Liverpool After Dark - Issue 5

Issue 5. April 2013 Free

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Noah & The Whale

Splash Down at

Entertainment

Culture

Nightlife

• £15 adv Sat 13th Apr

& Jaguar Skills ends ri F His Amazing

r• Wed 24th Ap

£11 adv

Rudimental

• £17.50 adv Sat 25th May ng

a Cast & The Tw

£20 adv Fri 14th Jun •

Beatles The Bootleg

r• Tues 16th Ap

£22.50 adv

Big Country

r • £18 adv Weds 17th Ap

The Fratellis

• £17.50 adv Sat 27th Apr

• Sun 12th May

ay • £15 adv Weds 29th Mmeet & greet £30 VIP inc.

£10.50 adv Sat 8th Jun •

I Am Kloot

den Brian McFad

• Tues 18th Jun

£35 adv

Blondie

£12 adv

Lucy Rose

James Skellyrs e & The Intend

• £16 adv Sun 13th Oct ing

veryth Everything E

11-13 Hotham Street, Liverpool L3 5UF Venue box office opening hours: Mon-Sat 11.30am-5.30pm No booking fee on cash transactions

ticketweb.co.uk • seetickets.com gigantic.com • ticketmaster.co.uk

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March 2013

Contents Issue 5. April 2013

Events 6. In Other Words Literary Festival 7. CBeebies Live Echo 2 at Echo Arena 8. John Smith’S Grand National At Aintree 9. Cruise into History From the Pier Head 10. St George’s Day Mike the Knight and more!

Music 11. Noah & The Whale Catch ‘em if you can 12. Sound City UK’s first festical of 2013 14. Everything Everything ... but the girl 16. Liverpool Rocks 16. The Krazy House

18. D for Diva Jenn D 20. Music Previews

Eating Out

Nightlife

Theatre

24. Garden Party Garden Get-together at Haus 26. Are you in Le Clique?

26. Lee Butler Picks his top five and reveals his guns!

28. Luna 1st birthday preview 28. My Top Five for April Matt Gall 29. Waxxx On! Waxxx fair preview 30. NuNorthern Soul 32. Top 5 Bars Liverpool City Centre hotspots

34. Top 5 Eateries Eat till you’re chubby!

36. The Smell of Envy At the Capstone Theatre 37. Whats On? A run-down of April’s Theatre

Cinema 42. Reviews The best film releases for April. Cruise in a leather, Coogan with a ‘tache, it’s all happening this month!!

Magazine Team Editor Anthony Bennett 0151 214 3233 tony@liverpoolafterdark.com Art Director Roy McCarthy 0151 214 3235 roy@liverpoolafterdark.com Designer Lisa Robson 0151 214 3235 lisa@liverpoolafterdark.com Photography & Video Production Jonathan Dawe 0787 0257 942 jonathan@liverpoolafterdark.com App Developers Andrew Cornforth, Steve Tickle Social Media Sean Weaver Advertising Advertising Manager Mike Clarke 0151 214 3232 mike@liverpoolafterdark.com Telesales Manager David Eaton 0151 214 3232 dave@liverpoolafterdark.com Digital Sponsorship Jon Saunders 0151 214 3231 jon@liverpoolafterdark.com Contributors Rosie Cameron, Josh Ray, Lee Butler, Rebecca Frankland, Zoë Byrne, Joe-Ann Randles, Larissa Wignall, Matt Gall

Thanks to Mike Cockburn, Adam Lewis, Warren Butcher, Joanne Evans, Rajesh Sharma, Joel Jelen, Craig Lawrenson, Alan McCarthy, Emma McHarrie, Kerry Quinn, Emma Allison, Clive Knowles, Eden Showers, Lisa Southern, Bill Elms, Mike Doran

Publishing Published by Survival Media Limited 4th Floor Elevator Studios 25-31 Parliament Street Liverpool L8 5RN Telephone 0151 214 3230 Website www.liverpoolafterdark.com Facebook facebook.com/liverpoolafterdark Twitter @LpoolAfterDark In partnership with

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Events

In Other Words Liverpool Literary Festival Various Locations 23 April - 19 May

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elebrating all things connected with the written and spoken word, Liverpool is the place to be this April and May as the city plays host to In Other Words.

James Herbert, Kevin Sampson, Melvyn Bragg, Janet StreetPorter, Maureen Lee and Ramsey Campbell are among the lineup for the three week festival, which kicks off on World Book Night, April 23rd. Alongside famous author readings, book swaps, special storytelling events, debates, poetry competitions and performances in unique venues will make this a literary festival like no other.

At the heart of this month long festival will be Liverpool’s Central Library, which once again opens its doors on May 17 following intricate restoration. With historic treasures, state of-the-art facilities and a new café to relax in, there’s something for everyone.

On top of all of this and coinciding with Central Library’s re-opening is this year’s Light Night, the city’s one-night arts and culture festival which sees venues across Liverpool open from 4pm to late so visitors can make the most of the gems on their doorsteps (see next issue for details).

With a wealth of things to see and do expect the unexpected. www.itsliverpool.com/culture

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April 2013

After Dark writer falls 10,000 feet – for a great cause!

CBeebies Live presents: Justin and Friends EchoTwo at Echo Arena 4th April Get ready to bring the house down as Justin Fletcher MBE brings his favourite CBeebies characters together on stage for the very first time in this brand new Easter 2013 eggtravaganza.

Joining Justin in his adventures will be his chums Robert the Robot and Little Monster from Justin’s House, as Justin prepares to put on a spectacular rock and roly-poly show for a very special visitor.

Nina from Nina and the Neurons will be there, to make sure everything goes according to plan, the adventurous Andy Day will leave no stone unturned and Katy Ashworth will cook up a storm. But as Robert’s enthusiasm for tidying up threatens Justin’s plans to stage the most amazing show ever, he’ll need

your help to keep things on track.

With megastars from Gigglebiz including Nana Knickerbocker, Lost Pirate, Arthur Sleep and Keith Fit all joining in the fun, get ready to search high and low, sing and dance and prepare for a fantastic fun filled finale! There’s also a host of Tumbles from Something Special, including Lord Tumble, Grandad Tumble and Cliff Tumble, as well as an hilarious appearance by Mr Tumble!

Under 14’s must be accompanied by an adult over 18. The show will contain amplified (loud) sound.

Not recommended for children under the age of 18 Months. www.cbeebieslive.com

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For After Dark writer Larissa Wignall, turning 25 this year is going to be particularly memorable as the 24 year old is doing a 10,000 feet Tandem Skydive for Breast Cancer Care on Saturday 11th May - the day before her birthday.

Larissa, who works at Sentric Digital, loves taking part in daring activities. She previously did a Tandem Skydive at 18 for Zoë’s Place Hospice and last summer she bungee jumped in Croatia.

“Raising awareness and sponsorship money for Breast Cancer Care is something close to my heart, as I lost my Aunty to this horrendous illness several years ago,” explains Larissa.

“Breast cancer’s not just one single disease, there are several types and it can be diagnosed at different stages of development and can grow at different rates. In rare cases men as well as women can develop the disease. I’d like to say a really big thank you to everyone who is sponsoring me.”

If you would like to help with the sponsorship funds for the Breast Cancer Tandem Skydive visit Larissa’s Just Giving page below and please feel free to share her page via your social networks once you have donated. http://www.justgiving.com/ Larissa-Wignall Twitter: @LARISSA_NO_1

Events

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he world and its media will yet again be descending upon Aintree Racecourse for three of the biggest days in the British sporting and social calendar, the John Smith’s Grand National, which in 2013 will take place from Thursday 4th – Saturday 6th April.

A British sporting institution, the Grand National attracts over 154,000 race-goers for three days like no other, which includes Grand Opening Day, Ladies’ Day and a day which needs no introduction, John Smith’s Grand National Day.

John Smith’s Grand National

Over 11 million viewers tuned in to watch the 2012 race on the BBC and were witness to many firsts; a photo finish deciding the winner and a first Grand National victory for champion trainer, Paul Nicholls. Neptune Collonge’s victory over Sunnyhill Boy also added the horse’s name to the history books as only the third grey to have ever won the race in its rich 165-year history.

Tickets and Badges available now a www.aintree.co.uk

Aintree Racecourse Ormskirk Road L9 5AS Thursday 4th – Saturday 6th April 0151 523 2600

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April 2013

An Amazing Cruise Into History - Manchester Ship Canal Cruises Pier Head, Liverpool.

Cruise tickets (including bus transfer) £38.00 per ticket - Senior/Child £36.00

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elax and enjoy a fascinating 6 hour, 35 mile journey along this famous inland waterway with the legendary Mersey Ferries. From April to October, the cruises take in spectacular scenery leaving you with an awe-inspiring sense of how the canal’s construction shaped forever the North West of England.

