Liverpool Echo - Culture Chat

what's on in liverpool july 18-24

2009-07-17T09:00:00Z

The Arabic Arts Weekender will fill Liverpool with the sights and sounds of the Middle East this weekend.
There are a number of events on at venues including the Philharmonic Hall and the Bluecoat over the next three days, and early music group The Clerks joins Syrian singers at St George's Hall on Sunday evening.

]]> Elsewhere the 2009 Summer Pops continue with Ne-Yo (Arena) and Aswad (02 Academy) tonight, the Christians at the 02 Academy tomorrow and an Indie Weekender offering all sorts of musical talent on Sunday.
Also on Sunday, the RLPO brings its own Pops season to a close with Carl Davis (who reveals in today's arts pages he expects it to be a 'three coat' affair) conducting the always popular Last Night of the Pops with plenty of audience participation.
Incidently, Brouhaha will be at Southport on Sunday before the festival proper launched in Liverpool on July 27.
If you're not into Simple Minds, who play the Echo Arena on July 21, the Empire has a one-night celebration of the music of Dolly Parton on the same evening.
Angels With Manky Faces has a two night run at the Unity on July 22-23, and Pussycat Dolls arrive at the arena on July 22 while Scoobie Doo is at the Empire from next Thursday.
Some of the final Pops gigs of this year include Eighth Day Army at the 02 Academy on July 23 and China Crisis at the venue the next evening, while Jools Holland brings his rhythm and blues to the arena on July 24.
Not forgetting of course the myriad of on-going shows and exhibitions which take us to the end of the month and beyond.

premiere of neil campbell's ghost stories at st luke's church

2009-07-17T07:08:11Z

What were you doing at 9.30 last night? Sitting in front of the TV? Having a pint and a chat in the pub?
Or were you one of the 200 hardy souls who braved torrential conditions to hear composer Neil Campbell's new work Ghost Stories: A Night Opera in the open air arena of St Luke's the bombed out church?

]]> There was a sense of adventure and a rain-soaked cameraderie from an audience mostly clothed in plastic ponchos on sale at the door.
But I must admit, even with boots, a mac, a poncho, a woolly hat and a big umbrella I felt decidedly damp as I sat there is the middle of Liverpool's most atmospheric ruin.
Still, what the audience shared was a desire to come out and hear a new work - and support its hard-working composer on what was an unfortunately filthy evening.
Neil and singer Anne Taft sat beneath the shelter of a gazebo to perform the 50-minute work which included video images beamed on to a screen behind them and a haunting soundscape of wind (not that it was needed!) and chiming bells.
Neil plays exquisitely and I loved the instrumental movements on his classical guitar. Anne's powerful soprano voice soared mysteriously up and out of the church ruin, but I did feel the vocal sections were a bit samey and didn't really advance anywhere.
I know Neil and his collaborator, Liverpool PR company boss Bill Elms, are keen to tour the work at other open air festivals in the future - Bill told me he thought it would be particularly atmospheric at big festivals at stately homes where the video projection could be beamed on the side of the grand houses.
Good luck to them, and I hope they get a run of good weather for a change....

is rob brydon addicted to liverpool?

2009-07-16T15:24:11Z

Is Rob Brydon addicted to Liverpool? Or are Liverpool audiences simply the jewel in the comedy crown?
In April he sold out the 1,600-seater Philharmonic Hall. Now he's coming back to the city -not once, but twice this autumn.

]]> First the star of Gavin and Stacey, Marion & Geoff, I'm Alan Partridge, Black Books, The Keith Barret Show etc etc is returning to the Phil on October 1 for a second Hope Street fixture.
Then six weeks later he's back for ANOTHER show, this time at the Empire.
I'm presuming the next stop might be following fellow funsters Al Murray and Russell Howard into the Echo Arena. Go on Rob, there's still time - even Jimmy Carr hasn't made it there yet.....

picasso exhibition at tate liverpool

2009-07-16T07:08:58Z

As you may have seen by now, Tate Liverpool is following its major Klimt exhibition of culture year with an even bigger show dedicated to Pablo Picasso.
It's testament to the ambition and hard work of the folk at the Albert Dock gallery that next summer 150 artworks drawn from some of the world's top collections will be heading for the Mersey waterfront.

]]> Apparently Tate Liverpool bosses have been "secretly" planning the Picasso: Peace and Freedom show for many years.
It won't look at early Picasso (it always seems strange to talk about 'early' or 'late' in a career which actually spanned the best part of eight decades. How early? How late?!) but instead at the period 1944-73 when the artist was concerned with both politics - he joined the Communist Party at the end of the war and remained a member until his death - and the international peace movement.
I wasn't really aware until yesterday that it was Picasso's painting of a dove which became the symbol of the peace movement. And interestingly, that dove was given to him by fellow artist Henri Matisse.....
Anyway, we have a little while to wait for Picasso yet. The exhibition doesn't open until May 2010

harry potter and the half-blood prince

2009-07-15T15:03:00Z

The latest installment in the Potter franchise goes on general release today and I was among the first audience at FACT this morning.
It's all rather dark (both in terms of the story and the murky shades of the film) but there are also some nice comedic moments amid the gloom and plenty of ramapaging teen hormones among Hogwart's hallowed halls.

