Spotlight 87: Saturday 9th March 2013 – Liverpool Acoustic at Threshold

SATURDAY 9TH MARCH 2013
LIVERPOOL ACOUSTIC AFTERNOON
@ THRESHOLD FESTIVAL

Liverpool Acoustic Afternoon returns to Threshold for the third year, and we’re pleased to be back at Elevator Bar on Parliament Street after last year’s successful event. We’ll be running from 2pm to 7pm on Saturday 9th March, and there’s a exciting and varied lineup for you to enjoy.

2.00pm – The Tenements
2.30pm – Ronan Boyle
3.00pm – Caroline England
3.30pm – Gary Edward Jones
4.00pm – Three Minute Hero
4.30pm – Jody Cooper
5.00pm – The Southbound Attic Band
5.30pm – Laura&Claire
6.00pm – Ben Stafford
6.30pm – Synne Eileen & The Sunbeams

Entry is by Threshold weekend or day ticket, available in advance from thresholdfestival.com and on the day from Baltic Creative (49 Jamaica Street).

Join us on the facebook event here and let us know who you’re looking forward to seeing.

Remember to tweet @thresholdfest and @lpoolacoustic, and use the hashtag #threshold13

Liverpool Acoustic Spotlight 87

To play click here Spotlight 87
or right-click to download for free

The Tenements – Sarah
facebook.com/tenements

The Tenements are a trio from Merseyside playing a blend of dark melodic folk rock and roll,with influences from Love to the Pixies to Simon and Garfunkel. Formed in Jan 2013 with an focus on well crafted songs imbued with feeling, the few shows the band have played have been well received, and they are looking froward to showing what they can do at Threshold festival.

Ronan Boyle – You My Girl
soundcloud.com/ronanboyle

In 2006 Ronan Boyle gave up his career as a Rocket Scientist and aspirations to go to Mars to become a full time Troubadour and has been writing songs and singing for his supper ever since.

Based in Liverpool Ronan honed his craft, developing a powerful and emotive delivery and wrapping heart felt lyrics up in memorable blues and folk melodies.

Drawing his influence from such great artists as Elliott Smith, Bon Iver, Radiohead, Josh Ritter and many more, Ronan has worked with some of the finest musicians in Liverpool to create a new and unique sound.

He has recorded several EPs at Parr Street Studios, has toured the UK, Ireland and Europe and is currently focused on writing and preproduction for recordings to be released throughout 2013.

Caroline England – Ginger
carolineengland.co.uk
Buy the album Who Said All Is Fair In Love and War? [iTunes]

Singer songwriter Caroline England has been making waves in the local music scene for the past ten years and has firmly established herself as the north west of England’s best kept secret with her prolific songwriting and unique, world-class vocal talent.

The music is highly influenced by her environment and she lives on the corner of the Wirral peninsula in the sandy seaside town of Hoylake near Liverpool, well known as a creative hub for the arts and its maritime heritage.

Caroline is currently half way through recording a studio album due for release at Liverpool Acoustic Live on Friday 26th July 2013.

Gary Edward Jones – Friend Of Mine
reverbnation.com/garyedwardjones
Buy Gary’s music from [Bandcamp] [iTunes]

Gary Edward Jones is now a singer songwriter from Liverpool, but he wasn’t always.

It was a visit to Las Vegas in 2003 that enabled this mild-mannered builder from South Liverpool to realise his dream of becoming a musician. “I never thought I was good enough, I knew being a musician was the life for me but how that was going to happen I didn’t know… until Vegas,” said Gary.

Gary performed at the Palms Hotel Acoustic Asylum to great acclaim – it was the confidence boost he needed to change his life and pursue the path he had always dreamed of.

A prolific songwriter from childhood, Gary chose a more practical career in woodcarving which steered his path through living in London, becoming a father and the breakdown of relationships. It has been these life milestones which have provided Gary with rich content to produce some of his best work yet.

Behind the exterior of Gary the builder, lies a unique ability to translate some of life’s most extreme sensitivities into powerful, meaningful music steeped in soul. Gary’s talent has seen him produce tracks with fellow singer songwriter Thea Gilmore and drummer Steve Barney.

Three Minute Hero – The Busker
facebook.com/threeminuteherouk

Three Minute Hero is a semi acoustic power trio active on the Liverpool music scene. The name derives from a song by 2-tone ska band The Selecter. The brainchild of Liverpool songwriter/musician and award winning promoter Stuart Todd, Three Minute Hero mixes raw social commentary with melodic folk styled power pop; taking the classic three minute pop song and giving it a subversive lyrical twist. Influences include Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Simon & Garfunkel, CSN&Y, Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Police, Tom Robinson Band, The Specials, The Housemartins and Billy Bragg.

Stuart Todd launched his first EP Playing The Field at The View Two Gallery in November 2004. Having worked with renowned musician Neil Campbell in the group Triad, the two re-emerged as an acoustic duo with the release of their long awaited studio album Campbell Todd in October 2007. Stuart fronted his own group, The Freebies, to promote his first solo album ‘A Question Of Time’ during 2009/2010. The album is available to buy on iTunes and CD Baby.