Go on a journey through time, passing through locks and under bridges, mostly unchanged since they were built over 100 years ago.

View the succession of swing bridges, a graceful sight as they turn through 90 degrees to allow ships to pass.

Marvel at the historic buildings, industry, fields, houses and the wide open space of the Mersey estuary as you cruise along, all surrounded by nature’s beauty and tranquillity.

A fascinating live commentary tells the story of the canal and

how it was built, primarily to help Manchester’s ailing cotton trade. However, in reality, it did more to boost engineering and became a focus for importers of food and raw materials.

The refurbished vessels provide excellent facilities, with refreshments and snacks available for sale throughout the cruise.

Cruises depart on selected dates from the Pier Head and Seacombe. All cruises include return bus transport to your starting point, unless you wish to book your own transport.

Most cruises include an approximate 2½ hour stopover at the end of the cruise (canal traffic permitting) to allow you time to take in the sights, have a bite to eat, do a little shopping or simply enjoy the culture.

Details of specific dates can be found at www.merseyferries. co.uk or the information/ booking line: 0151 330 1444.

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Groove On The Green Chavasse Park Liverpool ONE 27th & 28th April Free Groove on the Green is an exciting free festival at Liverpool ONE in Liverpool city centre. This annual jazz, soul, swing and blues festival takes place in the last weekend of April on Chavasse Park, promising to attract thousands of people.

It is organised and managed by students at LIPA. The festival will feature up and coming bands from local universities and more established northern-based bands, including locally acclaimed jazz bands, quartets, big bands and orchestras. Groove on the Green aims to make jazz music more accessible by offering it to a wider audience, helping to elevate creative thinking and to raise the profile of jazz music.

Photograph: Andrew Ab

Events

St George’s Day Festival

St George’s Quarter 21st April 11am – 5pm. Free Info: 0151 233 2212

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iverpool is to host its first ever St George’s Day Festival on Sunday 21st April 2013. The spectacular daylong event will feature the debut appearance in the city of CBBC character Mike the Knight, with historical entertainment provided by the Plantagenet Medieval Society who will recreate the pageantry, excitement and action of medieval combat along with courtly dancing and music.

The focus of the festival, which has been organised to promote the city’s historic St George’s Quarter, will be around St George’s Hall and St John’s Gardens which will

also host a fun fair and various themed stalls including a hogroast.

Dragon inspired Superlambananas will take up residence in Queen Square with activities also planned for Williamson Square at the Liverpool Bandstand including performances by the community choir of the Royal Court.

There will be a host of indoor fun too at the World Museum, Walker Art Gallery and St George’s Hall ranging from medieval arts workshops and story-telling to costume dressing and a knight’s trail.

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Children are being invited to attend the free event in fancy dress on the theme of Knights, Dragons and Princesses with prizes for under-10s and under-5s.

Those attending in fancy dress will also be able to enjoy discounts at restaurants in Queen Square and discounted car-parking at Queen Square Car Park.

Liverpool’s inaugural St George’s Day Festival will begin at 11am when Mike The Knight will meet a very special dragon on St George’s Plateau. The event is scheduled to end at 5pm.

Music

Liverpool Sound City Liverpool Anglican Cathedral May 2nd – 4th

Noah & the Whale At Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral

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oah and the Whale are used to playing huge venues but will play a much more intimate show in Liverpool at the Anglican Cathedral, the perfect setting for a much fuller sound that belies their more folksy beginnings. The band release their fourth album Heart Of Nowhere in May and will showcase tracks from it at this very special show. The band’s Matt “Urby” Owens said: “We always have an absolute blast in Liverpool and it’ll be great to play Sound City for the first time. The crowd are really up for it and it’s always been a big gig for us. Bring on May 2nd.”

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Music

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April 2013

Everything Everything / Darwin Deez / Delphic / Oneohtrix Point Never / Dutch Uncles / Mikill Pane / Drenge / Pins / Savages / Wave Machines / The Walkmen / Dexys / Enter Shikari / Mount Kimbie / King Krule / Alunageorge / Toy and many more artists cnfirmed for 3 days of musical mayhem 3 Day Wristband £40 / 3 Day Delegate pass £80 / £25 Daily Wristbands Available

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ound City is back between May 2nd & 4th and has lined-up an incredible array of exciting new names for the UK’s first festival of the year.

With over 360 artists in over 25 venues playing to an estimated 40,000 music fans, Sound City is famed for showcasing the most exciting acts in the world right now; a thrilling three day rock ‘n’ rollercoaster and a first opportunity to catch the globe’s most boundary pushing artists in one place before they hit the summer festival circuit. Last year saw Mercury Music Prize winners Alt-J, Jake Bugg and Django Django perform before the bands released critically and commercially acclaimed albums later in the year and previous performances have included early shows from Florence and the Machine, The Maccabees and Ed Sheeran. Sound City is a snapshot of everything that is vital in music right now.

Band of the moment, Everything Everything recently released their second album Arc to widespread

critical acclaim and their art-funk stylings are not to be missed. The futuristic indie pop of New Yorker Darwin Deez and crystalline leftfield pop of Manchester based Dutch Uncles will also be two hot Sound City shows.

Delphic’s debut album heralded a reappraisal of dance influenced rock music and paved the way for the current crossover success of the genre and their second album Collections sees them heading into even more adventurous territory. The experimental drone of Oneohtrix Point Never and noisily drenched voodoo pop of local band Stealing Sheep will take music matters in a much more avant garde direction.

Punky blues rock from the Peak District comes courtesy of Drenge, a band being tipped by everyone to watch out for in 2103 whilst blog queens Pins showcase why the North West continues to produce the UK’s most exciting music.

Savages are another girl band whose post-punk is rapturous, passionate and intriguing. Wave Machines second album Pollen

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met with huge critical acclaim and their homecoming show at Sound City will show why they are one of the best bands in the city at the moment.

Also newly announced are: Alessi’s Ark, Jetta, Bipolar Sunshine, Loom, Deep Sea Arcade, Blackeye, Skaters, Melody’s Echo Chamber, Wolf People, Splashh, Charlie Boyer & The Voyeurs, Lulu James, Arcane Roots, Still Corners, Luls, Hands, Wild Smiles, Ian Prowse & Amsterdam, Mikill Pane (pictured), Bebe Black, Jacob Banks, Bo Ningen, Big Deal, Night Engine, Mind Enterprises, Golden Fable, Likely Lads.

Having previously announced acts such as Dexys, The Walkmen, Enter Shikari, Reverend and the Makers, AlunaGeorge, Thee Oh Sees, Mount Kimbie, Future Of The Left, King Krule, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Darkstar, Toy and more, Sound City underlines its commitment to showcasing the world most exciting new talent, up close and personal. www.liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk

Music

Sound City Convention Sound City also boasts an acclaimed convention giving attendees the opportunity to gain valuable insights into the music and entertainment industry.

Giving a keynote speech for 2013 will be Andrew Loog Oldham, former PR man for The Beatles and manager of the Rolling Stones and Sound City will also present Set In Stone a photo exhibition of the history of the Stone Roses by Ian Tilton who has documented the band at every stage of their career from the initial hectic gigs and TV performances to their reformation in 2011. Many of these images have never been seen before.

A big focus in 2013 will be to provide key insights in the workings of a band and Murph from The Wombats and his manager Simon Bobbet will talk about the unique relationship between and band and its manager. Enter Shikari In Focus will speak to the key people around the hardest working band in Britain and Tracey Thorn will discuss a career which has spanned 30 years in the music industry.

“Social Media Hellraiser” Jon Morter was behind the Rage Against The X Factor campaign and worked on the fight to save BBC 6 Music. He has worked on campaigns for artists such as Nirvana, Sex Pistols and the recent Number 1 album for the Rolling Stones and was instrumental in the success of the recent Christmas Number 1 with the Justice Collective in aid of the Hillsborough families. His panel will highlight the potency of social media.

Enter Shikari play o2 Academy on Saturday May 4th, 9pm

Everything Everything The Art Academy, wolstenholme square, Liverpool, L1 4JJ April 3rd - 11:30pm

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and of the moment Everything Everything are one of the outstanding headline acts at this year’s Sound City, playing at The Art Academy (one of Liverpool Sound City’s pop up venues, usually used as an art gallery) as part of their full 2013 UK tour to celebrate the January release of their new album Arc. Are the rumours true? Have Everything Everything gone for the melodic jugular? Is their second album Arc really the sound of the Manchester-based adventurers turning into radiofriendly unit-shifters?

No. But: “I love radio,” states bass/keyboard player Jeremy Pritchard. “I think it’s still the spearhead of British popular culture. But it’s dangerous to say this record’s got loads of radio tunes on it. ’Cause it just sounds like you’ve been writing with a special demographic in mind. But, at the same time, we did want more people to like the new songs more quickly.”