]]> My full review is in the ECHO this Friday, but I can tell you I thought it was the strongest installment since Prisoner of Azkaban.
And although there's no Liverpool acting presence in the film (Jason Isaacs' character Lucius Malfoy being banged up, this time at least), apparently there is a slight Scouse connection.
According to some reports on the web, production designer Stuart Craig revealed that the exterior of Tom Riddle's orphanage was inspired by a building he came across while location scouting on the dockside in Liverpool.
He's reported as saying: "There was this monolithic brick structure that dominated everything around it.
"It was very sinister, very prison-like, and the design grew out of that."
Well, after reading that, frankly I was expecting a Tobacco Warehouse. But when it came to it, I didn't really recognise the towering CGI walls as being anywhere on the river front - if anyone else has any ideas as to what actually inspired him, let me know.

in harmony project with the RLPO and julian lloyd webber

2009-07-14T09:37:39Z

I was among the audience at the Philharmonic Hall yesterday to hear the first concert given by youngsters taking part in the In Harmony project with the RLPO.
And they were joined on stage by cellist Julian Lloyd Webber who is the chairman of the project which is funded by the government and based on a successful scheme in Venezuela.

]]> All the children, from Faith Primary School in West Everton, were so confident and enthusiastic it was a joy to watch, and I must admit to a little swell of pride when they finished the mini-concert with a performance of Hey Jude - played with members of the RLPO and also Julian Lloyd Webber who took his place not at the front, but at the back of the cello section!
They've only been learning for 12 weeks courtesy of around 90 free musical instruments including violins, violas, cellos and double basses. Teachers are also involved in learning alongside the children, with headmistress Sister Moira Meeghan one of those on double bass!
You'll see the images in today's Echo. Alas, my copy was cut to get more photographs in the paper, so here are some of the things people there said that didn't make the final story....

Julian Lloyd Webber: "I was incredibly moved by what I heard. To do this in 12 weeks is a miracle. I believe it's the start of something very, very special.
"I've always believed music should be for everyone.
"Of any city in England. Liverpool knows the power of music.
"It's a great project and these children have exceptional talent."

Schools Minister Diana Johnson said: "It's absolutely fantastic and a credit to the whole community. I was very impressed by the support in the hall. It's also great Julian Lloyd Webber came and played with them - he's a great champion for the project."

Sister Moira: ""This project has transformed the school. The children are enthusiastic and motivated. They want to come to school and be part of it."

Archbishop Patrick Kelly said: "I think it's a wonderful expression of regeneration on every level - for the building, for the community and a lovely example of cooperation between the Phil and the local community which has got to be good."

Lord Mayor Mike Storey said: "As a teacher I know how important music is to children and communities and schools. It's about the discipline that comes from music, working as a team and supporting each other."

Incidently, it was great to see so many community members supporting the children - the youngest audience member was only eight days old.

benchmark winner unveiled at merseytravel

2009-07-14T09:37:39Z

Anyone who visits the Queen Square travel centre from today onwards will see a new addition - a gingerbread-man style bench.
Colin Powell's All Together Now bench is the first of our three winners from the Echo/Open Culture Benchmark competition to be finished and installed.

]]> And Merseytravel, which sponsored the bench, are so pleased with the result they have now said they are likely to order two more to go at Liverpool South Parkway and Paradise Street bus station.
We first talked about running the contest nearly two years ago, and had hoped to have the benches in place during 2008, but as I learned with the Sheppard-Worlock statue appeal, these things always take longer than anticipated.
Anyway, it's rather nice to be able to have something as more of a legacy (an over-used word I know!) of Capital of Culture too.
Special mention must go I feel to two others who worked tirelessly on the project - Christine Wray from the city council and especially Charlotte Corrie from Open Culture who moved heaven and earth to get the bench made.
And there are still two more to come!

rufus wainwright and prima donna at the manchester international festival

2009-07-13T08:15:27Z

Well, Rufus Wainwright had dressed for the occasion when his opera premiered at the Palace Theatre in Manchester on Friday night.
He turned up as Verdi (or was it Puccini? there were conflicting views in the queue for the ladies loo) in a top hat, frock coat, sliver topped cane, and sporting a luxuriant beard and big smile.

