Liverpool Acoustic Spotlight #36
December 2010
Christmas Party special
1. Jessicas Ghost – New Shoes
2. Alun Parry – The Ship Song
3. Stuart Anthony’s Long Lost Band – A Tale Of Two Masters
4. Jollyboat – Piratey Pop Medley (live)
5. Graham Holland – Song of the Salty Young Sea Dog
bonus track
6. England and Alman – Silent Night
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This month’s Liverpool Acoustic Live takes place one week earlier than normal on Friday 17th December at the View Two Gallery on Mathew Street and features five acts for the price of four!
- Jessicas Ghost have recently finished recording their second album and are itching to perform their infectious brand of folky pop at Liverpool Acoustic Live for the first time.
- Jollyboat bring their fun-filled frolicking pirate show to the View Two off the back of a four star review at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Prepare to splice the mainbrace and shiver the ole’ timbers. Aaarrr!
- Alun Parry is a mainstay of the local music scene, and earlier this year launched his successful Woody Guthrie Folk Club in addition to forming a new group called Rich Man’s Ruin. However, Alun’s flying solo for the Christmas party, so prepare for some new songs amongst the classics.
- Stuart Anthony’s Long Lost Band lived up to their name when they broke down on the motorway and couldn’t make it to the Bluecoat gig this summer. Hopefully they won’t have the same problems again as we’re really looking forward to hearing them play.
- Graham Holland is the man behind the Liverpool Acoustic website and the co-organiser of the live event. Once a year he brushes off his guitar to entertain the masses and his Mum.Come along and bring your Christmas party hat, and get into the spirit of the season.
Doors open at 8.00pm with music starting at 8.30pm sharp. The night finishes at 11.15pm
Jessicas Ghost
jessicasghost.co.uk
Jessicas Ghost have been together and gigging in one form or another since June 2006, and have made a massive impact with their folk-tinged indie rock style and quickly gained a reputation for excellent musicianship and energetic live performances. This translated superbly when the band recorded their debut album “The Winning Hand” with producer Richard JL Smith at The Wall recording studios, Wrexham.
After several changes in lineup over the years Jessicas Ghost are now back and sounding even better than before! The band is Em (guitar and lead vocals), Moxy (bass), Christoph (violin), Dave (drums/percussion), R-Chris (guitar), Erica (keyboards and vocals), and Tom (engineer).
The music has more of a folk rock sound thanks to the addition of electric guitar and the band still maintain the high levels of musicianship and high energy in their performances. Teamed with excellent songwriting this really does make Jessicas Ghost a must-see band! The band are looking forward to recording new material as well as a few old favourites for their 2nd studio album later this year. They already have festival performances and major support gigs booked and are always on the lookout for exciting new venues to perform at.
Alun Parry parrysongs.co.uk
Musician, storyteller, social activist, promoter, football supporter, festival organiser – Alun Parry is a mainstay of the local music scene. His songs are sometimes challenging, often informative, occasionally silly, but always a pleasure to listen to.
Earlier this year he launched his successful Woody Guthrie Folk Club and still had time to form a new folk group Rich Man’s Ruin. However, Alun’s flying solo for the Christmas party, so prepare for some new songs amongst the classics.
Stuart Anthony’s Long Lost Band features Stuart Anthony on acoustic guitar and vocals, Matt Appleton on lead guitar, Oscar Armer on bass and Greg Maddox on percussion. Peter French has sessioned some keyboards for the album too.
The band started recording a new album (a third album for Stuart) earlier this year and it is now in the final stages of production. Early reports show a fascinating change in direction that still has an acoustic edge. The band have had encouraging support from artists like I Am Kloot and The Icicle Works frontman, Ian McNabb who have heard cuts from the forthcoming album and have been using phrases such as “Brilliant stuff, YES!” and “Incredible songs mate, we want to help!” There is major label interest and movers and shakers have been already asking for copies when it’s finished.
The band supported Ian McNabb last month and have been invited to support 2010 Mercury Prize Nominee Band “I Am Kloot” at their sold out Manchester Cathedral show on Friday 3rd December.
Song taken from the forthcoming album The Big Light Secret.
Buy the Stuart’s previous solo album House Of Sun from iTunes and Amazon
Jollyboat
jollyboat.co.uk
Jollyboat are Tom and Ed, two brothers who write very funny songs (only some of which are about pirates). A bit like Flight of the Conchords, but more controversial.
So far in 2010, they’ve come Top 10 in the Musical Comedy Awards, sold out a 20-show run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and been filmed for the BBC. They’re now taking paid bookings across the UK, either as a musical comedy act, or as costumed singing pirates!
Graham Holland is a local singer-songwriter with a silly sense of humour inspired by the likes of Flanders and Swann, Tom Lehrer, Jake Thackray, and Noel Coward. Better known as the host of the monthly Come Strut Your Stuff poetry and acoustic music event at Liverpool’s Egg Cafe, and latterly as the face behind the Liverpool Acoustic website and live gigs, Graham has chosen this gig to dust off his guitar strap and inflict a handful of his songs on a helpless, captive audience. Don’t worry, it’ll be over with before you know it.
Bonus Track
Caroline England and Robert Alman
www.carolineengland.co.uk
www.carolineengland.co.uk
The talents of England and Alman were first conceived by a chance encounter at a songwriter’s open mic night. A frank conversation about pregnancy and childbirth ensued and a musical partnership was born.
Tired of complaints from people that pop music was over-processed with a formulaic style, singer-songwriters Caroline England and Marcus Alman were eager to create a simple version of the Christmas classic Silent Night.
On a shoestring budget, in keeping with the times of austerity they set about recording the song in Caroline’s spare room and filming a video from her kitchen table. The results are nothing short of miraculous. The song is now tipped to be a serious contender for the much coveted Christmas crown of number one. Their hope is that internet users rebel against Simon Cowell’s X Factor and share the video making it go viral.
A pure classically trained voice marries with an incredibly delicate, acoustic guitar finger-style performance. Both recently having had babies of their own, how apt that their first collaboration, Silent Night would be a song about a baby. Together England and Alman have given new life to a soothing, timeless track they hope one day to play to their grandchildren.
Silent Night by England and Alman is available to download on iTunes and all other good download sites.
Liverpool Acoustic Spotlight #36 – December 2010
If you get the chance, please support your local artists by emailing them, joining their mailing lists, leaving them comments, going to their gigs, and buying their music direct from them where possible.
The Liverpool Acoustic Spotlight is produced and presented by Graham Holland on behalf of the Liverpool Acoustic website. It is also available on the Internet courtesy of Art In Liverpool FM (Defnet Media), and is a proud member of the Association of Music Podcasting – supported by Libsyn