“It doesn’t really work anyway if you try and do it,” affirms singer/ guitarist/keyboardist Jonathan Higgs, and he’s not just saying

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that because the foursome snagged a Mercury nomination for debut album Man Alive precisely because they ploughed their own agit-disco/fizz-rock furrow. “But there is a desire in all of us to have more of a connection. Certainly with my lyrics I feel that; I want more people to look up and go, ‘I know what he’s talking about’.”

“Or think, ‘I’ve been touched by that,’” adds Pritchard.

“Rather,” nods Higgs, “than going, ‘what the hell’s he on about this time?’”

Two years since they shook up British guitar music, Everything Everything – Higgs, Pritchard, Alex Robertshaw (guitar), Michael Spearman (drums) – have put all of themselves into their second album, and taken inspiration wherever they found it. The summer 2011 riots, as viewed from a Salford vantage point, played a part, as did the band’s frontman’s reading up on futurology.

“With the album in general we wanted to be far less uptight and less controlled-sounding than Man Alive,” says Pritchard. “So with a track like The House Is Dust, we wanted to do it as live as possible

April 2013

“Here we are, in jumpers. Trying to just keep it real.”

– and as drunk as possible. And it was much more earthy.”

“We recorded the harmonium outside in the rain,” says Higgs.

“You can hear a sheep on the track.”

Everything Everything toured for a year in support of Man Alive, a bold, breakthrough album that took the sound of, ah, Mathwerk into the Top 20. They were writing as they went, grabbing ideas when they came, always keeping one weather eye on their musical future.

At one point early on, Higgs had retreated to the garden shed at his mum and dad’s house in deepest Cumbria. He emerged with just the one song. But what a song.

Kemosabe, the second single from Arc, retains the digi-Timbaland groove that marked out some of Man Alive’s best moments, but adds buzzsaw riffs and a sunshine chorus. As pathfinders songs go, it was a brilliant start.

They finally came off the road in September 2011, closing with a 24-hour flourish involving an Irish festival and an appearance at the Mercury Music Prize awards

in London. The band then wrote throughout the winter, before exposing the new compositions to the unforgiving light of the Snow Patrol tour.

Pritchard: “We wanted to know what worked with our fans, with other people’s fans, with people who’d never heard us, with people who hated us. That was a good learning curve. Two days after the tour we started recording with David Kosten.”

Reuniting with the producer of Man Alive was a no-brainer. Who else might get this band who are, by their own admission, a taxing mixture of shyness and control freakery? Kosten – who also worked on the first two Bat For Lashes albums – initially approached the band after hearing their second single (Photoshop Handsome – released on Another music = Another Kitchen in 2009). As the bass player recalls, Kosten said, “you guys are really good and here’s what I think makes you special and if you’d like to record with me, this I what I’d try and achieve”. “In all the right ways,” shrugs Pritchard, “he seemed to have better a sense of

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what made us than we did”.

Higgs: “We can say things to him that wouldn’t make sense to anyone else. That’s partly ’cause he’s got a similar brain to us – he’s a pretty weird guy.”

One final thing. Why the title Arc? “There’s this microcosm, macrocosm view of it,” says bigthinking, big-picture Jon Higgs.

“It’s this journey full of peaks and troughs. Are we, humanity, on a rise or are we on a fall? Looking at history there are good parts, bad parts. And there’s the personal character arc of my life – I am on crest of a wave, or am I down here? I like alluding to his idea of an arc – upwards, but at the same time downwards.”

“Man Alive, in lots of ways, was so much distraction – here’s a fox on the sleeve, but even that’s jittered up, partly destroyed. And it sounded like that – very digital and at arms’ length almost.

“And on Arc,” concludes the frontman, “it’s more a case of: this is who we are. We’re not dressing up as pirates. Here we are, in jumpers. Trying to just keep it real. In,” he smiles, “the most unhip hop sense.”

Music

Alt Girl Massacre Krazy House Liverpool Rocks The Cavern April 28th, 2pm £15.00

On Sunday afternoon April 28th at 2pm The Cavern goes back to where it once belonged....the 60s! The legendary venue opens its doors with a Merseybeat special called Liverpool Rocks.

Original Liverpool 60s legends The Undertakers, The Hideaways, Beryl Marsden and special guests The Kirkbys will be pumping out pure Merseybeat on the most famous club in the world for what promises to be a unique reunion event. It’s been many years since these bands graced the hallowed Cavern stage.... and it’s even more unique that they’ll all be playing on the same day. This may never happen again so it cannot be missed. There are only 200 tickets available for the gig which are on sale now on and selling fast so act fast if you want to book your place for this special trip through rock ‘n’ roll history.

Tickets available at The Cavern Pub 0151 236 4041 and The Beatles Shop 0151 236 8066 Anyone wanting tickets by post please email your name, address and telephone number to: liverpoolrocks64@yahoo.co.uk Info: 07719 695 486

Alt Girl Massacre April 27th, 10pm

Alt J

May 11th, 10pm The Krazyhouse, Wood Street The Krazyhouse is the UK’s biggest alternative club with a 21 year old history and a landmark of the British rock club scene. Spread across three floors, The K (as it is affectionately known) is one of the very first places to visit if you’re new to Liverpool’s nightlife scene.

Open three nights a week, the club pleases everyone from metal heads, indie kids, punk rockers and pretty much any fans of whatever rock genre you can think of. Over the years the club has played host to many of the biggest

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acts in the world, including; Korn, Oasis, Blur, Moby, Radiohead, Feeder... the list goes on! The Wombats (allegedly) even wrote a song about it.

There are two huge events to look out for at The Krazyhouse in the coming weeks. First, on Saturday April 27th comes the return of Alt Girl Massacre (Hannah Martin & Mel Clarke), two of the most popular and successful alternative glamour models in Britain today.

The stars of Front Magazine, FHM and many more are back at the club for a night of heavy metal and partying.

And then on Saturday May 11th, Alt-J - currently the biggest indie group in the UK - visit the club for a massive party DJ set. These guys were nominated for Breakthrough Act of the Year at this year’s Brits and with a sell-out UK tour they are already looking to become the top-selling band of 2013. If you want to be able to get close-up and personal with these guys then this is your chance to do it.

Music

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enn D is Liverpool’s latest pop sensation who’s being tipped for big things in 2013.

Chester born and Liverpool based, the pop newcomer now divides her time between her home city and London where she’s working slavishly on finishing her debut album. The one time ticket girl at Liverpool’s 02 Academy first found musical prominence as lead singer of electro indie pop band Soft Toy Emergency.

Jenn’s song-writing prowess attracted record label attention and, after finding her feet as a pop artist in her own right, she was snapped up last summer

by AATW Records. Since then the budding pop siren’s worked with some major producers and songwriters; the teams behind stars like The Saturdays, JLS, Pixie Lott, Professor Green, Little Mix, Emeli Sande and Kylie.

Which artists do you most identify with?

JD: Nelly Furtado, Debbie Harry, Gwen Stefani and David Bowie.

They write classic pop songs but have that individuality and an edge to their music that makes them stand out.

You’ve written for other artists (including, bizarrely, a Korean boy band!) Do you see yourself first as a writer or a performer?

JD: Yes I’ve been asked to write for lots of different artists.

The thing I love doing most is performing live in front of people, so in that sense I would have to say I see myself first as a performer. But then I love writing and being in the studio, that’s also very important to me. I can see myself writing and doing the more behind the scenes part of music production in the future.

achieve something you’ve got to be prepared to put a lot of work into it. Who knows, maybe if I get really successful it’ll get a bit more glamorous.

You’ve got quite an individual style in terms of your look for video and live shows etc. How have you developed that and are there any particular designers you’re working with?

JD: I have a lot of input into my styling for the videos and live shows but I’ve been very lucky to work with a friend of mine who’s a young up and coming designer from Sheffield, Nabil Nayal, who’s really talented and he’s really helped me bring out ideas and find a defined look.

What do you get up to when you’re not working?

JD: I don’t really get much free time at the moment and to be

D for Diva: Jenn D JD: When I first worked with some of these great industry people who have been involved in making some amazing hits over the last few years, it was quite scary really and you feel so intimidated walking into the studio. But then when you get down to working with them, we vibe off each other and it’s a really great atmosphere. I realise just how lucky I am to be working with people who’ve had so much experience in the industry and I’m learning so much. It’s an amazing opportunity.

How would you describe your music?

JD: It’s very kind of fun, edgy, electro pop – the last single Lose It was a bit more minimal and had much more of an urban dance feel.

You Keep Giving Me Love is more mainstream pop, a real feel-good pop song. That’s probably more representative of the rest of the album and the tracks I’m putting together at the moment.

