Matt Berry @ The Kazimer review

Entering on stage with a full entourage of musicians (The Maypoles), Matt Berry meant business. Going straight into Devil Inside me, Matt was a man on a mission.People obviously think of him as "that guy from the I.T. crowd but watching him onstage that image soon fell away as his voice, which seemed a lot richer than the last time we saw him, took over the Kazimier. 

Going into the title track of his album Opium and through tracks from the WitchHazel album he was certainly not one for a lack of material. Starting with a low, pagen-esque style then throwing the audience into a full on tour de force Matt was beginning to get thirsty and on the search for some Corona. When offered a can of Red Stripe but an audience member he politely refused saying that "it was full of salt"

Once locating the much sought after mystical Corona (it was in a box behind the guitarist) Matt went into Snuff Box. A track that was featured in the movie DREDD and as Matt stated "god knows why" but it kept the crowd happy anyway.

A brief interlude was much needed and Matt served up a cocktail of TV theme tunes starting with Are you being served and then into Sorry with a wonderful touch of the lift commentary to accompany the former...going down!

Then the audience were taken on a bit if a journey.....starting with a gentle flowing notes and what you would expect to hear from an enchanted forest it built up slowly with symbols crashing and the bass drum kicking in to an instrumental medley that kept building and building in intensity till Matt and Cecilia's gentle vocals came back in then ended on a symbol crescendo.

They ended the set, after their encore, by being joined on stage by the lead singer of their support group Pugwash, Thomas Walsh, and decided to bring the house down with a rip roaring performance of Live and let die by wings.

Matt Berry may be known best for his comedy but musically the man and the group and superb. Moving from funk to jazz in a beat of an eye and some of the tightest and most talented musicians I've seen in a long time and mesmerising to watch and thoroughly entertaining throughout.

More photos can be found on our Facebook page

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Tonight Alive announce UK tour dates

Having spent the last year promoting their incredible debut album ‘What Are You So Scared Of?’ across the globe, Sydney natives TONIGHT ALIVE return to the UK and Ireland this September/Oct, with support from the incredible SET IT OFF and DECADE

After an eventful 12 months which has seen the band perform across the USA on the legendary Vans Warped Tour and as support to Pierce The Veil and Sleeping With Sirens, to the UK on their own sold-out headline run and as part of the prestigious Kerrang! Magazine Tour, to headline shows from Tokyo to Thailand via France, Germany, Holland, The Philippines, New Zealand and Hong Kong – the band now return to our shores in support of their brand new album (due Sept '13)

Tour dates:
SEPTEMBER 2013
29th Brighton, The Haunt
OCTOBER 2013
1st Birmingham, Library
2nd Glasgow, King Tuts
3rd Manchester, Academy 3
4th Liverpool, O2 Academy2
5th Dublin, Academy 2
6th Belfast, Oh Yeah Centre
8th Newcastle, O2 Academy2
9th London, Electric Ballroom
11th Leeds, Cockpit

http://www.tonightaliveofficial.com/uk/home

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Matt Berry at The Kazimier, Liverpool

Matt Berry

With support from:
Pugwash

Ticket price: £14.00
Buy Tickets from Ticketwerk

Doors open at 7.30pm
Venue and Locality: The Kazimier, Liverpool
Postcode: L1 4JJ

Musical polymath MATT BERRY returns to the road with his band THE MAYPOLES to launch his brand new musical masterpiece KILL THE WOLF this spring. Following on from last year's critically acclaimed progressive folk opus, WITCHAZEL, his most recent album sees BERRY exploring the darker side of agrarian folk and searching farther afield for his cultural references.

Matt Berry is of course also an actor and writer of award winning comedy, but places his music high up on a pedestal. Expect songs from his early career (including the 'theme from Snuffbox'), a host of familiar Witchazel classics and select slices of the new album. Matt has been known to throw in an unusual cover from time to time (the last being Ordinary Joe in tribute to the late Terry Callier, who passed away the day before Matt's last show). This in not a comedy show but an uplifting musical experience.

In the words of the Guardian, taken from their extraordinarily enthusiastic Witchazel review:

"MATT BERRY, Brilliant - yes. Funny - no!!!"

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The Cult announce October UK tour dates 2013

The Cult have announced “ELECTRIC 13”, a worldwide tour that will visit ten UK cities this October.


"The Cult's life blood has always been playing live, we are between albums and decided to continue the momentum created by CHOICE OF WEAPON, stay in people’s hearts and minds. As LOVE LIVE was such an incredible experience we have decided that performing the ELECTRIC album, an event that has been demanded by our fans and followers as the perfect live set to play in 2013.” - Ian Astbury, The Cult

Born out of the ashes of the UK post-punk scene, The Cult evolved to become one of the most influential and controversial rock bands of the late 20th century, selling millions of albums, headlining venues worldwide, infusing innovative possibilities into the worlds of music, art and fashion and quickly ascending through the ranks of the indie music world to achieve global status.

