Liverpool Acoustic Newsletter – May 2013

What’s not to like about the merry month of May? Could it be the ligher evenings and milder weather? Or maybe it’s the range of musical events on offer. You can take your pick from Liverpool Sound City (2nd to 4th), Light Night (17th), and Chester Folk Festival (24th to 27th), plus a host of regular and one-off events across the next 31 days – see our May Diary Selection Box for ideas.

1st May sees the launch of the Liverpool Music Awards 2013, which has been brought forward by three months so the awards ceremony can take place during the new Liverpool International Music Festival at the end of August. The launch event took place last night at Liverpool Town Hall, and the nomination process is now open. Full details can be found at liverpoolmusicawards.com

The start of May sees mixed news on the venue front. The opening of Southport’s controversial The Atkinson venue and the rebirth of The Masque/Barfly as the East Village Arts Club follow news of another blow to MelloMello‘s bid to stay open and the tragic news that The Caledonia is set to close at the end of May after the pub chain that owns it decided to sell it so it can be converted into student flats. However, the campaign to save The Cally is up and running: read about it here and you can help by signing the petition here.

And while you’re on the Internet signing the Cally’s petition, don’t forget to download Rise and Fall by Michael Mollowy and Alex Evans. Full details and links at michaelmolloymusic.com

LIVERPOOL ACOUSTIC LIVE

Liverpool Acoustic Live this month is at the View Two Gallery, and takes place on Friday 24th May 2013.

• Clara Barker – From the Isle of Man, Clara – rhymes with Sarah – describes herself as a princess who likes telling stories, eating pies and pulling funny faces. Her songs feature peace, fun, wisdom, and all points in between.
• Rob Gough – An internationally renowned singer, songwriter from Liverpool who has supported Midge Ure, Sandi Thom and Sound of Dave.
• Ade Jackson – A bit of Cave, a bit of Cash, a soupçon of Cohen, and a whole lot of Catharine Street.
• Just By Chance – Chester-based Andy Jones and Liz Owen have supported Midge Ure and Joan Armatrading, and have had their music played on BBC 6Music and Radio 2.

Tickets are available in advance for £5 from wegottickets.com/liverpoolacoustic or for £6 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

If you can help us out by bringing us up to date, drop us a line using the ‘Contact‘ page. And if you have anything to add to the diary, just visit the ‘Diary‘ page and click the ‘Add Event’ button.

All change…

• Move along the page now…

You say goodbye…

• …there’s nothing to see here (just how we like it!)

And I say hello…!

• Mouth of the Mersey is a new monthly storytelling night interspersed with music. It takes place once a month at Studio 2 and is free to attend. They don’t have a set pattern so you should check their website mouthofthemersey.org.uk for confirmed dates and details of the acoustic artists booked for each night. The next one is on Monday 13th May from 7.30pm to 10.00pm with music from The Mersey Belles.
• Open mic at The Tavern on Smithdown Road started last month and takes place every two weeks on a Tuesday from 9.00pm to 11.30pm, and is free. If you’re interested in playing either just turn up or contact Ste Kelly through the facebook page. The next one is on Tuesday 14th May.
• Jimmy O’s Open Mic is a new, free event which takes place every Wednesday from 8pm to 11pm at this new venue (Jimmy O’s is the name of the venue, not the host!) at the Library end of Allerton Road. In addition to the open mic, host James Walsh will be booking a 30 minute guest slot each week. For more details email jameswalshacoustic@yahoo.co.uk

MAY 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.

• Wednesday 1st – Nels Andrews @ Grateful Freds, Formby Royal British Legion – with support from The Good Intentions, and a first public performance from the Grateful Fred Ukulele Orchestra! 8.00pm doors, 8.15pm start, tickets £7.50 from wegottickets.com
• Thursday 2nd – Johnny’s Acoustic Caravan Club @ Camp and Furnace – featuring music from The Roscoes, Lee Brodrick, Simon Maddison, Rachel Hillary, Catherine Hardman, Daniel Pye, The Great Plain Sundance, Tubula, Barefoot Fiddler, and Red Vela. It’s all held together by host Johnny Sands, runs from 8pm, and is free. Facebook event here.
• Sunday 5th – John Wesley Harding Revisited @ Bridewell Studios and Gallery (Prescot St). Hobos and drifters from the Liverpool music scene perform songs from Dylan’s classic 1967 LP. It runs from 1pm to 6pm with a donation on the door. Details on facebook here.
• Friday 10th – Christa Couture @ Acoustic Dustbowl – The Canadian roots singer makes a rare visit to Liverpool’s View Two Gallery. Support from the Southbound Attic Band and Stan Ambrose. Tickets £5 from wegottickets.com and the facebook event is here.
• Saturday 11th – Radical Liverpool @ The Casa – with headline act James J Turner, and support from Our Morals and Jim Pearson. 7.30pm doors, 8pm start. It’s a free night, and a hat is passed round for the performers. Details from radicalliverpool.com
• Monday 13th – Beginners Blues Harp with Hamilton Loomis @ Fogherty’s function room. In association of Johnny’s Blues Club, bluesman Hamilton Loomis will show you the basics of the blues harmonica. Age 12 upwards, and no musical experience required. £30 fee includes harmonica, practice CD and handout. Info and booking details here.
• Tuesday 14th – Open Mic @ The Tavern – on Smithdown Road. 9.00pm to 11.30pm, free. Featuring covers and originals.
• Friday 17th – TJ & Murphy @ Liverpool Cathedral – performing at the candle-lit labyrinth and offering the ultimate chill-out experience. This is part of Light Night at the Cathedral which runs from 6pm to 11pm. Free entry.
• Saturday 18th – E-I-G-E-N-L-I-C-H-T @ LEAF on Bold Street – This is Silent Cities’ debut EP launch and features Thom Morecroft & the Full Moon Band, Magic Arm, We The Dead, plus DJ Mr Resistor, and visuals from TVLux, Mr Wolf Collective, and Craft Creative. Tickets only £4 from skiddle, doors open 8pm. Facebook event here.
• Wednesday 22nd – Jimmy O’s Open Mic @ Jimmy O’s, Allerton Road. 8pm to 11pm, free.
• Thursday 23rd – Mellowtone @ Sefton Park Palm House – Mellowtone presents an evening of artists from the Viper label, including Edgar ‘Summertyme’ Jones, TG Elias, and Chris Elliot. Doors 8pm, tickets £5 in advance or on the door. Facebook event here.
• Friday 24th – Liverpool Acoustic Live @ View Two Gallery – Clara Barker from the Isle of Man is joined by Rob Gough, Ade Jackson, and Just By Chance. Doors 8pm, music 8.30pm, tickets £5 from wegottickets.com
• Sunday 26th – Maison Johnny @ LEAF on Bold Street – a fantastic FREE lineup from 8pm with Highfields, Rob Vincent, Simon Maddison, David Hirst, Kalandra, and The Roscoes, plus more to follow. Facebook event here.

AND FINALLY…

We’ve been overwhelmed by enthusiastic music lovers eager to join our review team and contribute reviews of live events and music releases, plus interviews and other articles. If you missed it, you can find the original article here.

Graham – on behalf of the Liverpool Acoustic Team

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Liverpool Acoustic Newsletter – May 2013