Two of your demos have already featured on hit TV show Made In Chelsea. How did that come about?

JD: The production company from Channel 4 who are behind the show had heard my tracks through Pop Justice (who’ve given me a lot of support). They approached me and said they really liked the tracks and felt they’d fit well with the show. It was really weird seeing the songs featured on the show but it was great. It was funny ‘cause my brother would never watch that kind of programme– it’s not his thing at all; but he said “You know I’ve had to watch 15 minutes of Made in Chelsea for you just so I could hear your songs”.

Is the pop lifestyle as glamorous as it appears?

JD: No it is not. It’s not what people expect at all. There are a lot of long hours, and you have to work really, really hard. It’s like anything in life, if you want to

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honest I’m a bit of a workaholic.

I’m pretty much based in London during the week but I love getting back to Liverpool at weekends.

Everyone I meet in the industry who isn’t from here tells me they love Liverpool and going out here. I love seeing my friends and going out and having a good time.

We’ll usually start the night in the bars around Seel Street (Santa Chupitos, Peacocks etc.) but then see where the night takes us.

What’s next after the single?

JD: I’m going to be working on the album which the label tells me should be ready for release in about September time I hope. But also rehearsing and getting ready for some live shows. I really hope to be doing a show in Liverpool before the end of the year but I can’t say anything yet!

Jenn D’s single You Keep Giving Me Love is released on 7th April via AATW / Universal.

April 2013

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Music

O2 Academy I Am Kloot

April 27th £17.50 I Am Kloot come to the 02 Academy in April as part of their UK tour following the phenomenal critical and commercial success of their sublime new LP Let It All In and their recent single Some Better Day. Written by the band and produced

by Elbow’s Guy Garvey and Craig Potter, Let It All In has been given 4 star ratings from the Guardian, The Times, Q, MOJO and Uncut and entered the charts at number 10 in its first week. www.iamkloot.com www.ticketweb.co.uk

Big Country

April 16th £22.50 Big Country, one of Britain’s most successful and best-loved 80’s rock bands, are touring the UK in April 2013 with a new line-up – and will release a brand new album later in the year.

“After 30 years I never thought I would be playing in Big Country again,” says guitarist Bruce Watson, “A band Stuart and I started last millenium in the hope of carrying on his dreams from his days in the Skids. We hope to do him proud.” www.bigcountry.co.uk

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April April 2013 2013

02 Academy Rudimental April 24th £11 adv.

Bursting out of London’s underground music scene with its thrilling world of pirate radio, crude DJ set ups, improvised studios, and bleeding edge beats come Rudimental (Piers Aggett, Kesi Dryden, Amir Amor and Leon Rolle): A pioneering melting-pot collective who have taken the British music scene by storm, championed for their uncompromising approach to music-making whilst avoiding rigid classification.

They’ve won acclaim for their huge drum & bass-meets-soul anthem and No. 1 single Feel The Love; their Later… with Jools Holland TV performance; their historic BBC Radio 1 Hackney Weekend extravaganza (which saw their second ever live show Vixen become the Hot New Pop most shared performance of the Unleashes entire festival); andHit the thrilling energy of their live shows, DJ sets and groundbreaking videos.

Taking a traditional songwriting approach as much as an electronic one in their music making, Rudimental mix live instrumentation with digital programming. As Rudimental’s Piers says, “our sound is organic.

It’s the result of years of raving, listening to pirate radio, listening to dubs, to tapes older brothers would bring home, and being inspired by all of it. We’re products of our individual musical journeys and of London”.

The four piece write as a group, pulling from one another’s strengths. The result of this sound-clash is thick, layered basslines and contagious hooks that both reflects London and translates outside the city. Piers says “It’s important for us to tell a story as much as we can about the things we’re passionate about – what’s happening on a grassroots level in cities, because that’s where we come from”.

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Music

Steve Conte (The New York Dolls) Erics, 9 Mathew Street, Liverpool April 10th, 8pm £12.50 Working between records & tours as lead guitarist/backing singer and co-songwriter with the legendary New York Dolls, Conte (above) has produced his band’s debut album, Steve Conte & The Crazy Truth. It features guest performances by Dolls front man David Johansen on harmonica, the soulful voices of Nikki Richards (Tina Turner/Madonna) and Catherine Russell (Al Green) and horns by Danny Ray (Sylvain Sylvain/ Johnny Thunders), Tom Timko (Stevie Wonder) and Kiku Collins (Beyonce). Sonically, The Crazy Truth lies somewhere between garage rock and punk blues with hints of Latin-soul in a dark, smoky lounge. It’s the Stooges and the Stones versus Morphine and Tom Waits. The overall vibe is best described by Conte as “classic roots with a modern twist.”

Pere Ubu Erics, 9 Mathew Street, Liverpool April 22nd, 8pm £17.50 Assembled in August 1975 to be the Crosby Stills Nash & Young of the Cleveland music underground, the plan was to record one, maybe two singles and exist no more.

Within months, however, those first self-produced records were

being snapped up in London, Paris, Manchester, New York and Minneapolis. Pere Ubu was changing the face of rock music.

Over the next 34 years they defined the art of cult; refined the voice of the outsider; and inspired the likes of Joy Division, Pixies, Husker Du, Henry Rollins, REM, Sisters of Mercy, Thomas Dolby, Bauhaus, Julian Cope and countless others. Pere Ubu make a music that is a disorienting mix of midwestern groove rock, “found” sound, analog synthesizers, falling-apart song structures and careening vocals.

the panel on the latest talent show taking the world by storm.

Support act for Brian is 22 yearold Welsh singer Berney, who’s hoping to add her name to the list of great voices hailing from the valleys, having already had approval from the likes of Tom Jones. Last year she was scouted for BBC’s the Voice, performing on the live shows and watched by 11 million people.

Brian Kennedy Epstein Theatre April 26th, 8:00pm Advance: £17.00/OTD: £17:50 Brian (below) is one of Ireland’s foremost live performers and songwriters. In his own words, “Music is my lifeblood,” and this is reflected in his relentless schedule, from his first gig in the ‘90s, to the present time. His constant touring from Ireland and the UK to Australia and the USA, including the major global festivals, has resulted in a thriving international fan base over a phenomenal twenty-year career in the music industry.

Brian’s most recent album Voice entered the album chart at No. 3 in 2012. The single Best Days and the album convey Brian’s exemplary vocals and song writing prowess. Brian says “I wanted to write something from a positive perspective that gives us all a flicker of hope amongst the negativity we have to deal with on a daily basis.” Brian Kennedy has also been one of the four coaches on The Voice of Ireland TV series, bringing a wealth of experience to

Edwyn Collins plus support Liverpool Philharmonic Hall April 20th, 8 pm £17.50 / £23.50 Edwyn Collins (above) comes to the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on April 20th as part of his UK wide tour promoting his newly released eighth solo album, Understated. It is his first since Losing Sleep was released to widespread acclaim in September 2010. All songs were written

by Edwyn, except Love’s Been Good To Me, a Rod McKuen cover and the album features the musicians Barrie Cadogan (Little Barrie, Primal Scream), James Walbourne (The Pretenders, Ray Davies, Pernice Brothers, Dead Flamingoes), Carwyn Ellis (Colorama, The Pretenders), Sean Read (The Rockingbirds, Dexys), David Ruffy (The Ruts, Dexys) & Paul Cook (The Sex Pistols).

Edwyn was recently honoured at this year’s AIM Awards where he received the Outstanding Contribution to Music award.

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Nightlife

Garden Party!

I

t’s that time of year again when The Garden Festival goes global and introduces its The Garden Get Together Tour for spring and summer 2013. There’s a party trail which will cross Europe, weaving a merry way over the UK and the continent, taking in some of the finest clubs around in anticipation of this summer’s 8th Garden Festival in Tisno, set upon the idyllic Dalmatian coastline and Adriatic Sea. Working with host partners and DJ guests who will be at the festival, The Garden Get Together Tour is the perfect chance to get a dose of Garden love in nice and early. For those searching for some sizzling sunshine from Croatia, these shows offer an outstanding selection of hand-picked taste-makers and innovators to help brighten up this cold winter’s seemingly endless days and nights and usher in spring and summer as soon as possible. The final leg of gigs takes in Liverpool’s Discoteca Poca with Maxxi Soundsystem, Allen & Hutch, No Fakin’, Phil Cooper and Dash aka Auto Cycle at Haus.

Discoteca Poca and The Garden Get Together Tour Present: Sat April 27th @ Haus, 35-39 Greenland Street, Liverpool, L1 0BS Maxxi Soundsystem Allen & Hutch aka (Paul Hutchinson + Jimmy Allen) No Fakin Phil Cooper Dash aka (Auto Cycle) 10pm – 3am Price £TBC www.thegardenfestival.eu

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Nightlife

Are you in Le Clique?

