Liverpool Acoustic Newsletter – January 2013

“Happy New Year, Happy New Year, may we all have a vision now and then of a world where every neighbour is a friend.” We thank the great philosophers Abba for those meaningful words as we head into 2013. This year we have no Olympic games or major international football tournament to distract us from the serious (and not so serious) business of acoustic music.

If your New Year’s Resolution is to learn how to be a songwriter then why not check out Mica Music’s five week course starting on 15th January? Each two hour session covers the essentials such as inspiration and themes, lyrics and music, melody and hook, format and structure, and tools and techniques. Find out more from micamusic.com

If songwriting isn’t your bag and you prefer singing instead then you might be interested to know that Sense of Sound are auditioning for new members. They’re particularly interested in recruiting baritones and basses, and could do with some more sopranos too. There’s a two stage audition process taking place on 27th and 28th January. You can find more information on the facebook event page or phone 0151 702 7799 during office hours and leave a message with your details.

LIVERPOOL ACOUSTIC LIVE

Liverpool Acoustic Live this month sees our biggest ever night at the View Two Gallery as we welcome one of the most exciting bands on the UK Americana scene, The Toy Hearts. The gig is taking place on Friday 25th January 2013, and support on the night comes from Marc Sunderland.

• The Toy Hearts are a Birmingham-based sister-fronted outfit who been not-so-quietly carving a niche in the Americana and roots music scene for a while. Anyone who saw them at their two sell-out Grateful Freds shows will testify to their incredibly musicianship and inspirational performances. Yes, we’re starting 2013 with the first not-to-be missed show of the year!
• Marc Sunderland is well known on the local scene from his time with Peter and the Wolf and, more recently, The Drifting Classroom. We’re delighted that he’s agreed to support The Toy Hearts at our first gig of the year.

Tickets are available in advance for £9 from wegottickets.com/liverpoolacoustic or for £10 on the night.

Doors open at 8.00pm. The event starts at 8.30pm and goes through to 11.00pm.

You can join the facebook event at facebook.com/liverpoolacoustic/events

All of our future live events can be found at liverpoolacoustic.co.uk/live and if you want to receive information about tickets before they go on general sale then sign up to our events publicity mailing list here.

DIARY NEWS

And the new events just keep on coming! What we rarely hear about are the events which are no longer taking place, so if you know of anything in our diary that has fallen by the wayside why not drop us a line using the ‘Contact‘ page to let us know?

All change…

• Cornmarket Acoustic Club is the new name for Cellar Bar Folk following its move from the Cellar Bar to The Cornmarket off Fenwick Street last year. It still takes place on the first Tuesday of the month from 8pm to 11pm, is free entry, and is hosted by Mary McCombs, Steve Khan, and Nighthowl. They have booked acts and open mic, so why not give it a try? More info facebook.com/cornmarketacoustic
• Radical Liverpool has changed from a ticketed event to a free event, so now there’s no excuse not to go along to Studio 2 on Parr Street on the second Saturday of the month. Instead of charging an entry fee the hat will be passed round at the end of the night with the money raised going towards the headline act’s expenses. Full details as always from radicalliverpool.com

You say goodbye…

• Nothing to report – just how we like it!

And I say hello…!

• Acoustic Dustbowl and Acoustic Dustbowl Too are two brand new Americana-inspired nights brought to you by Americana UK. They’ll each take place monthly, with Acoustic Dustbowl on the 2nd Friday of the month at The View Two Gallery, and D&N hosting Acoustic Dustbowl Too on the last Saturday of the month. Details of January’s events are in the Selection Box below, and we’re hoping to feature it as a news item next week.
• Writers Club is a new weekly open mic with special guests taking place every Wednesday from 8pm to 11pm at Bier on Newington (formally The Old Rope Walks, now a super German beer bar). Run by Milk:Presents, the only requirement for musicians is that they perform original material (their own original material, not someone else’s!).

 

JANUARY DIARY SELECTION BOX

Here’s a selection of some of the acoustic events taking place this month. Click on the event in the diary for full details and links.

• Loose Moose January Sale @ The Caledonia – we can’t think of a better way to shake off those post-Christmas and New Year blues than with the Loose Moose String Band – it’s free and starts at 8.30pm. Facebook event page here.
• Friday 11th – Acoustic Dustbowl @ The View Two Gallery – an evening of Americana, folk and acoustic music with The Southbound Attic Band and guests. It’s free entry, and an 8.30pm start. Facebook event here.
• Saturday 12th – Radical Liverpool @ Studio 2 – This event is now free (see diary news above) and the hat will be passed around for contributions for the headline act David Hirst, and support from Roger Parker. 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Details from radicalliverpool.com
• Saturday 19th – The Songbook Sessions @ The Zanzibar – this month features Only Child, Rachael Wright and the Good Sons, Katrine Stenbeck, and more. Doors 7.45pm, £4 in. Facebook event here.
• Tuesday 22nd – Acoustic Night @ The Unity – with The Midnight Ramble, Robert Vincent, and Mike Roach. Details and ticket info from unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk
• Friday 25th – Liverpool Acoustic Live @ The View Two Gallery. Americana UK favourites The Toy Hearts, with support from Mark Sunderland. Tickets £9 in advance, £10 on the door. 8.00pm doors, 8.30pm start
• Saturday 26th – Acoustic Dustbowl Too @ D&N – an evening of Americana, folk and acoustic music hosted by The Southbound Attic Band, featuring The Good Intentions, plus special guest Elijah James. 8.30pm start and free entry.
• Wednesday 30th – Rue Royale @ Leaf Tea Shop – Mellowtone’s first show of the year welcomes back the intimate lo-fi folk of Nottingham-based Rue Royale, with support from Silent Sleep with a full band set. As always there will be tunes spinned by Beaten Tracks DJs. Tickets are £5 from BidoLito and the facebook event is here.

AND FINALLY…

Another year, another call for content. If anyone would like to join our reviewing team to review live events and music releases then drop us a line using the contact form and we’ll get back to you with more details.

Graham – on behalf of the Liverpool Acoustic Team

 

Liverpool Acoustic Newsletter – January 2013