In 1987, The Cult released “Electric”, an album of stylistic change that aimed the band straight at the heart of the rock market. Recorded in New York City at the legendary Electric Ladyland studios and filled with the energy of the dirty NYC streets, together with a young producer named Rick Rubin, who resonated more with the hip hop world of The Beastie Boys, Run DMC, and Public Enemy; the band delivered an recording that has gone on to become one of The Cult’s most successful and influential albums, and as a follow up to "Love ", kicked the door wide open to a passionate new audience.

“Electric” went on to become the band’s first Platinum album. They quickly captured media attention featuring heavily in music and fashion magazines as well as becoming an MTV staple after dark and where spun heavily on radio coast to coast. Electric was supported by an incident filled world tour with Guns N’ Roses as the opener in North American.  Beginning in January of that year, The Cult headlined in the U.K., Europe, the U.S., Canada, and Australia, opened select dates for Iggy Pop and David Bowie, returning at the end of the year to sell out Wembley Arena and Brixton Academy in London.

The Cult will perform “ELECTRIC”, raw and unfiltered on tour in 2013, an event branded as ELECTRIC 13. This will be a hot ticket as The Cult have never performed the album in its entirety. The live show will also include a second set pulling from the band’s eight other studio albums.

Tickets will be available from 9am on Friday May 17th via www.kililive.com and www.seetickets.com. Phone: 0844 871 8803 and venue box offices.
THE CULT, ELECTRIC 13 DATES: OCTOBER 2013
18th - CARDIFF UNIVERSITY GREAT HALL

19th - EXETER GREAT HALL

20th - SOUTHAMPTON GUILDHALL

22nd - NORWICH UEA

23rd - WOLVERHAMPTON CIVIC HALL

25th - MANCHESTER ACADEMY

26th - GLASGOW BARROWLANDS

28th - NOTTINGHAM ROCK CITY

29th - LIVERPOOL O2 ACADEMY

31st - LONDON ROUNDHOUSE

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Zutons star in new Liverpool musical Shoebox

 Liverpool musicians David South (Cardello) and Boyan Chowdhury (The Zutons, The Venus Fury) have joined forces with Liverpool scriptwriter Michelle Langan (whose tv credits include Coronation Street and Hollyoaks) to produce a new piece of musical theatre set in 1950's Liverpool. 

A preview of songs from the show will be performed at The Bluecoat Liverpool, on Thursday 6th June at 7.30pm. Boyan and David will perform, along with accompaniment from special guests, The Liverpool String Quartet. 

'Shoebox' follows the story of Julia, a young woman whose life is turned upside down after a chance meeting with charming rogue, Gino.  When Julia gives birth to Gino's son, Danny, she struggles to keep him from straying down the same path as his father. However, as Danny grows older and his ambition for a better life grips him, Julia finds it impossible to shield him from his inevitable fate. It's a gripping tale of love, friendship and how life catches up with those who try to run away from it. 

Liverpool songwriter David South first had the initial idea for 'Shoebox' during the final days of his band Cardello. He was introduced to Michelle Langan, who brought her experience as a writer to write the script. Seeking musical collaboration David turned to a long- term friend Boyan Chowdhury. David says 'Working with Boyan seemed like a natural partnership, and we were both on the same page when it came to writing the songs for the play.'  

Boyan Chowdhury says "The performance at The Bluecoat will give an insight into 'Shoebox' without giving too much of the story away. It's a coming of age story with a really nice body of songs to go with it, including some toe-tappers and a couple of slow ones to balance the story. The audience will be gripped as they wonder what will happen to the family." 

Michelle Langan says, "As the musical is set in Liverpool, we felt strongly that the preview should take place in our home town. I've loved working on 'Shoebox' and I'm hoping that the Liverpool audience will love the songs as much as we do." 

Shoebox The Preview takes place at The Bluecoat, School Lane on 6th June at 7.30pm. Tickets £6

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Liverpool based Drum and Bass label Sleep Less Records host competition to sign an unknown local artist

Liverpool based Drum and  Bass label Sleep Less Records celebrates first birthday with competition to sign an unknown local artist

Liverpool record label Sleep Less Records has launched a competition to sign up a new drum and bass producer.

As part of a one year birthday celebration for Sleep Less Records, the independent record label - set up by former BBC Introducing artist MC SAS - the competition is a unique opportunity to be backed by a record label for an unsigned producer.

Talented producers can use music sharing website SoundCloud to upload their latest tracks and become part of the UK’s most exciting underground record label.

Once the biggest and best tracks are uploaded entrants will be able to promote their tracks on Facebook and other social media websites. The more buzz artists can create around their entries the more likely judges at the label will choose the producer for round two of the competition.

The competition is live now and the first round will run until the 20th May 2013. Successful entries in the first round will be invited to submit another track for the second round, with the second round’s winning track being released for free download.

