day each year, but that’s nothing compared with the 17 days of Irish-inspired music, art, sport, politics, history, literature and craic that is the Liverpool Irish Festival. This year the main sponsor is Guinness, celebrating its 250th anniversary, so no better excuse is really needed to get down to one of the many events throughout the festival and to raise a glass to the Emerald Isle.
LIVERPOOL ACOUSTIC LIVE
The next Liverpool Acoustic Live is taking place on Friday 23rd October at the View Two Gallery on Mathew Street. The doors open at 8.00pm and the music starts at 8.30pm. Tickets are £4 on the door, or £3 in advance from contact[at]liverpoolacoustic.co.uk
This month we’ve got sets from the fantastic Mark Wilson, Daniela Bove and Nicole Collarbone, the lovely Zoe Nicol, and The Complete Unknown. The night will also feature a handful of songs from Liverpool Acoustic’s Graham Holland.
Full details are in the poster on the main website at liverpoolacoustic.co.uk and all four performers will be featuring on this month’s Liverpool Acoustic Spotlight audio show.
DIARY NEWS
So here are this month’s movers and shakers. Take it away, Fluff.
You say goodbye…
- It is with great pleasure (and no little smugness!) that we can announce that no acoustic events have stopped running since our last monthly newsletter. At least none that we’ve heard of!
And I say hello…
- Liverpool’s Acoustic Blues Club kicks off this month in the View Two Gallery (see blog post). Hosted by local blues duo Blue C, the event is due to take place on the first Friday of every month. The opening night features music from Tom Doughty, a lap slide guitar player now of international renown. There’s also music from Blue C and guests. Full details from myspace.com/bluecblues
- Acoustic Sundays at Tabac on Bold Street make a welcome return this month. It now starts at the earlier time of 7pm and still features some of the best local performers, plus open mic. Don’t forget those 2 for 1 offers on bottled beers!
- Cafe D’Art in Chapel Lane, Formby holds regular acoustic gigs. Thanks to Pat Wordley from the cafe for contacting us with the details. You can get more information from http://www.myspace.com/cafedart
- The Kroaky Open Mic (great name!) takes place every Tuesday from 9.00pm(ish) at The Horse & Jockey in Melling. Thanks to Carla for the info.
As always, if there’s anything we’ve missed from the diary then drop us a line and we’ll add it.
OCTOBER DIARY SELECTION BOX
Here’s a selection of some of the acoustic events taking place in October. Click on the event in the diary for full details and links. If your event doesn’t seem to get mentioned then don’t get miffed, get even. Drop us a line and we’ll mention it next month.
Friday 2nd – Liverpool Acoustic Blues Club @ The View Two Gallery. Music from Tom Doughty, and Blue C. Doors open 8pm, music from 8.30pm, £5 admission.
Saturday 3rd – The Southbound Attic Band @ Cafe D’Art – 8.30pm start, and free entry
Saturday 3rd – Acoustic Dream makes a welcome return. Sue Cullen presents another great night of live music at The New Picket, with performances from The Kraize, The Jel, The Troubadours, Laney Murphy and the Hybrids, and Rain. As always, all money goes to Walton Neoro. 8pm start
Monday 7th – Come Strut Your Stuff @ The Egg Cafe. Open floor poetry and acoustic music takes place once a month in Liverpool’s best vegetarian bistro. The event starts at 8pm but if you want to perform you’ll need to be there before 7.30pm to get your name on the list. comestrutyourstuff.co.uk
Friday 9th – Tones of Home @ Studio 2 at Parr Street – Ronan Boyle returns with his Irish night featuring music from Blind Dog Moon plus special guests. 8pm start, and free entry.
Saturday 10th – Battle of the Bands heat 1 @ The Pilgrim – Won last year by Letters in Red. Who will win it this year? Part of the Liverpool Irish Festival.
Sunday 11th – Blues on the Rock @ Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton. Blue C host, with guest Graham Robinson. 1pm start, and £5 in.
Tuesday 13th – Charity event for World Challenge @ 3345 Parr Street – featuring ‘KC & The Moonshine Band’, ‘Karen Cleary’, ‘Barry Briercliffe’ and ‘Rosie Jones’. Tickets £5 in advance from Eddie Cooney myspace.com/bronzebell eddie1@waitrose.com
Friday 16th – Fundraiser for James Bulger House @ Studio 2 at Parr Street – featuring Ian McNabb, T-J & Murphy, Kaya and Black ‘n’ Blues plus special guests.
Tickets £6 in advance from 3b records in Slater Street (next to Probe Records)
Friday 16th – Liverpool Irish Festival 2009 opens with a traditional Irish music session at Peter Kavanagh’s starting at 10pm
Saturday 17th – Under the Influence VOL 12: Van the Man – Kaya’s monthly showcase-cum-tribute night hooks up with the Liverpool Irish Festival, with creative covers and original songs inspired by Van Morrison and performed by Ronan Boyle, The Staves, Dave O’Grady, and Kaya.
Friday 23rd – Liverpool Acoustic Live @ The View Two Gallery, Mathew Street. Music from Mark Wilson, The Complete Unknown, Zoe Nicol, Daniela Bove and Nicole Collarbone, and featuring Graham Holland. Full details from liverpoolacoustic.co.uk
Sunday 25th – Sunday afternoon session @ The Casa – 2pm, free, and all welcome – part of the Liverpool Irish Festival
Wednesday 28th – the official launch party for Basement Live @ Rococo (Modo’s basement lounge) – 9.00pm to 12.00am, this is set to be a great night with champagne, free shots, and amazing music. For more information visit the facebook events page. Further details as soon as they’re announced.
Wednesday 28th – Adrian Edmonson and the Bad Shepherds @ Baby Blue Live Lounge – famous for Bottom and The Young Ones, Adrian takes to the stage with his folk punk group, with support from Ella Edmonson. 7.30pm start, £15 in advance, £18 on the door.
Friday 30th – Battle of the Bands final @ Osqa’s Piano Bar – 8pm start, free
Saturday 31st – All Star Concert @ St Bride’s Church – A Family Folk-up presentation, with Sam Proctor and Chris O’Malley, supported by Des Hurley, Stevie Byrne and Tad Sargent.
Also featuring Chris Boland, John Murphy, Fiona McConnell, Liam Muphy, hosts The Random Family, and Lizzie Nunnery. Doors 7pm – music 8 – 11. Bring your own drinks. Tickets £5 adv liverpoolphil.com
AND FINALLY…
After our appeal in last month’s newsletter we now have two new team members here at Liverpool Acoustic HQ – Gill Newsham and Gemma Kelly contacted us to say they quite fancied having a go at this reviewing lark, so you can look forward to reading their thoughts in future News and Reviews postings.
While we’re on the subject of appeals, we’re actively looking for some reliable people who can look after the door at the Liverpool Acoustic Live gigs. Each month we need someone between 8.00pm and 10.15pm to let people in, greet them, take their money, and direct them upstairs. The person concerned will be paid. If you, or someone you know, is interested then drop us a line at contact[at]liverpoolacoustic.co.uk
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Graham (on behalf of the Liverpool Acoustic team)