Top Ten: April

Lee Butler 1. 100% Danny Howard remix Duke Damonte 2. Shake that Skayt 3. Coming back Rudedog

Le Clique lounge (above Mojito Bar) 9 Victoria Street, L2 5QA Text 07713 480 329 to get in.

L

e Clique a unique and intimate VIP venue which has already been recognised as one of the places to be in Liverpool by industry big wigs and celebrities. Appealing to the glamorous and the fabulous, their music policy is created from the best known anthems that made club land what it is today.

Be prepared for goose bumps, cheers, song and a room full of smiles when spine tingling classic after classic are banged out. Le Clique has an Old Skool Classics Cocktail inspired menu, with a Long Island DnB (Dandelion & Burdock, Sherbet Lemon Cocktail and a Bon Bon Martini) that crackles in your mouth, just like when you were a kid. If you’re a part of the Liverpool Clique, VIP has just got a whole lot better, from the exclusive “code” (which changes every 7 days) handed out each week to those who are lucky enough to secure their place inside, to the i pad integrated booths and so much more. When

4. Flamenco Harry Romero you book a booth at Le Clique you will have your very own integrated i pads fitted into your table. Here you can view the 3D digital drinks menu, order your favourite bottle of Champagne or even browse the infamous Cocktail Menu. Simply chose what drinks you want and they will be delivered straight to your booth. Order sushi or even a special Le Clique pizza if you’re feeling peckish. When it’s time to go home order your taxi from your booth and the Le Clique APP will tell you when it’s outside.

Le Clique has its very own Laurent Perrier Champagne lounge as well as the best in entertainment and sound system - from aerial artists, to fire eaters, to stilt walkers and special guest live percussionist and guest sax players, Le Clique has it all. Resident DJs are Danny Latimer, Alan Hartley, Chris Wright, Mark Armstrong and many more on rotation with special guests.

Joe-Ann Randles

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5. Precious love Bingo Staar 6. Feel the love Cahill 7. It’s time Afro Jack 8. Ode to Oi TJR 9. Phat Bass 2013 10. Detune John Ross Join Lee Butler every Friday night from 10pm and Saturday night 9pm until midnight for his double award winning show Plastic Surgery on Radio City 96.7 www.leebutler.co.uk twitter @djleebutler facebook https://www.facebook.com/ pages/Lee-Butlers-Plastic-SurgeryRadio-City-967

Nightlife

Luna

First Birthday

Luna – First Birthday Ralph Lawson Steve Parry The Shipping Forecast, Slater Street Saturday 13th April £9 advance.

11pm til 3am

Top Five: April

Matt Gall 1. White Noise Disclosure & Aluna George 2. My Friends DEVolution 3. Need U 100% Duke Dumont ft A.M.E. 4. Still The Same Man Nicky Romero ft John Christian & Nilson 5. N*ggas in Paris (Felice) Jay-Z & Kanye West

This Month’s Hot Bootleg:

S

aturday 13th April sees Luna relocate to a new, improved venue to celebrate their first birthday.

For a birthday party to work you need guests; helping the premier Liverpool underground night blow out the candle on their birthday cake is the legendary Ralph Lawson.

Ralph has been on the forefront of the underground electronic scene in the UK for over 20 years being the first person to ever play a record at the seminal Leeds party Back to Basics. He remains as

Temperature - Jolie Noir Incredible Bootleg Sean Paul relevant and forward thinking to this very day, with his 2020 Vision imprint recognised as one of the best house labels around.

Ralph DJs and takes the 2020 Vision live act all across the globe and Luna have scored a coup welcoming Ralph back to Liverpool after a lengthy break to kick up a storm at their birthday celebrations. The show will take place in Liverpool’s best small venue – The Hold in The Shipping Forecast. This room is intimate, with low ceilings and a huge Funktion 1 system.

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This month’s bootleg is for those who like the more twisted side of house. Check it out! Don’t forget, you can download Matt’s mixes direct from soundcloud.com/ mattgalldj Matt plays every Friday night at the Newz Bar and does a set on the first Friday of every month at Cruise, Chester for Intensity Promotions. You can also catch him at Graffiti and Newz Bar on Saturdays. Matt is also on twitter @mattgalldj.

April 2013

Waxxx On! R

emember those Easter weekend trips to fairs and adventure parks as a child? Well to celebrate this, connoisseurs of hedonistic clubbing Waxxx, are bringing together an ambitious line up of international DJs and teaming it up with a fair… yes, a fair! To bring in the Easter weekend Waxxx are inviting you to take a go on the coconut shy whilst the likes of Boddika and Levon Vincent play you the best electronic music you will hear at a funfair anywhere. Waxxx have become quite well known for their themed events and have taken us on a number of trips before, but none as ambitious as holding a funfair within the confines of

their venue HAUS. If the idea of a funfair inside a warehouse doesn’t get you excited, the line up most definitely will as Waxxx bring you 3 of the best producers and team up with one of London’s biggest underground nights Church.

Headlining the event will be Boddika, who is back armed with a new compilation release on his Nonplus+ label, showcasing some of the best dark techno currently being made on the underground scene. Joining Boddika will be Berlin based, American producer Levon Vincent, who has been steadily releasing new material with his most recent production dropping at the start of February.

Levon Vincent is one of the most distinctive house and techno

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Waxxx Fair HAUS, 35-39 Greenland Street L1 0BY 28th March £10 adv www.waxxx.co.uk

producers around at this moment and his style will no doubt compliment this sensational line up. Finally, fresh from the piste in Bulgaria will be Loefah the man behind previous RA label of the month Swamp 81, who will have been performing at Horizon Festival along with Waxxx stalwarts Allen & Hutch.

Room 2 will be hosted by London based label and promoters Church. These boys have been throwing some pretty big parties at Corsica Studios in the capital while their label roster includes Waxxx favourite Happa. Church will be bringing up two of their finest DJ’s in Seb Wilderblood and Apes - expect big things!

Nightlife

NuNorthern Soul

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he NuNorthern Soul music label began in the late 1990’s in a small bar in Chester and has grown to encompass far off locations such as Malawi, Australia, Croatia, South Africa and mainland Europe. After starting simply as a place to enjoy great music whilst relaxing, the template has since been expanded across super-clubs like Space, Ibiza and huge festivals such as Bestival, as well as smaller intimate restaurants, bars and pubs events. The success is down to crafting a relaxing vibe to their releases and live performances as well as to a policy of not ruling out the endorsement of any particular genre of music.

Music label boss at NuNorthern Soul is international DJ, producer and music enthusiast, “Phat” Phil Cooper. With a roaring DJ career in the 90’s, Cooper utilises his knowledge of music gained throughout his extensive travels.

The output covers any type of music that hit’s the spot for the art of relaxation, from hip-hop, disco, soul, funk, folk, chill-out to Balearic blissful sounds all included.

Phil regularly DJ’s at Liverpool’s Shipping Forecast and the Paradise, situated in London’s district of Kensal Green, as well as releasing a monthly podcast on the label. His next date in Liverpool is a big one, supporting Giles Peterson at the Shipping Forecast on Good Friday, March 29th, where you can sample a taste of the sounds of NuNorthern.

Recently released on the label was a follow up on BJ Smith’s Movedrill Projects compilation, the EP Dedication To The Greats.

It features covers of two classic hip-hop joints, Mos Def’s Umi Says and Runnin by the Pharcyde, and is the perfect backdrop for a summer of sunsets. The next release will be from Ragz Nordset, who has supported the likes of the Wild Beasts, Laura Marling and Mumford & Sons, and that’s due to be dropped on the label soon.

Larissa Wignall

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Nightlife

Rosie’s Top 5 City Centre Bars For April If you’re craving to recline with a classy cocktail, tempted to treat yourself to a tequila or two, or are doggedly determined to dance ‘til your toes tingle, After Dark’s resident girl about town Rosie Cameron has dutifully dedicated herself to the task of serious bar hopping in order to give you a run-down of this month’s top watering holes.

1 – Ca’va 4a Wood St Liverpool L1 4AQ Telephone: 0151 709 9300 Who likes Tequila?.. No, me neither really. Well, I didn’t think I did before I visited Ca’va. The one pound tequila shots which come in many, many flavours are probably Ca’va’s main attraction. However, after countless visits, I have drank less and less tequila and found myself attending the bar for its great music and eccentric atmosphere. Music lovers must visit this bar. The walls and ceilings are covered in posters which I find myself, and many others, gawping at for half the night. There are downsides that I tend to overlook, such as the tiny, cramped toilets that aren’t the cleanest and very much in need of at least a lick of paint. Also,

the bar is pretty much constantly busy, as people tend to stand there all night taking shot after shot of tequila. I do not recommend the coffee flavoured shot as it does taste more like marmite… I tend to stick to the refreshing tutti frutti flavour, which I would suggest for those who aren’t tequila fans, as it tastes nothing like tequila.