MC SAS and the team at Sleep Less Records will then work with the signed act to produce and distribute a track later in 2013 as one of its fully signed drum and bass producers.

MC SAS is excited about the prospect of welcoming a new producer to the label: “We’re delighted to be offering a producer the chance to work with Sleep Less Records. We expect the standards to be high for our anniversary competition so entrants should make sure they only upload their best tracks.”

Fans can listen to the latest tracks as they are entered into the competition on the Sleep Less Records Facebook page or by joining the SoundCloud group.

Competition rules

Drum and bass only.

Only one track per person.

All entries must be uploaded by 20/5/13 (first round) & 10/6/13 (second round)

Mastered tracks only

100% original tracks.

No remixes

No collabs

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Silent Cities debut EP Eigenlicht @ Leaf Cafe Liverpool

A forthcoming event Rebel Soul will be running in collaboration with Mellowtone. The event is called ‘Eigenlicht’ and will be held at Leaf on Saturday 18th May 2013. The event is to mark the release of Silent Cities debut EP, ‘Eigenlicht’ and will be an evening of visual wonderment and strange musical happenings, including live music, VJing, crafts and shadow puppetry.

If you're not aware of Silent Cities, he's been described as "The Real Deal" by BBC 6 Music's, Tom Robinson, and has also received a lot of positive feedback from Lauren Laverne (BBC 6 Music), Simon Raymonde (Bella Union) and Paul Du Noyer (NME, Q, Mojo, The Word). The digital and physical release of the EP will take place at the launch, but is available to stream now at: http://wherethesilentcitieshide.com/

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The Bulbs Light Up The Capstone With New Album Launch

On Friday 21st June the Capstone Theatre will play host to the brand new album launch of the new group Bulbs. Hailing from Liverpool, UK, Bulbs are Joey Zeb (drums), Andy Maslivec (bass), Neil Campbell (guitar) and Marty Snape (electronics).

The Bulbs launches its eagerly awaited debut album with an hour long performance (+ support) which will feature the projection of an entrancing new film specially created by artist Sonny Phillips to accompany the album.

Over a year in the making Bulbs new album ‘On’ is a 12 track tour-de-force of cyclical time signatures, electronic textures, dark conceptual speech samples and prog melodic-ism. The album will be performed in its entirety at the launch event.

Bulbs is both a musical concept and a real band which aims to marry adventurous music-making with information and sound samples chosen to challenge the audience to look around them at the world in which they are living. It aims to ‘switch on listeners like light bulbs’ to question conventional wisdom and corporate media propaganda.

As a virtuoso solo guitarist Neil Campbell expands the scope of his already densely textured compositions with various loops, delays and other electronic effects, making his classical guitar sound like a multi-timbral guitar orchestra. His various collaborations and his concept performance pieces such as ‘Ghost Stories: A Night Opera’, ‘Frankenstein’ with The Neil Campbell Collective and Sense of Sound Singers and ‘Inventioning’, a new composition being developing with Jon Anderson (Yes), have earned him a reputation for musical ambitiousness and innovation.

For Bulbs he has teamed up with Andy Maslivec, bass player from The Neil Campbell Collective, Joey Zeb, session percussionist and drummer with legendary underground Liverpool dub institution The Zeb and Marty Snape (The Mighty Zeb / The Hat Band).
Joey, a founder member of Zeb, has his roots in prog dub. He has sessioned on various reggae, rock, folk projects and met Neil during the highly respected N F I electronic improv sessions. He is currently playing with proggers Gorp and dub hop outfit The Corinthians.

"Wild and wonderful music"
Jon Anderson (Yes vocalist)

"Like Mike Oldfield before him, Neil Campbell is an outstanding guitarist whose originality of thought makes him far more than just another gifted purveyor of finger acrobatics."
Paul Fowles (Classical Guitar Magazine)

More information can be found on www.bulbsmusic.com

LISTING INFORMATION

Bulbs ‘On’ Album Launch
Friday 21ST June 2013
7.30pm
Tickets: £5 (CD’s also available for sale on the night)

VENUE INFORMATION

The Capstone Theatre
Shaw Street,
Liverpool
L6 1HP

HOW TO BOOK

In person: TicketQuarter, Mersey Travel Centre, Queen Square, Liverpool, L1 1RG.
Ticket Quarter Box Office: 0844 8000 410*or online at www.thecapstonetheatre.com*
*Subject to booking fee.

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Why? Tuesday 7 May @ The Kazimier

Led by Jonathan ‘Yoni’ Wolf , alternative hip-hop/indie rock band WHY? have been defying genres and uniting audiences since the late nineties.

Initially the solo project of rapper Wolf, the outfit’s second LP as a full band, Alopecia (2008) saw the band go over ground on the back of huge critical appreciation.