Now after a long break, Stuart is bringing a fresh approach to his music with Three Minute Hero. Joining him in the line up is Chris Cousineau on cajón. Their first gig was supporting Gideon Conn at Parr Street Studio 2 in October 2012. A new website will be coming soon.

Jody Cooper – No Pain
jodycoopermusic.com
Jody’s albums ‘Growing Up’ and ‘Free Thyself’ are available in physical and digital form at bandcamp

Jody Cooper is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter with a powerful voice – at once looking back to the great songwriters of the past, while at the same time possessing a keen melodic sensibility of his own. His style is a melting pot of rock, blues, funk and pop, as well as more folky, acoustic elements driven by strong melodies. No gimmicks, no pretence, just honest, thought-provoking songs that speak from and to the soul.

The Southbound Attic Band – Living The Dream
facebook.com/thesouthboundatticband
Buy the latest album Living The Dream from News From Nowhere (Bold St) & Quicksilver Music (Southport)

The Southbound Attic Band consists of Barry Jones, guitarist, singer-songwriter, and Ronnie Clark, bass and backing vocals. Their high energy live set is a combination of Americana, English and Celtic tinged folk rock.

Their first full length CD, The Willows Suite (SAB2 2009) is a full musical suite of original songs, written by Barry, based around the book Wind In The Willows by Kenneth Grahame. The Willows Suite, which incorporates readings from the original text, followed by the song inspired by it, is also an hour long theatre piece which is suitable for all ages except the very young. To critical acclaim, the Southbound Attic Band performed The Willows Suite at Formby Little Theatre for Formby Live 2010 and at the inaugural Threshold Festival in 2011.

Their second CD No More Tears (SAB3 2011) incorporated what have become their trademark songs, Howling at the Moon and Southbound Train as well as a tribute to their home city of Liverpool, City By The Bay, which featured as a youtube video youtu.be/eTMVeZXEwYA on a popular Liverpool Tourism Website.

Their latest recording Living The Dream (SAB4 2012) which includes a song written by Ronnie Clark, followed the previous two by featuring in its own hour long edition of Radio Merseyside’s Folkscene programme with Stan Ambrose, and Radio Merseyside’s Billy Butler has also played music from the CD featuring Nostalgia Still Rules on his popular prime time show. In Americana-uk.com’s review Jeremy Searle described the CD as “Fine old school song-writing and playing… a hugely enjoyable listen.” FATEA webzine described it as “an album full of home truths delivered with a subtle wit and good honest humour.” And Tony Donaghey from LiverpoolBands.com said “great solid songwriting, every song had a proper tune – immediately hummable and often sing- a-longable.”

The Southbound Attic Band are currently hosting a series of Acoustic Dustbowl events monthly at The View Two Gallery, Mathew Street, Liverpool for Americana UK Promotions.

Laura&Claire – Gold Rush
facebook.com/lauraandclairemusic
Music can currently be downloaded for free from soundcloud

Since their debut in 2006, lifelong friends Laura&Claire have stood apart from the crowd with their immaculate vocal harmonies. Currently working on their first full album they mix sharp social commentaries with catchy pop melodies.

With influences ranging from the lyrics of Idelwild to the imagination of Imogen Heap, Laura&Claire have taken inspiration from their alternative roots and stripped them down to produce acoustic musings based on love and life, and make no excuse for feeling very human things such as angst and jealousy.

Ben Stafford – Slagging Off Your Ex
benstafford.co.uk

Ben Stafford plays and sings catchy melodic acoustic songs inspired by uni life at Chester, his hometown of Glossop and the rail lines between the two. He released his debut album Colour By Faders last year which was recorded in his Halls of Residence, and is now working on new material some of which will be debuted in his set at Threshold.

Synne Eileen & The Sunbeams – Closet
facebook.com/synnesunbeams

Synne Eileen & the Sunbeams is a six-piece quirk-pop band, playing their bright and bubbly tunes straight into the hearts of people who love a good trill and keeping life colourful.

Hailing from Norway, though currently based in Liverpool, Synne Eileen & the Sunbeams has been well received both in Scandinavia and in the UK for their catchy melodies and their quirky lyrics about everything from love and loss to filthy doves and elephants.

A lot has happened to Synne Eileen & the Sunbeams the last year. Having played at the Sound City festival in Liverpool, as well as doing a tour both in the UK and back home in their home country, they also recently released their first music video “CLOSET”. The band is now fully ready to conquer the hearts and smiles of both Scandinavian and British people. If you’re in need of cheering up, look no further.

“…some very bright uplifting songs, beautiful thoughtful lyrics and vocal harmony laid over a bed of delightful quirky tunes. Definitely one to watch!” – Eddie Lundon, China Crisis

Check out the video for the song Closet here – youtu.be/_EfBOGQ3jW0