Another downside is the seating.

I get the whole dive vibe, but the gaping holes in the sofa aren’t exactly inviting, maybe designed for punters to just fall on after one too many shots. You might expect a rowdy atmosphere, but it is actually pretty laid back. So be a good sport and get the salt and lemon down you; it’s all part of the fun even if it does make you want to heave. Great to start your night out in, but be sensible; there are steps on the way out where I

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have witnessed many a fall from those who were a little too tequila happy.

2 – Garlands 8-10 Eberle Street Liverpool L2 2AG Telephone: 0151 231 1105 When I think of a club, I think of Garlands. Garlands is the queen of the city’s gay scene, boasting nearly two decades of success.

For me, Garlands defines what many people look for in a night out. Loud music, a colourful, highly energetic atmosphere and a variety of rooms to choose from.

I choose Thursdays and Saturdays for my visits here. Thursdays are most popular with students, who flock to the main room in search of progressive house and laser reaching dance moves. Room Britannia, alternatively, offers

April 2013 disco, old school and RnB classics alongside plenty of seating and a more intimate vibe. The general atmosphere is good but there is no room for snobbery here. Prepare to rough it slightly with the toilets.

They aren’t awful, but not the best I’ve seen; so if you’re fussy like me you may want to carry lots of tissue in your handbag and maybe some antibacterial hand wash. It really is a flamboyant, glitzy place; so get dolled up and be prepared to dance till the early hours as once the main room dies down, 2 am reveals the opening of the downstairs venue Bedlam, where, as its name suggests, more mayhem and wild dancing is a cert.

“you may want to carry lots of tissue… and maybe some antibacterial hand wash” 3 – Heebie Jeebies 80-82 Seel Street Liverpool L1 4BH Telephone: 0151 709 3678 Now I must begin by saying I avoid this place on a weekend.

Not because I don’t want to go, but because I struggle getting in.

It’s a rare occasion when there’s not a queue outside this bar of a weekend, but come in the week and meet a mix of people, old and young, all enjoying the best in indie music. With an underground basement, a main room on the ground floor, a quieter upstairs area and a courtyard, this place never struggles to fill up. It has a sort of unusual layout and I did actually get a bit lost on my first few visits. It is a big building with lots of doors and angles and corners, and the dim lighting doesn’t help; but it all adds to the alternative, Indie scene. There is plenty of room for dancing,

with some seating dotted around, particularly on the ground floor.

Drinks are reasonably priced and all IDs are scanned into a machine, ensuring better security.

Although I don’t love it when my awful passport photo is enlarged for all those behind me to see, very embarrassing!

4 – Chameleon 7-9 Back Colquitt Street, Liverpool L1 4NL Telephone: 0151 707 0283 For me this bar reflects the vibe of the city. It’s fun, laid back, friendly, stylish, the music is great, people are dancing and dressed to impress, the décor is modern, it is clean and overall inviting. Music wise it is pretty crowd pleasing, with commercial chart hits, the odd indie anthem, classic RnB and techno frequenting the speakers in a clever mash-up style mix. My favourite night at Chameleon is a Thursday – the Stock Exchange.

You are lucky if your drink comes up at the top of the list, as prices vary depending on the sales of each drink. Sambuca tends to hover at the cheap end regularly and although I am not a fan, I will drink almost anything when it’s going cheap. Monday to Thursday offers a 241 cocktail deal, another good excuse to grab a bargain.

Another of my favourite things about this place is the space; there are no dark corners where couples are getting a bit too friendly, just a happy open plan atmosphere where people want to dance.

Cocktails are the bar’s speciality and if there is a few of you, why not club together to get a sharing bowl? The Rodeo Jack is served in a suitcase… what more do you want?

5 – Hannah’s Bar 2 Leece Street Liverpool L1 2TR Telephone: 0151 708 5959 A short walk up Hardman Street is the ever inviting Hannah’s Bar. So laid back, it’s not difficult to sink into the comfiest couches in town and not move all night. The drinks are of average price, with some tasty cocktails on offer and a large mix of spirits and wines as well.

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It has a lovely glass roof terrace with great views of the city and the food is good too! There are two screens and with Sky Sports available, the bar is popular on match days. Through the week, live music and open mic nights keep the punters entertained, with a DJ playing commercial and soul of a weekend. This is a great bar, slightly set apart from the rest, but worth the short walk. With its New York inspired roots, it is easy to forget where you are when you relax into the chilled atmosphere, surrounded by good music and a cool, calm atmosphere.

Eating Out

Pining for pub grub?

Going mad for a Mexican? From paella to pizza and whelks to Waldorf salad, After Dark’s resident girl about town Rosie Cameron covers all bases as she lists

Rosie’s Top 5 City Centre Eateries For April

this month’s favourite places to grab a bite.

1 - The Font 1 Arrad Street Liverpool L7 7JE Telephone: 0151 706 0345 Mainly frequented by students and tucked away in a quiet corner opposite the Catholic Cathedral,

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the Font is pub grub at its best.

Ideal for a weeknight meal that doesn’t leave your pockets empty.

The service is good, the food is nice, the place is quirky (why not have a go of their old school video games including MarioKart and WWF Wrestlefest) and they show all Premiership and Championship football games. Expect a sociable vibe and a youthful atmosphere.

April 2013

3 - The Peacock 51 Seel Street Liverpool L1 4AZ Telephone: 0151 709 5052 This might not be a restaurant as we know it, but the Peacock is on my list for their wonderful pizzas all week long. For a shockingly decent £5 you can have a nicely sized pizza (big enough for two to share as a snack!) in a variety of flavours served till 2am - perfect to soak up the alcohol. Choose from their blackboard or just tell the nice pizza man what you want and he will make it for you there and then. Everything is done from scratch so expect a bit of a wait. Good music, lots of space to sit, tasty pizza and a laid back atmosphere. And get this - a FREE BBQ every Friday 6-8pm. You can’t say no to that.

2 - The Side Door 29A Hope St Liverpool L1 9BQ Telephone: 0151 707 7888 The Side Door is situated on Hope St close to the Metropolitan Cathedral and a stone’s throw from The Philharmonic Hall and the soon to reopen Everyman Theatre.

If you like a bit of drama in your life, The Side Door’s location makes it an ideal place for a pre-theatre meal, as well as lunch and dinner.

The service is friendly and relaxed and the stripped floors, reclaimed furniture and rich red tones give the restaurant a relaxed, continental bistro feel; bright and airy during the day and atmospheric and vibrant at night.

The menu is modern European but there’s a definite local feel with all meats sourced locally; sea food lovers and vegetarians are also amply catered for. One mouth-watering example from the menu is Cumbrian lamb rump with dauphinoise, spinach, shallots and rosemary jus, and fig and Garstang blue cheese tart with walnut pastry and Waldorf salad.

You can take advantage of their pre-theatre offer of £18.95 for three courses, and the Monday night offer comprising two courses and half a bottle of wine £18.95. Also look out for the brilliant (and student friendly) £5 lunch offer.

Opening times Mon - Weds 12-2pm and 5-9.30 Thurs-Sat 12-2pm and 5- 10pm.

Closed Sundays.

4 - San Carlo 41 Castle Street Liverpool L2 9SH Telephone: 0151 236 0073 One of the more expensive restaurants on the list, but very popular in Liverpool, San Carlo is situated on Castle Street and is hard to miss. One of the less modest restaurants in the city, it promises to deliver authentic Italian cuisine coupled with trendy staff in matching outfits, elaborate cocktails and a bustling atmosphere.

It’s a busy place, especially of a weekend, and is popular with those with cash to splash. Hard to fault the food there, but you do pay for it.

It is the perfect combination of Italian authenticity and scouse style.

5 - Bar Burrito The Galleria, 14 Paradise Street Liverpool, L1 8JF Telephone: 0151 708 5085 So a slightly unusual addition to the list, but I’ve eaten there that much I should probably include it. This is as simple

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as it gets - a burrito, salad bowl or nacho filled with fresh food, right in front of your eyes. You may as well be making it up yourself as you have a say on how specific you would like your dish. Whether you choose to eat in or take out, you won’t be disappointed by the speedy service and tasty fresh food that Bar Burrito has to offer. Why not throw in a traditional Mexican bottle of Desperado while you’re there? That’s right. A fast food eatery that serves alcohol too!

Theatre

The Smell of Envy Capstone Theatre 17 Shaw Street, L6 1HP 24th April 7.30pm. £10 (£8 concessions)

A

(lecture) theatre performance for those of you who love the smell of yesterday. What is the smell of desire? Of loathing, love and longing? The smell of death? The smell of envy and disappointment? What is the smell of childhood? The smell of your mother’s house? The smell of your sexy French boyfriend?