Developing a formidable live reputation, the band’s fifth album Mumps, Etc. released last October was described by Spin as a ‘Kaleidoscopic folk-rap opus’ and praised as a ‘very impressive return’ 8/10 by This Is Fake DIY.

The group’s Kazimier show is the first of only four UK dates which culminates in a performance at All Tomorrow’s Parties (Camber Sands).

WATCH and LISTEN

Listen to their latest album, 'Mumps, Etc.' in full HERE
Recent single 'Waterlines' LIVE in Glasgow HERE
On the move with Why? HERE

Tickets from £12.50 available now from
Seetickets / Bido Lito!

www.whywithaquestionmark.com

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Africa Oyé 2013 - Line Up Revealed

The countdown is on until Africa Oyé will be flourishing in Liverpool’s Sefton Park on 22nd and 23rd June 2013. With another stellar festival set to take place, the largest free African music event in the UK have now revealed their line-up of acts from across Africa and the wider Diaspora.

This year’s festival is Oyé’s 21st Anniversary celebration and has already been nominated by Songlines Magazine in their top ten for 2013. With acts hailing from Zimbabwe, Ghana, Cuba, DR Congo and Nigeria, Oyé 2013 is set to be a feast for the ears. Below is the confirmed line-up for this year’s event in Liverpool:

MOKOOMBA (Zimbabwe) / OSIBISA (Ghana) / ATONGO ZIMBA (Ghana) / SON YAMBU (Cuba) / BLACK PROPHET (Ghana) / ZONG ZING ALL STARS (DR Congo) / DELE SOSIMI AFROBEAT VIBRATION (Nigeria) / YAABA FUNK (UK/Ghana)

In 2013, Oyé will be teaming up with Just Giving by Vodafone to allow the festival’s supporters to donate money via text, with all proceeds going towards ensuring the event remains free for everyone for years to come.

Text ‘DYYV03’ then the amount you wish to donate to 70070

eg. ‘DYYV03 £1’ to 70070

Network charges may apply

Funded by Arts Council England

and Liverpool City Council

Location: Sefton Park, Liverpool

Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June 2013

12:30pm - 9:30pm both days

Admission: FREE

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Babyshambles Sequel To The Prequel UK Tour Announced

Babyshambles have announced an autumn tour spanning two months. Heading out at Glasgow Barrowlands on September 4th, and finishing at O2 Academy Bournemouth on 21st October, the band will play London’s O2 Academy Brixton on 14th September.  These are the first UK dates since the band played in November 2010. They have also announced they will play Le Zenith in Paris on 3rd October.

 “Just as sure as all men are born equal... A prequel to the sequel...”  Drew McConnell.
"I'm equally excited to get back on the road again as I am to see the fans' reaction to the new material.  Looking forward to it.” Mik Whitnall.


September
4th - Glasgow Barrowlands
5th – Newcastle, O2 Academy
6th – Leeds, O2 Academy
7th - Manchester Academy
9th – Liverpool, O2 Academy
10th - Lincoln Engine Shed
11th – Bristol, O2 Academy
13th – Oxford, O2 Academy
14th – London, O2 Academy Brixton
15th - Cardiff University
16th - Norwich UEA

October
10th - Sheffield Leadmill
11th – Hatfield, The Forum Hertfordshire
12th - Leamington Spa Assembly
14th – Birmingham, O2 Academy
15th – Leicester, O2 Academy
17th - Cambridge Junction
18th - Folkestone Leas Cliff
20th - Exeter Great Hall
21st – Bournemouth, O2 Academy


Tickets are available from Artistticket.com, ticket prices are £23, £25 in London.

The band are currently putting the finishing touches to their third album in a Paris studio and are looking forward to road testing the new tracks live in front of the fans.  Reports leaking from the locked down studio suggest their much anticipated return is a huge return to form.

www.albionrooms.com
www.twitter.com/babyshamblesuk         www.facebook.com/babyshambles

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SubSound presents Freestylers Album Launch Party in Liverpool 18 May 2013

Hot on the heels of an awesome April, SubSound presents yet another epic line-up at 40 Seel Street, Liverpool this time for their 1st birthday in the shape of Freestylers, DJ Woody, Father Funk plus residents Dj NorX and James Sims. Headlining are the Freestylers who are not only making a welcome return to the Liverpool clubbing scene after 10 years but are choosing to celebrate along with the SubSound crew by launching their forthcoming album ‘The Coming Storm’.

With a career spanning over two decades the Freestylers cover all bases from the biggest festivals, most talked about clubs around the world and global dance charts. Having achieved the kind of success most artists can only dream of, they’ve not rested on their laurels. Now, after two years in the studio, it’s fair to say Matt Cantor and Aston Harvey are about to launch a veritable assault on the music scene with the release of their new album, aptly titled ‘The Coming Storm.’

