A huge thank you to everyone who took part in last month’s Above The Beaten Track event. The decision to move to The Bluecoat paid off big style, and we’re already planning how to make it even better for next year.
But enough of last month’s events – they’re just sooooo last month… September is where we’re at, and the start of the new term brings with it a satchel full of new events for the Liverpool Acoustic diary. This month also sees the return of the Hope Street Feast on Sunday 19th September, with foods from around the world, a beer festival, a craft fair, and lots of music, including a sampler of the Irish Sea Sessions from October’s Liverpool Irish Festival.
Talking of the Liverpool Irish Festival 2010, last month saw the launch of the festival’s website, and the tickets for all the events are now on sale online. If previous years are anything to go by, many of them will be in great demand, so why not pop over to liverpoolirishfestival.com and see what’s in store for this year? We wouldn’t want you to miss out! Liverpool Acoustic Live next month will be hosting a special Irish Festival gig on 29th October (a week later than normal). Details for that are on the festival website too.
And while we’re doing advance notices, Liverpool Acoustic Live on Friday November 26th features a very special return to Liverpool for the incredibly talented Jon Gomm, who will be supported on the night by Mark Wilson, and winner of Open Mic UK 2009 Megan Thomas. Tickets are priced only £5 in advance and will be on sale by 4th September.
And if all that wasn’t enough to be going on with, don’t forget the Liverpool Biennial 2010 which starts on 18th September and runs all the way through to 28th November. More information can be found at www.biennial.com
- Peter Price is a blues sensation in demand to play festivals the world over, and his sell-out shows at the International Guitar Festival of Great Britain have become an annual fixture of the festival’s program. Inspired by the likes of blues greats such as Big Bill Broonzy, Blind Willie McTell, and Robert Johnson, Pete’s amazing guitar-work and inspired blues vocals take the listener on a journey through the blues and beyond. A rare appearance in Liverpool, this chance to see Peter Price play at the View Two Gallery is one not to be missed.
- Blue C play their own style of blues straight from the Mersey Delta. Raphael Callaghan on slide guitar and Christine Purnell on bass have already made an impression, winning the Great British Blues Festival’s first Blues Song of the Year, and playing with the likes of Bonnie Rait and Eric Bibb.
- The Orchestra comes from Sweden and is an exciting mix of genres and emotions. Be prepared for plenty of low-down, full-on, dirty blues!
Entry on the door will be £6, but you’ll save money by ordering tickets in advance for £5 from wegottickets.com and if you’re planning on coming to this one we recommend you get your tickets in advance.
You say goodbye…
- We’re happy to tell you that none of the regular events has stopped in the past month. Result!
- El Rinco Latino on Roscoe Street has a Live Music Jam – a mix of Latin and UK musicians. There’s a welcoming atmosphere and a good vocal PA, plus lots of encouragement. Phone Francisco on 0151 739 1177 for further information.
- Vinyl Bar on Lark Lane in Aigburgh hosts Terry’s Open Mic from 9.00pm to 12.00am (cheap drinks before 10.00pm!). It’s every Wednesday and the open mic is ‘anything goes’.
- Mochacoustic makes a welcome return to the Mocha Lounge on Friday 3rd after a break of almost a year. The venue is under new management and has undergone an extensive refit which includes the welcome addition of a bar serving draught lager. The night will have one featured poet and three hours of open mic. Further info from Guy Taunton at myspace.com/mochacoustic2 Why not head on down and persuade Guy to make it a monthly event?
- Grateful Fred’s Roots and Acoustic night is another new monthly event, and a welcome addition to the diary. Based in The Freshfield Hotel in Formby, this event features an exciting array of musicians from the UK, the USA, and further afield. The opening night on Friday 17th features Drew Nelson from Michigan, USA, with future months seeing Ashleigh Flynn [Portland, USA], and the wonderful Andy White [Australia]. Full details from gratefulfred.co.uk
- Friday 3rd – Mochacoustic @ The Mocha Lounge, Sir Thomas Street. Open mic 7.30pm to late – free entry
- Friday 3rd – Tom Doughty @ The Bluecoat, with support from BBC Radio Merseyside’s Stan Ambrose. 8pm start, and tickets from thebluecoat.org.uk
- Saturday 4th – The Company Store @ The Zanzibar, with The Sixteen Tonnes, Dead Cities, Neville Skelly, The Maladies of Bellafontaine, and Serious Sam Barrett. 8pm and £6 on the door.
- Sunday 5th – Eduardo Niebla Experience @ Sefton Park Palm House
- Wednesday 15th – MY GO! MY GO! @ Mello Mello, on the first and third Wednesday of the month. Make sure you book your slot in time – anything goes!
- Friday 17th – Grateful Fred’s @ The Freshfield Hotel. The opening night features Drew Nelson from Michigan, USA.
- Saturday 18th – The Soundcarriers @ Williamson Tunnels, with By The Sea, & Eva Petersen. Yet another cracking gig from the Harvest Sun guys.
- Friday 24th – Liverpool Acoustic Live @ The View Two Gallery, with special guest Peter Price, and support from Blue C, and The Orchestra [Sweden] 8pm doors, 8.30pm music. £5 in advance, £6 on the door. liverpoolacoustic.co.uk/live
- Saturday 25th – Almanac Folk presents Songs for the High Road @ Mello Mello. Artists include Nina Jones, Atlantic Massey, Steve Roberts, Aisling Leyne, plus more special guests. 7.30pm start
- Thursday 30th – Woody Guthrie Folk Club @ The Ship and Mitre, Dale Street. The last Thursday of the month? It has to be Woody’s!
AND FINALLY…
We hope you’re enjoying the new posting schedule for the News and Reviews blog posts. Two news items during the week, and one feature at the weekend, seems to be a pretty good balance. You might also notice that at the bottom of each item on the website there’s a selection of icons that allow you to email the item to a friend, blog about it, and share it on twitter and facebook. In the email version it’s slightly different, with the options being to email it to a friend, email the author, or share it on facebook and del.icio.us – we hope you find these tools useful.
We’ve also made a few changes on the website too.
- There’s now a submission form for anyone who wants to add a new event to the online diary – it can be found by following the link on the diary page, or the link on the front page under the diary agenda viewer.
- We’ve updated the links page, and have added a ‘Podcasts & Radio Shows’ section (thanks to Brian Willoughby for the suggestion). If there is anything we should be linking to that we’re not already then do let us know.
Graham,
on behalf of the Liverpool Acoustic Team