The Liverpool acoustic scene has a spring in its step this March 2011 – check out the bumper crop of new events in the Diary News below. There are also some cracking live events to look forward to, including Lau at The Kazimier (11th), Hannah Peel at the Scandinavian Seaman’s Church (18th), and Dennis Locorriere with a new stripped-down acoustic set at The Phil (31st).
The big news from Liverpool Acoustic is the launch of our new night, Liverpool Acoustic eXtra. We’re really excited about giving even more local artists the chance to play at a fantastic acoustic venue in front of an appreciative audience. See below for more information, and keep your eyes open on the News and Reviews page for the special feature very soon.
Doors open at 8.00pm with music starting at 8.30pm sharp. The night finishes at 11.15pm.
- T-J & Murphy are about to launch their second album and it’s one of the most widely anticipated releases of the year.
- Virginia Haze took a break from the rat race when she and her partner decamped to Romania to rebuild a house… as you do! Now that she’s back she’s wasted no time in launching Virginia’s Acoustic Haze (her own open mic night at Ye Cracke) and is back performing too. It’s two years since she last played for us at the View Two and we’re all looking forward to welcoming her back.
- SJ Downes is a bluesman with tradition at the heart of everything he does. Steeped in the history of the delta blues greats, SJ Downes performs classic songs and still manages to stamp his own mark on them.
- 07? SO LAST DECADE – Unfortunately 07 Cafe is no more (it’s now a shop selling homemade cakes…) which means that Rash Records’ monthly Thursday event is no longer taking place. If they re-start it at a new venue we’ll let you know.
…and I say hello
- VOULEZ VOUS chanter avec moi ce soir? That’s the question posed by Megan Dooley, the lady in charge of Monday Marmalade (see what we did there?). It takes place at Cameleon Bar on Back Colquitt Street (behind FACT) and is a weekly free event has three guest musicians plus open mic slots and runs from 9.00pm to 1.00am. If you’re interested in playing drop Megan a line at mondaymarmalade@gmail.com or search them out on facebook.
- RENDEZ VOUS? – There’s a new open mic jam night starting at Rendezvous Bar in St Helens on the second Friday of each month. It’s from 9pm to 1.00am and there are some open mic spot available. Just turn up and ask for Shaun or Paul.
- CHEZ DEAN – We’ve been told about the new weekly CJ-CK Open Mic acoustic night at Deane’s House on Church Street in Prescot. It runs every Thursday from 8pm to 11pm and is free. Just turn up and ask for Chris. They’re just testing the water at the moment, so if you live in that neck of the woods then why not go along and support this event? Hopefully if enough people support it they’ll stick around for the long run.
- TURF & FEATHER – No, it’s not a medieval torture, it’s the name of a pub in Birchwood where you’ll find an open mic night most Mondays from 8.30pm to 11.00pm. The organisers stress that it’s *most* Mondays but it’s worth checking before heading out. Search on facebook for Stewart Lever, sharkybytes, or Bobby Duncan. And before you say anything, yes we know it’s not in the Greater Merseyside area, but it’s close enough to be included.
- LIVE(R) FROM LIVERPOOL – MochaCoustic has been reborn as Liver Coustic in a brand new venue. On the first Friday of every month, starting 1st April, Guy Taunton will be hosting an open mic poetry, music, juggling, anything goes night. It’ll run from 9pm to midnight at the new Basement 20 (formally Bar Samui on Hardman Street). Oh, and bring your own instruments. And why are we telling you now? It’s called advance notice!
All change
- BUFFA-HI, BUFFA-LO – The Buffalo Riot’s weekly Wednesday open mic is now a fortnightly event featuring just the Buffalo Riot guys playing a mixture of originals and covers. It’s still in Hannah’s and still free.
- TERRY’S EXPRESS DELIGHT – Festival Express is the new name for Terry’s Open Mic at Vinyl Bar on Lark Lane. Not only has it got a new name it’s also moved to a different night. It’s still weekly, still run by Terry Gray, but it’s now every Friday night. Email Terry adultbyaccident@hotmail.com if you’d like to play. Free entry as always.
- Wednesday 2nd – Stop the Cuts @ The Green Room – Rebel Soul will be holding a gig in protest of the government and council cuts. Doors open 7.00pm, music starts at 7.30pm and the £3 donation on the door goes to the Madeleine McCann Appeal. Performing will be Ian McNabb, Ian Prowse, Brian Nash, John McGlone, James Walsh, Peter Hooton and Keith Mullin. What a line up!