The Freestylers began their career as an Urban Electronic Music Act, and their early tunes ‘B-Boy Stance’, ‘Ruffneck’ and ‘Warning’ set the marker. As their music progressed so did their anthems with the seminal tunes ‘Punks’, ‘Boom Blast’, ‘Fasten Your Seat-Belts’, ‘Painkiller’ and more recently ‘Cracks’. In addition to their status as underground heroes, they have gained commercial success with their huge global hit ‘Push Up’ and have had their music featured in TV and film, including the hugely successful comedy film Zoolander.

From being voted ‘Best Band’ by Musik Magazine to touring with Lenny Kravitz on his American Woman tour (he asked them himself as he was so impressed with their act), rocking a crowd of 30,000 at Glastonbury Festival 1999 and performing at MTV’s Times Square Millennium Party, playing Big Day Out ‘05– it’s fair to say these guys have had one big adventure so far.

Their ever-eclectic style and renegade approach to production focusing on everything in the bass music spectrum is once again on show with their fifth studio album ‘The Coming Storm’ released on BlackHole/Rub-A-Duck Recordings June 2013. With the new addition to their production team Chris Bishop from Stereo:Type they’ve ramped up their sound into overdrive.
Whether they’re performing as a live band, sound system or DJ set, you know they are gonna rock hard.

Alongside the headliners is DJ Woody. The 2x world turntable champion is a genuine kind of a guy, needing nothing more than two turntables, a mixer and an audience to let us all know what he’s all about! Described by the Scratch Perverts as “one of the most creative forces in djing the UK scene has ever produced” DJ Woody even helped Vestax design the World’s first
ever musical turntable. Extending his repertoire his latest venture is the groundbreaking AV/DJ show. Designing and animating all the materials himself ‘Turntables In Technicolor’ and ‘Big Phat 90’s’ are both an electrifying example of DJ Woody’s innovative style expanding his ever growing skill setand pushing the medium to new heights.

Also on the line-up is the North West’s home-grown Father Funk (aka Will Williamson). Fast becoming one of the sharpest producers in the Ghetto Funk scene with flawless production skills and an ear for the coolest funk samples around, he has been delivering an abundance of quality bass heavy funk for the past six months. Many of his infamous bangers have already
been supported by many of the main players in the scene and at only 19 years of age he is certainly a talent to keep an eye on for the future.

Undoubtedly some of the sickest DJ’s in the UK we can’t wait for the Freestylers, DJ Woody and Father Funk to blow off the roof at SUBSOUND.  

All this together with SUBSOUND residents James Sims and Dj NorX will sure mean this event is going to kick some serious ass. So if you’ve got something to celebrate come celebrate with us for one incredible night of bass heavy sounds – just prepare yourself to be blown away by ‘The Coming Storm’.

BUY TICKETS HERE > http://www.skiddle.com/events/11819274/
£8 EARLY BIRD/£10 ADVANCE / £13 OTD

Date: Saturday 18th May 2013
Venue: 40 Seel Street
Location: Seel Street, Liverpool

Doors: 22:00 till 04:00
http://www.facebook.com/thesubsound
@TheSubSound

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Dodgy bring Back to back Tour to the Lomax Liverpool - Saturday 23 May

Dodgy are back out on the road in May to celebrate 20 years since the release of their debut album, The Dodgy Album. The band will play the two albums The Dodgy Album (1993) and Stand Upright In A Cool Place (2012) in their entirety by the original members singer Nigel Clark, guitarist Andy Miller and drummer Mathew Priest.

Their gig at The Lomax  on Saturday 23 May (20 years since they first played the venue) will be the most important on the tour. "This Liverpool show feels like a hometown show. When Dodgy set out on our first UK tour, the band drew a circle round the UK pinpointing towns and cities along the circle where they wanted to play.  Liverpool got in touch first." says drummer Mathew.

"We spent a lot of time in Liverpool during the 90s. Our debut album was recorded with Ian Broudie in Amazon, now Parr St studio's in Liverpool. We played for the dockers, visiting picket lines and the Hillsborough concert. We played mod-themed nights at The Picket playing in other bands that night,which included future members of Cast and Space. We even took a circus tent to Sefton Park, had our Christmas show to the Royal Court and we've even got a plaque at The Cavern" he says.

The Dodgy Album was recorded at Parr Street Studios in Liverpool, produced by The Lightning Seeds Ian Broudie and also an early career marker for mix engineer Cenzo Townshend, who is now one of the UK’s most sought after and respected mixer/producer including recent credits such as The Vaccines ‘The Vaccines Come of Age’, The Maccabees ‘Given To The Wild’ and work with The Kaiser Chiefs, Snow Patrol and Miles Kane. The video for ‘Water Under The Bridge’ was also one of the first commissions for director Jamie Thraves who after directing further videos for Blur, The Verve and an award winning video for Coldplay’s ‘The Scientist’ went on to write and direct feature films.

The Dodgy Album set includes tracks such as the singles ‘Lovebirds’ and 'Water Under The Bridge',  the track acknowledged by the likes of Oasis as defining aspects of the Britpop sound before the term was even invented.