What is the smell of a telephone conversation with your dead father?

The Smell of Envy investigates the neuroscience of smell, memory and place in a collaboration between Pigeon Theatre and cognitive neuroscientist Dr Colin Lever. Using a smell-scape of familiar and unfamiliar smells and a company of older actors, this is a show about smell and memory and place and love and death and nostalgia and ageing and desire and loathing and envy.

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What’s On? Echo Arena

RENT 20th Anniversary Concert

The Auditorium Liverpool, BT Convention Centre 27 April £26.50/ £28.50/ £35.00 Celebrating 20 years since its first staged performance, West End and Broadway leading lady Kerry Ellis stars in this iconic concert of the smash-hit musical Rent.

The production will also star runner up of ITV1’s Superstar, Liverpool’s Rory Taylor which comes to The Auditorium Liverpool on 27 April 2013.

Set in the East Village of New York City, RENT is about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, this musical has become a pop cultural phenomenon with songs that rock and a story that resonates with audiences of all ages. Based loosely on Puccini’s La Boheme, the show follows a year in the life of a group of friends struggling to make it in the big city under the

as a Liverpudlian: the 1981 riots, the Thatcher years, Heysel, Hillsborough. What happened to Liverpool FC in the second half in that 2005 final is legend. What happened to Kenny in the AC Milan directors’ box is stranger than fiction.

Fresh from ecstatic reviews around the country and a huge word-ofmouth following, human chameleon Paul Duckworth returns to Liverpool with the acclaimed lump in your throat one man comedy play based on Istanbul, 2005.

shadow of HIV/AIDS. Songs from the show include: Seasons of Love, Out Tonight, Finale B and Without You. Kerry Ellis has fast become recognized as the First Lady of West End musicals from her starring roles in London and on Broadway. Her many other leading role credits include Nancy in Oliver! at the London Palladium, Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Ellen in Miss Saigon and Fantine in Les Miserables.

Don’t miss your chance to see this fantastic show at The Auditorium Liverpool.

This show is not suitable for under 16’s.

The climax of Beating Berlusconi! is based on the barely believable true story of an actual LFC fan, Mark Radley, who managed to blag his way into the AC Milan Directors’ box, helped himself to free bubbly and salmon, and then, when Liverpool fought back from 3-0 down to equalise, almost had a fight with the increasingly irritated Silvio Berlusconi.

Epstein Theatre Hanover Street L1 3DZ

You don’t have to be a football fan to enjoy this…all you need is an open heart and a love for the human soul.

Contains strong language.

Lantern Theatre

Beating Berlusconi!

by John Graham Davies

Blundell Street L1 0AJ

April 5th, 6th and 7th 7:30pm 5th and 6th £12.50 and £10 Concession 7th £10 and £8 Concession Age Restriction: 14+ Despite threats from his wife and bank manager, in May 2005 Kenny Noonan travels to Istanbul to watch Liverpool play AC Milan in the Champions’ League Final.

He carries the scars of thirty years as a fan and

Othello

11th-13th April £10 /£8 Concession “...the green-eyed mon-

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ster which doth mock the meat feeds upon”.

Following the sell-out Of Mice and Men, Black Box Theatre Company returns to The Lantern Theatre with Shakespeare’s tragedy, Othello. Believing Othello has promoted the fast-rising Cassio over himself, Iago plots to destroy both Cassio and Othello. Iago convinces the jealous Othello that his beautiful wife Desdemona is unfaithful, and that Cassio is her lover.

Jealously is followed by the tragedy, then retribution.

The Homecoming

18th - 20th April £10 / £7 Concession Following their five star production of Little Voice, and their recent sellout revival of Titus Andronicus at The Unity Theatre, PurpleCoat return to The Lantern with one of theatre’s darkest comedies. Set in a dingy East London flat, The Homecoming tells of patriarch, Max, and his festering family, as his eldest son, Teddy, brings his wife home to visit. Drawn into their psychological mind-play, Ruth quickly adapts to her new environment as the battle for masculinity rages in this hilarious and disturbing masterpiece by Harold Pinter.

Not recommended for under 13’s. Contains strong language and sexual content.

Theatre

Epstein Theatre 16th – 20th April 8pm. Advance Ticket £15 Age Restriction 16+

If the Shoe Fits

Sex and Booze and Jimmy Choos!

T

he smash hit comedy If the Shoe Fits is returning to the stage in Liverpool after successful sell out shows. This hilarious award winning comedy has built a fan base ranging from the ages of sixteen to eighty plus (men and women), who return year after year to watch the dynamic characters and their antics.

The story follows the events of one hectic day in the up market shoe shop, Good 2 Shooz, owned by the flamboyant Jamie and assisted by his loyal staff, Liz, Chas and Sally.

One has a problem. One has a secret. One has toes like monkey nuts. And not forgetting the off kilter Daphne.

made designer shoe or fall apart like a Primarni Ugg Boot. There is only one course of action... a quick drink!!

When a bombshell is dropped will they all stick together like a hand-

Written by local actress Donna Lesley Price.

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Filled to the brim with shots, shocks and lethal cocktails, the revelations come thick and fast, turning a day to forget into a night to remember.

April 2013

Lantern Theatre

Blundell Street L1 0AJ

The Morning After

25th - 27th April £7.50 / 5.00 Conc The morning after the night before is never fun, but when Chris wakes to find his girlfriend dead next to him, very few could predict that things could get any worse.

With the help of best friend Alex they must navigate angry landlords, crippling hangovers, forgotten birthdays and worst of all Chris’s mum.

A black comedy looking at friendship, death and overbearing mothers…

Liverpool Playhouse & Playhouse Studio

Williamson Square L1 1EL

A Day In The Death Of Joe Egg 5 - 27 April £12 - £23 Stephen Unwin directs a major revival of Peter Nichols’s A Day in the Death of Joe Egg at Liverpool Playhouse. The cast is led by Ralf Little who’s been a leading figure in British comedy for more than a decade and is well known for his roles in The Royle

Family, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps (BBC) and most recently The Café (Sky 1).

Nichols is amongst Britain’s most popular playwrights and his fast-paced black comedy portrays the love and pain, the anger and strain of a young couple raising a disabled child. Highly theatrical, frequently heart wrenching and often very funny, it is considered by many as one of the great plays of the modern British theatre.

Ralf Little will play Bri, a school teacher who is struggling to cope with the demands of his life.

His wife, Sheila, will be played by Rebecca Johnson.

Royal Court Theatre

1 Roe Street L1 1HL

Down Our Street

12 – 27 April 8pm Down Our Street is a musical play celebrating the life and times of Cammell Laird, the greatest shipbuilders in the world, from the industrial revolution to the present day.

For well over a century and a half, “The Yard” was the employer of thousands upon thousands of people from the Wirral, across the water in Liverpool and beyond, building some of the most famous and greatest ships in history.

The town of Birkenhead was built around the Shipbuilding industry and most families, if not all, had some connection to Cammell Laird.

Down Our Street celebrates this through the eyes of the people of Merseyside and the workers “down the yard”.

Unity Theatre Hope Place, L1 9BG

The Victorian in The Wall

5 – 6 April 8pm £12 (£10 conc) Latte-land. Organic everything, endless boxsets, knock-throughs and maisonettes...

A work-shy writer discovers a Victorian man living in the wall of his flat. Everyone’s pretty surprised. Adjustments need to be made.

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Can the strange visitor unlock his hopeless career? His flagging relationship? A story buried in these walls for over a century? (Doubt it.

Maybe. Yes.) A brand new play from Perrier Award winner Will Adamsdale (Campus, The Boat That Rocked, Jackson’s Way) that contains songs, banging on recycling boxes and a Nigerian.

A Fuel and Royal Court Theatre co-production.

Theatre myth - when Elia Kazan was filming On The Waterfront in a bar in New Jersey, two Liverpool merchant seamen were allowed to stay.

This is their story and much, much more...

Starring Paul Duckworth (Beating Berlusconi) Carl Cockram (The Quiet Little Englishman) Joe Shipman (Ten Tiny Toes) and Danny Hayes (Crying in the Chapel), written

by Mike Morris & Steve Higginson and directed

by Carl Cockram.

Unity Theatre Hope Place, L1 9BG

The Trench

10 April 8pm £12 (£10 conc) The award-winning team behind The Terrible Infants present a play inspired by the story of a miner who became entombed in a tunnel during WW1.

This award-winning Edinburgh Fringe sell out show, blends live music, puppetry and physical performance as not everything in the darkness of the trench is what it seems when a strange world is discovered beneath the mud and death. Theatre group Les Enfants Terribles are dedicated to creating original, innovative and exciting theatre that challenges, inspires and entertains.