- Thursday 3rd – Michael Chapman @ Grateful Fred’s Freshfield Hotel. The legendary guitarist is appearing right here on our doorstep and it’s only £8 from wegottickets.com
- Saturday 5th – The Company Store @ The Zanzibar. The Sixteen Tonnes launch their new EP with help from Married to the Sea, Springtime Anchorage, Ren Harvieu, and SJ Downes. 8pm and £5 in.
- Monday 7th – Come Strut Your Stuff @ The Egg Cafe. Open floor poetry and acoustic music takes place once a month in Liverpool’s best vegetarian bistro. The event starts at 8pm. The last two months the set list has been full by 7.20pm so you’ll need to be early to get your name on the list and to claim a seat. Why not come along earlier and eat before the event? comestrutyourstuff.co.uk
- Thursday 10th – Bop ‘n’ Giggle @ Brew Tea Bar, Bold Street. Open mic (but without the mic) comedy and music. Comedy from Paul Martin, Andrew Cairney, Steve Valentino Hannah, and Sean Riley. Music from Liam D Ellison, John-Paul Cumberlidge, Joe Symes, Evil Piccolo, and Megan Laura Penlington. Doors 7.30pm, £2 in. Facebook event here.
- Friday 11th – Liverpool Acoustic eXtra Opening night @ The View Two Gallery. 8pm doors, 8.30pm start. The Ratty Little Fingers, Miles Carrington, Megan Dooley, and Rae Clark. Tickets £4 in advance, or £5 on the door.
- Wednesday 16th – Virginia’s Acoustic Haze @ Ye Cracke. Open mic from 9.00pm hosted by Virginia Haze.
- Friday 18th – Hannah Peel @ The Scandinavian Seaman’s Church. 8.00pm start for this Harvest Sun gig, with support from Dead Belgian and Bird. Tickets £7 in advance – details from facebook event page.
- Monday 21st – Monday Marmalade @ Chameleon Bar every week from 9.00pm, with booked guests and open mic
- Thursday 24th (Change of date) – Woody Guthrie Folk Club @ The Ship & Mitre. 7.30pm doors, 8.00pm start, 10.30pm finish. £3 entry, or free to singers. This has been changed from the normal last Thursday to allow for the Windows for Peace fundraiser on 31st (see below).
- Friday 25th – Liverpool Acoustic Live @ The View Two Gallery. Our third year continues in fine style with Thomas-Joseph & Murphy, plus Virginia Haze, and SJ Downes. 8pm doors, music 8.30pm to 11.15pm. Tickets £5 in advance, £6 on the door.
- Sunday 27th – 1.00am Clocks go forward one hour to British Summer Time
- Thursday 31st – Good Times and Hard Travelin’ @ The Ship & Mitre. Those of you who missed Will Kaufman at the Woody Guthrie Folk Club last month will have another chance tonight for a gig in aid of Windows for Peace UK. Details in the diary and on their website windowsforpeaceuk.org/events.htm
AND FINALLY…
We’ve had a really positive response to the new NEWS BLAST feature on the News and Reviews page, with a number of musicians already getting performance opportunities in response to some of the items we’ve mentioned. If there are any short news snippets or shout outs that don’t warrant a whole news item but are worthy of note then drop us a line and we’ll add them to the next BLAST. And look out for a major gig offer in the next one!
Thanks to Nicholas and Roger who answered our call for people to help out on the door at Liverpool Acoustic Live and eXtra events. We really appreciate the offer, and are glad to have you on board the Good Ship Liverpool Acoustic!
Meanwhile, over on facebook we’re in the process of moving Liverpool Acoustic from a ‘Group’ to a ‘Page‘. If you haven’t made the switch yet just click here facebook.com/liverpoolacoustic or on the link below then click ‘Like’ when you get there. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy (just in time for the pancakes on Shrove Tuesday 8th March)!
Liverpool Acoustic
Finally, we were saddened to hear of the death of local author and former Radio Merseyside presenter Brian Jacques last month. Famous for the Redwall series of books, Brian was also well known on the local folk scene. He will be missed by those who knew him personally and those around the world who knew him through his books. There will be a memorial service at the Anglican Cathedral on Friday 4th March at 11.00am and everyone is welcome. (Thanks to John Owen from Folk North West, and Eddie Morris from Parkgate Folk Club for the information.)
As ever you can drop us a line using the Contact Us form or by emailing contact[at]liverpoolacoustic.co.uk
Graham, on behalf of the Liverpool Acoustic Team