The fact that The Dodgy Album achieved modest sales on it's release, is more of testament to a time when a record company (in this case A&M) would develop and stick by an emerging artist, a commitment that enabled Dodgy to go on to make the gold and platinum chart albums Homegrown and Free Peace Sweet.

The first time round, Dodgy were only together for seven years but in that time they sold over a million records worldwide, released three albums and 12 Top 40 singles, including 3 Top 10s and the Top 5 hit Good Enough, still a staple of the radio playlists; sold out the Brixton Academy for three nights in a row and were awarded an unprecedented 90-minute Saturday evening slot on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury Festival in 1997 just before Radiohead. Not bad, considering that they also partied harder than an Ewok.

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Shed Seven announce 'Greatest Hits Live' UK dates for December 2013

Shed Seven have announced their first full UK tour in two years. The acclaimed five piece and live favourites will be performing their greatest hits and a selection of fan favourites this December including the ever popular hit singles ‘Going For Gold’, ‘Disco Down" and ‘Chasing Rainbows’.

Shed Seven have achieved great success since forming in 1990. They’ve released four albums, had 14 Top 40 singles and to celebrate the 15th anniversary of landmark album ‘A Maximum High’ in 2011 the band released a collector’s edition EP which featured brand new versions of some of the hit tracks from the album.

Since getting back together in 2007 for a massive 20 date tour, Shed Seven have continued to sell out shows across the UK. This new December tour follows last year’s appearances at T in the Park and V festival plus a selection of intimate live dates. Frontman Rick Witter said:

“The Sheds are pleased to announce that we will be touring again this year in the run up to the Christmas holidays. We've still got it, so yeah, we're gonna flaunt it... It's a great time to play and to be honest December wouldn’t be the same without a Sheds gig would it? We are looking forward to playing once more for our ever loyal following. See you down the front....."

Dates are as follows

December 2013

Fri 06 Newcastle O2 Academy

Sat 07 Manchester Academy

Sun 08 Sheffield O2 Academy

Mon 09 Liverpool O2 Academy

Wed 11 Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall

Thu 12 Glasgow Barrowlands

Fri 13 York Barbican

Sat 14 Birmingham Institute

Mon 16 Northampton Roadmender

Tue 17 Cambridge Junction

Wed 18 Nottingham Rock City

Fri 20 London Forum

Sat 21 Leeds O2 Academy

Tickets go onsale Friday 26th April at 9am

Buy online: WWW.GIGSANDTOURS.COM 24hr cc hotline: 0844 811 0051

www.shedseven.com

www.facebook.com/shedseven

www.twitter.com/shedseven

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Grammy winner Steve Levine to judge the Liverpool Music Awards 2013

He created hits for The Beach Boys, Culture Club and many more, and now he’s coming to Liverpool to pass judgement on the city’s musical talent.

Grammy and BRIT Award winner Steve Levine is set to judge Liverpool’s latest musical offerings as he joins the panel of the Liverpool Music Award. The respected record producer will have his say on who takes gold in 16 award categories.

Steve, produced The Beach Boys’ 1985 self-titled album – the first to be recorded following the death of founder member Dennis Wilson.  He also produced all of Culture Club’s classic hits and their three multi-platinum selling albums.

His resume also included working with acts such as Lemmy and Motorhead, The Clash, Liverpool band China Crisis, Mis-teeq and Ziggy Marley. He will play an integral part in the awards, which this year are part Liverpool’s International Music Festival.

And as an extra special incentive for musical acts to enter the awards this year, one of the winning artists, will not only get to experience a recording session in Steve’s brand new studios located at Baltic Creative – but he’ll also produce a record for them.
    
Steve said: “I'm really honoured to have been asked to be a judge for this year's Liverpool Music Awards. The music community of Liverpool has always made me feel very welcome; it's a city brimming with creativity and unique talents, something that I'm sure will be evident to everyone with this year's show.”

Steve joins BBC Radio 2 presenter Janice Long on the judging panel.

Director of the Liverpool Music Awards, Ellie Phillips, said: “I couldn't actually believe my ears when I heard that Steve had been confirmed as a judge on the panel, I had to triple check that it was actually THE Steve Levine!

“Anyone who knows the music industry knows what a respected and extremely talented figure he his. The fact that someone of his calibre approached the Liverpool Music Awards to get involved just speaks of the huge positive impact which the first year had, on a national scale.

“Steve explained that he was going to be moving to Liverpool and opening his own studio here, and in addition to joining the judging panel, he offered to produce a record in his new studios for one of the Liverpool Music Awards' seven artist-category winners.  This is such an amazing prize, not only because of the recording which will be produced for the artist(s) to keep, but also for the experience of working with Steve himself, which I'm sure will be unforgettable."

Nominations for the awards open at midnight on Tuesday 30 April and will be open until midnight on Friday 31 May. The ceremony itself takes place on Sunday 25 August at St George’s Hall.

