The Liverpool Irish Festival kicks off today and runs through to the end of the month.
Now in its eighth year, the annual festivities celebrate Liverpool’s historic links with the Emerald Isle, and include film, dance, comedy, talks and walking tours.
Of course, no Liverpool Irish Festival would be complete without music, and there’s enough going on to satisfy the lovers of both traditional and contemporary music alike.
If traditional music sessions in pubs are your thing, then check out the list of music and dance sessions running throughout the festival here.
Below you’ll find a selection of LIF acoustic(ish!) music events. Full details of these, and all other events, can be found on the Liverpool Irish Festival website at liverpoolirishfestival.com You can download the festival brochure from the site too, or pick it up at a wide selection of city centre venues.
Saturday 16th October – The London Lasses and Pete Quinn
7.30pm @ Sefton Park Palm House
Doyens of the London Irish music scene, The London Lasses come to Liverpool sporting flute, fiddles, mandolas, accordions, piano, harp, two new band members, and a recently launched 4th album. Experience them live in the wonderful Sefton Park Palm House.
Tickets £10 and £6 from wegottickets.com
8.00pm @ The Rodewald Suite (Liverpool Phil)
8.30pm @ The Rodewald Suite (Liverpool Phil)
7.30pm @ The Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
7.30pm @ Stanley Theatre (Liverpool University)
7.45pm @ The View Two Gallery
Mellowtone’s dreamers and schemers are on a nomadic quest to spread good times through intimate soirees with a heartbeat of live acoustic music.
Delivering the very best acts from the city’s thriving music scene to their ever expanding band of faithful followers, this event has been specially programmed for the Liverpool Irish Festival, and features music from Atlantic Massey, “folk, rock, traditional Irish, and blues – at times stripped back, raw and eloquent; effortlessly moving to a jovial big band feel.” Also performing are Dave Owen and Alan Wright, two of Liverpool’s finest performing a mixed bag from traditional Irish folk songs, sea shanties and a few originals for good measure. Add into the mix Stan Ambrose, a veteran of the local folk scene, and host of the longest running folk show on British radio, performing with his trademark Celtic harp. DJs Richie Vegas and Jonnie O’Hare (Beaten Tracks) between the live acts.
8.00pm @ The View Two Gallery
Dubliner Celine Carroll delivers live performances of groove, dynamics, passionate lyrics and melody-driven songs around Ireland with her own band. Her music has been described from soft-jazz to damn fine acoustic soul, with shades of Burt Bacharach, Carole King & Paul McCartney.
Also playing on the night will be LIPA graduate Ronan Boyle (Warrenpoint, Co. Down), Singer-songwriter Gary Maginnis (Islandmoyle) and Dave O’Grady (Kildare).
8.00pm @ Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Quite simply one of Ireland’s best-loved singer-songwriters, with a career spanning over 35 years. Also a founding member of 70s folk band Planxty with Andy Irvine, Christy has gone on to inspire the likes of U2, Sinead O’Connor, and The Pogues. Heck, he even had time to pick up the 2010 Meteor Music Award for Best Irish Male artist. How’s that for longevity?
Tickets £27.50, £30, £35 from liverpoolphil.com
(Christy also plays the same venue on Friday 29th October)