Overspill

Fri 12 Apr - Sat 13 Apr 8pm £10 (£8 conc) “Glass bursts in stars, a shower of light, dust and ash, dust and ash, dust blooms, in a cloud of dust and glass.”

In Birkenhead every Friday night, same time and place, Potts, Baron and Finch get ready for their weekly dose of booze, birds and burgers.

But their night out takes a terrifying twist when an explosion rocks the town centre, and a suspicious population points the finger.

Brutally confronting popular culture in its purest form, awardwinning Off The Ground present Ali Taylor’s poetic, honest and highlyenergetic play, directed

by Dan Meigh.

Waiting For Brando

Tue 16 Apr - Sat 20 Apr £10 (£8 conc) Two Liverpool seamen.

Two giants of American stage and screen.

Director Elia Kazan (On The Waterfront) and playwright Arthur Miller (Death of a Salesman, A View From A Bridge, The Crucible), confront their past in this story of brotherhood, betrayal, secrets and showdowns.

Only one thing is certain - everything will change when Brando arrives.

Based upon an urban

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a fearless, yet touching story based in life events and true stories.

Michelangelo Drawing Blood

Sat 27 Apr - Sat 27 Apr 8pm £12 (£10 conc) The ultimate Renaissance man, Michelangelo was a painter, sculptor, architect, engineer and poet. This show explores the forces that drove his genius. An obsession with anatomy, passion for the male body and an intense Christian faith.

21st century theatre meets 16th century culture as three male performers bring to life the fluid twists and turns of Michelangelo’s drawings accompanied by animation, video and music performed live on renaissance instruments.

A Sound Affairs production Contains male nudity. www.soundaffairs.co.uk

Mind The Gap

Finding Joy

24 – 25 April 8pm £10 (£8 conc) Joy is creative, funny, loves to dance, and is losing her memory.

Her grandson Danny is rebellious, fearless, bright and always getting into trouble. When, out of the blue, Danny decided to become Joy’s carer where will their unexpected and playful bond lead them?

Vamos Theatre return with a comic, anarchic, touching, full mask adventure, brimming with visual inventiveness, music, puppetry and hilarity. Finding Joy is

Tue 30 Apr - Wed 1 May 8pm £8 Nina is a young, Liverpool woman on a London tube carriage.

When the carriage shudders to a halt it’s obvious that something serious has happened.

Trapped, Nina and her fellow passengers have to talk. Pimento Theatre invite you to immerse yourself and experience the character’s external and internal thoughts and watch as their stories unravel. An innovative theatrical experience, Mind The Gap is a story exploring modern Britain today and the gaps that exist between ourselves and others. Written and created by Ella Carmen Greenhill, Rachel Worsley and Joe Ward.

Cinema

Dark Skies Released: 3 April Director: Scott Charles Stewart Starring: Keri Russell, Josh Hamilton, Dakota Goyo Dark Skies is a supernatural thriller that follows a young family living in the suburbs. As husband and wife Daniel and Lacey Barret witness an escalating series of disturbing events involving their family, their safe and peaceful home quickly unravels. When it becomes clear that the Barret family is being targeted by an unimaginably terrifying and deadly force, Daniel and Lacey take matters in their own hands to solve the mystery of what is after their family. Written and Directed

by Scott Stewart (Priest, Legion) this attempt to marry the dark, psychologically gruesome styling of recent horror fair such as Paranormal Activity and Insidious with the sci fi fodder of alien abduction is an intriguing idea, but then so was the Sinclair C5.

That was a plastic looking, little wheeled contraption that exposed people’s heads to traffic fumes and wind. Dark skies has plastic acting, little in the way of direction and the wheels have well and truly come off in this very pedestrian horror outing. I was fuming that I exposed my head to this ridiculous load of fart.

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April 2013

Oblivion Released: 10 April Director: Joseph Kosinski Starring: Tom Cruise, Olga Kurylenko, Andrea Riseborough, Morgan Freeman, Tom Cruise again... are there no other actors in Hollywood?

Oblivion is a cinematic event from the director of the disappointing Tron: Legacy. On a spectacular future Earth that has evolved beyond recognition, Jack Harper (Cruise) is one of the last few drone repairmen. Living in and patrolling the breathtaking skies from thousands of feet above, his soaring existence is brought

crashing down when he rescues a beautiful stranger from a downed spacecraft. Her arrival triggers a chain of events that forces him to question everything he knows. So begins a journey of redemption and discovery as he battles to save mankind. Shot in stunning digital 4K resolution on locations across the US and Iceland, science fiction thriller Oblivion is an undeniably visually stunning representation of director Kosinski’s own graphic novel, looking every inch of the $130 million budget. Cruise looks comfortable in his return to a sweeping, big screen epic and,

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it has to be said, brings a world weary sincerity that strikes a good balance against the at times mind blowing futuristic backdrop.

Ultimately, this is a simple redemption tale supported by some of the most advanced CGI yet seen. The performances are good, particularly Kurylenko who is carving a credible post Bond girl career, and Kosinski does manage to reasonably engage his audience beyond the effects.

An above average outing for the genre and a return to form for Cruise.

Cinema

The Look of Love Released: 26 April Director: Michael Winterbottom Starring: Steve Coogan, Imogen Poots, Stephen Fry, Anna Friel Michael Winterbottom’s biopic of controversial, Liverpool born entrepreneur Paul Raymond.

Largely Coogan’s brainchild, the film is a portrait of Soho porn king Raymond’s rise from humble northern roots to become Britain’s richest man, leaving a trail of over indulgence and tragedy along the way. This is familiar territory for Coogan himself, not only from a biographical perspective but also through his previous role as Tony Wilson in 24 Hour Party People. The gags and one liners are good and keep things moving at an entertaining pace, and the cultural sweep from the 50s through the swinging 60s to the septic 70s is visually engaging, even if only for the array of vintage clothing on show. Although the film never really offers much beyond the surface sheen of creditable comedy romp, Coogan’s performance is measured and nuanced. He creates interest in the character of self-styled sex baron Paul Raymond, exuding the selfconsciousness of his class, right down to the French pronunciation of his self given surname (Rayemonde). Imogen Poots’ take on the brittle, poor little rich girl Debbie, is also firmly convincing giving a real sense of the damage that can come with privilege and moral decadence. A bit more bite in the script and sharper directing could have elevated what is essentially an engaging and entertaining TV movie into a deeper examination of the excesses of Britain’s late 20th century.

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April 2013

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Cinema

Evil Dead Released: 19 April Director: Fede Alvarez Starring: Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Jessica Lucas In the much anticipated remake of the 1981 cult-hit horror film, five twenty-something friends become holed up in a remote cabin. When they discover a Book of the Dead, they unwittingly summon up dormant demons living in the nearby woods, which possess the youngsters in succession until only one is left intact to fight for survival. With the original director Sam Riami and star Bruce Campbell co-producing and first time director Fede Alvarez

being hand-picked by Riami on the strength of his track record of visually inventive short films, it’s perhaps not surprising that the new incantation of the 80s classic tips its gruesome hat reverentially to the original.

After a disappointing glut of recent horror remakes of fright classics, much was expected of this latest re-visioning. Alavarez produces a much darker and brutal experience here that, while being technically and visually

superior (undoubtedly aided by modern production values), lacks the freshness, originality and subversive bent of Riami’s pioneering indie master class.

That said, it is genuinely chilling and a flesh searing cut above its remake contemporaries and will be loved by horror cinema’s newest gore lovers as well as curious fans of the original… but then they are sick.

The Place Beyond The Pines Released: 12 April Director: Derek Cianfrance Starring: Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes The highly anticipated new drama from director Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine) powerfully explores the consequences of motorcycle rider Luke’s (alleged hottie of the moment Ryan Gosling) fateful decision to commit a crime to support his child. The incident renders him targeted by policeman Avery (other alleged hotty Bradley Cooper), and the two men become locked on a tense collision course which will have a devastating impact on both

of their families in the years following. Cianfrance’s epic crime odyssey spanning across two generations of fathers and sons is unashamedly ambitious, almost to breaking point. The film is really a high-grade soap opera buoyed by the presence of two of Hollywood’s hottest properties of the moment in Gosling and Cooper, Sean Bobbit’s expansive cinematography and the melodramatic experimentation director Cianfrance is willing to inject into the narrative. In

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truth, the first 45 minutes are stunning and it’s difficult for the remainder of the film to match this pace, as the story unfolds almost anthology-like, in different dramatic directions. Cianfrance’s risks don’t always work, and the last 20 minutes could be leaner, but he gives us enough to latch onto to make this an involving experience even if the change of direction and sub plotting sometimes detracts from the film’s momentum.

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