To find out more, visit www.liverpoolmusicawards.com.

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Sonar Promises A Unique Experience At The Capstone Theatre

On Friday 3 May, Liverpool’s Capstone Theatre is playing host to SONAR, a post-minimal-rock band from Switzerland. As a small chamber orchestra, they have just recorded their second album. SONAR creates a unique sound without the use of sequencers, loops or electronics. SONAR performs music in its purest form which results in spellbinding performances.

The critically acclaimed band’s unique name is short for Sonic Architecture which describes the band’s purpose, to conjure up breathtaking musical atmospheres, soundscapes and intricate aural spaces. SONAR’s trademark sound is shaped through use of two specially tuned guitars, a bass guitar, three small amplifiers and a basic drum kit.

"You might need a moment to get used to Sonar's idiosyncratic sound world. But once you are in, you don't want to leave..." (Nik Bärtsch, pianist and ECM recording artist)

SONAR is the collective effort of Stephan Thelen, Berhard Wagner, Christian Kuntner and Manuel Pasquinelli. An interval known as ‘Diabolus in Musica’ creates an experience where music is as direct and upfront as possible. SONAR’s performances create a bold but harmonically enjoyable musical cosmos.  By using unusual harmonies as well as complex and layered ‘polyrhythms’ the group allows their listeners to re-experience the mystery and magic of hearing music for the first time. Just about everything is different with SONAR, the sound, the harmonies, the rhythms, the whole musical concept. This is truly music as you’ve never experienced it before and a one of a kind musical performance.

LISTING INFORMATION

SONAR

Friday 3 May

7.30pm

£12.50

Venue Information

The Capstone Theatre

Shaw Street,

Liverpool

L6 1HP

HOW TO BOOK

In person: TicketQuarter, Mersey Travel Centre, Queen Square, Liverpool, L1 1RG.

Ticket Quarter Box Office: 0844 8000 410*or online at www.thecapstonetheatre.com*

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Jon Byrne Sat May 18 - Studio 2, Parr Street, Liverpool

Jon Byrne
Plus support
Saturday May 18th 2013
From £5
Liverpool - Studio 2, 33-34 Parr Street, Liverpool L1 4JN, 0151 707 3727

Jon Byrne’s rise to prominence has, surprisingly, been a long and arduous one. He was raised in the tough industrial UK town of Barrow-in-Furness. This experience allowed Jon to write about the rough side of the social spectrum; he says he writes from the soul and insists his songs tell it ‘how it is.’

With sharp looking suits, even sharper lyrics, beautifully woven melodies and performances that shake the stage with enough energy to force the needle off the Richter scale, Jon Byrne, will be releases his new album Built By Angels to coincide with his UK tour. He comes to Liverpool on Saturday 18th May.

Working with Clash legend, Mick Jones is up there as his career highlight along with recording with Devlin Love  from Alabama 3 and being  given the Glastonbury Leftfield best ‘new artist’ award for his solo performance at the festival.

“Certain people, the strange, the humorous goings on and the dark side of the street mainly in my home town have always inspired me but also life, family, comedy and films.Living with my Mam in the late eighties I observed her struggle to find money and coping with the stress of men letting her down. At an early age I observed my Mothers heartbreaks and began to look at things in a more realistic way, consequently such songs like Money is Better than Love and Beautiful Love were then born.”

“My dad is a playwright so from a young age I sat watching him type in a room filled with cigarette smoke. He lost his step son and his wife in the space of a few years and I remember worrying for his mental state and where his life would end up so the song Halfway to Ruin was written which I still regard as my best song.”

http://jonbyrne.co.uk/

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The Apples UK Tour - Erics Liverpool 2 May

The Apples
Eric's, 9 Mathew Street
Thursday 2nd May 2013
£10 box office 0151-236 9994

8pm
www.ericslive.com

The Apples are a musical metropolis, with band members hailing from Tel Aviv, New York, Jerusalem and Haifa. The nine piece band play funk, jazz and groove and include a drummer, bassist, 4 brass, 2 DJs and a sound console operator.

The inspired chemistry and varied backgrounds of the musicians that make up The Apples mix the indigenous rhythms of the Middle East and the melodies of European Jewish heritage on top of American R’n’B.  

Each member of the band has a different musical background so The Apples is a great opportunity to bring it all together. The decks,horns,bass,drums and effects nonet formed in 2002. Students at Jerusalem’s Rubin Academy of Music joined with Southern Tel Aviv’s burgeoning underground scene and Haifa’s creative jazz/ethno mentality and together began exploring spontaneous, groove-based, jazz flavored danceable improvised music.

As interest in the band grew, jams became parties, became events, became international tours. Recorded documents were sought out, so they began caging their live creations on records: The band’s Attention! LP and single (2006) led to London-based Freestyle Records, through which in 2007 the band released their notorious version of Rage Against the Machine’s Killing in the Name Of, followed by the Buzzin’ About LP (2008), and The Power EP (2009).

The Apple’s final effort for Freestyle was the Kings LP (2010) which saw the band write music for and collaborate with two music Kings - funk legend Fred Wesley,  the American jazz and funk trombonist, best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as Parliament-Funkadelic and world music guru Shlomo Bar. A 7″ single representing both collaborations, In The Air/Batash (Alwoojdi) was also released.

The Apples have become a firm favourite on the festival circuit, with their covers of Rage Against The Machine and their spine tingling tribute to Amy Winehouse You Know I’m No Good. They've also been picking up high profile fans along the way, including DJs Annie Mac, Zane Lowe, Huey Morgan, A Skillz and Mr Scruff.

The Apples put out their fifth album, Fly on It last year. It was recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios and finds the band closer than ever to capturing their signature explosive live sound on tape. They will be heading out on their European tour this month and stop off at Eric’s on Mathew Street on Thursday 2nd May.

More UK dates at www.theapples.net

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The Original Rudeboys July Headline Tour Announced

The Original Rudeboys have announced their first headline UK tour for July. Having just completed a European and UK tour as special guests to The Script; The Original Rudeboys have performed to over 150,000 people. The Script were so impressed by the ‘Rudeboys’ that they have also asked them to guest on their Australian tour dates.

The Original Rudeboys’ debut album 'This Life' has been certified gold in Ireland. It's an outstanding achievement for the band that only formed in March 2011 and is a testament to their dedicated work ethic, relentless gigging, and their winning way with a memorable tune. 'This Life', which was produced by Jake Gosling (Ed Sheeran, Paloma Faith), was released in March 2012, charting at # 3, and has been a permanent fixture on the Irish album charts ever since.

With their YouTube viewing figures of over 3 million and rising, 45,000 fans on Facebook and 30,000 followers on Twitter; The Original Rudeboys story is getting bigger and stronger by the day. The Original Rudeboys have also performed as special guests to Cheryl Cole in Dublin and Belfast and have played sold out shows with Professor Green, Maverick Sabre, Example and Rizzle Kicks.

2013 is already shaping up to be an even bigger year for the band, with more domestic and international dates to be announced shortly and their UK tour goes onsale Friday 5^th April.

UK HEADLINE TOUR

Tue 09-Jul-2013 - London O₂ Academy Islington2

Wed 10-Jul-2013 - Birmingham O₂ Academy3

Thu 11-Jul-2013 - Liverpool O₂ Academy2

Fri 12-Jul-2013 - Newcastle O₂ Academy2

Mon 15-Jul-2013 - Sheffield Leadmill Room 2

Tue 16-Jul-2013 - Manchester Deaf Institute

Wed 17-Jul-2013 - Cardiff CF10

Tickets are £9.50 (£11.50 London) and go on sale Friday 05 April 2013 @ 9AM

www.gigsandtours.com / 0844 811 0051

www.theoriginalrudeboys.com

@orbsofficial

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Saxophonist Marius Neset Visits The Capstone

Critically acclaimed Saxophonist Marius Neset is set to make waves at The Capstone Theatre this April as he brings an extraordinary maturity, talent, energy and commitment to Jazz music, which is far beyond his tender years to Liverpool’s leading venue for Jazz and world music.

Since the release of his debut album, Norwegian Marius Neset has quickly become the most talked about newcomer on the European Jazz Scene, gaining praise from Guardian Jazz authority John Fordham and captured the prestigious JazZtipendiat Prize - awarded to a musician of outstanding capabilities. Golden Xplosion, Marisu critically acclaimed album, won 5-star reviews from the Guardian, Telegraph and Irish Times in addition to rave reviews in Danish Magazine, Jazz Special and Norway’s Jazznytt, praising both the virtuosity and musicianship of the compositions and performance.

Throughout 2011 Neset toured extensively throughout Europe, including performances at Molde, Copenhagen, Cork and Manchester Jazz Festivals as well as a hugely successful 8-date UK tour. His debut London concert at Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho in September, was recorded for national broadcast on BBC Radio 3, and saw every major UK jazz journalist attend to see him perform to a sell-out crowd. With the standard set this high, we expect the bar to be raised by this Marius, who will be here with his quartet, featuring some of Europe’s brightest stars. This is a gig not to be missed and an exciting addition to The Capstone Theatre’s April line-up.

LISTING INFORMATION

Marius Neset Friday 26^th April

7.30pm

Tickets: £15

VENUE INFORMATION

The Capstone Theatre Shaw Street,

Liverpool

L6 1HP

HOW TO BOOK

In person: TicketQuarter, Mersey Travel Centre, Queen Square, Liverpool, L1 1RG.

Ticket Quarter Box Office: 0844 8000 410*or online at www.thecapstonetheatre.com*

*Subject to booking fee.

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