]]> We arrived at the entrance at the same time as the composer and his entourage, and as usual there was a bit of a scrum with a TV cameraman barging past my shoulder. No change there then!
Rufus also materialised in the circle bar with his similarly-dressed friends at the interval which was a bonus for the opera goers not invited to the after show party. Like me!
It was very interesting to have a night out at the theatre that wasn't in Liverpool.
But you'll notice I haven't said a lot about Prima Donna, his first opera, yet.
It was beautifully staged and lit by Anthony McDonald and Peter Mumford, and Janis Kelly was spot-on as the fading French "prima donna" of the title, a cross between Norma Desmond, Marlene Dietrich and Greta Garbo.
Alas for me it was all a bit basic, both in the composition (although there was the odd enticing flourish amid lush strings) and the French libretto, while the music often disappointingly flatlined - there weren't any memorable themes or arias, it just went on, and on, and on in the same vein with the odd allusion to Wainwright's classical music heroes.
I hope a somewhat lacklustre response to what was, in the end, a rather lacklustre and at times awkward composition, doesn't put off the ambitious Canadian from trying again.
But before he does I think he needs to match that flaming ambition with a level of classical music sophistication which is missing at the moment.

russell howard at the echo arena

2009-07-11T10:00:00Z

A couple of years ago I reviewed Russell Howard at the Unity theatre where he played to an audience of 100.
Tomorrow night he's at the Philharmonic with an audience of more than 1,000.

]]> Now the puppy dog comedian has revealed he's returning to Liverpool in the winter - to perform his stand-up at the Echo Arena. Capacity a potential 10,000.
It's a career trajectory that I've seen before with comedians like Jimmy Carr and, latterly, Howard's fellow Mock the Weeker Andy Parsons who played a sellout show at the Phil during the comedy festival, while Al Murray has entertained the arena this year and Michael McIntyre has instantly sold out the Phil for later this month.
Are we seeing a resurgence of comedy as "the new rock 'n roll"? It started with Monty Python of course. When I was a student it was Baddiel and Newman filling stadiums. Then came the Little Britain team.
And now the new generation of funsters is giving it a go.
I like Russell Howard immensely and think he can be a very funny man, but I do worry slightly whether he will find it difficult to fill a decent chunk of what is a large arena.
Call me old fashioned but I still like a comedy show to be an intimate affair where you can sense the tension between the front row and the comedian, where you can see the beads of sweat on the performer's brow without it having to be beamed onto a giant screen......

what's on in liverpool july 11-17

2009-07-10T09:00:00Z

Brick Up is back for a FOURTH time and the Summer Pops continue next week.

]]> The tale of the Kingsway Three and their plan to teach that hoity toity lot (only kidding) over the water in Wirral a thing or two has packed them in since it was first shown at the Royal Court.
Now Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels' original cast is back for another dose of cross-Mersey mayhem, starting tonight.
On the Summer Pops front, McFly, Sharlene Spiteri, the Pet Shop Boys, Leonard Cohen, The Pogues, Squeeze, The Pretenders, Ne-Yo, The Sums, Nigel Clarke, Jersey Budd and Aswad are all on stage somewhere in the city over the next seven days.
On a different note (excuse the lame pun), the Phil's pops also continue with the chance to see the Dance Legends of the Silver Screen accompanied by the RLPO on July 15.
The RLPO is also playing at tomorrow night's Summer Ball at St George's Hall while Ry Cooder takes over its Hope Street hall.
Elsewhere there are new exhibitions at the Walker (New Radicals), Novas CUC (FIS - work by contemporary Irish artists) and The Royal Standard (EASTvideo), while comedian Russell Howard arrives at the Philharmonic Hall on Sunday. Unfortunately for anyone who hasn't yet secured a ticket it's a sell out comedy gig.
Comedian du jour Michael McIntyre is also playing at the Phil (on July 17), but tickets have also been snapped up like the proverbial hot cakes for his show too.
Neil Campbell brings his Ghost Stories to St Luke's, the bombed out church, on Thursday.
And finally, the Jolly Roger will be flying over the Albert Dock tomorrow when a pirate day is held with the promise of pieces of eight, treasure hunts and a grand battle at 3.30pm.

one night in istanbul with rafa, carragher and gerrard

2009-07-10T08:44:14Z

There was an atmosphere, as I've said in my review today, somewhere between Anfield and a performance of Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels at the Empire last night.
And it was particularly charged because some of the heroes of Liverpool's 2005 win in Istanbul - Stevie Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Rafa Benitez - were in the audience for the opening night of One Night in Istanbul.

]]> Before anyone with tickets for the rest of the run gets too excited, don't expect them in the theatre every night, although I understand there may be a special guest as part of the show each evening.
Actually, for those of us not used to such a pressurised atmosphere, it was quite intimidating!
Not in a deliberate way (everyone in there was lovely and just out to have a great night) but I was sitting two rows in front of Rafa and Stevie G was a couple of rows behind him, and we were swamped by people wanting to take photos, get autographs and talk to their footballing heroes.
It was slightly bizarre that before the start of the play about half the audience weren't facing the stage at all, they were standing with their back to it to get a glimpse of the players.
Anyway, Nicky Allt told me a while ago that his aspiration was to create a play that would bring people into the theatre who might not normally go, and in that he was very successful.
Everyone appeared to love it, and I certainly hope they had such a good time they may come back and try something else too - something with fewer goals and less scallies in it next time.
I thought the play was a real crowdpleaser, and there were some lovely moments - John McArdle's sleep walking, the Sammy Lee holdall joke, the good use of two screens on either side of what was quite a small, static set on such a large stage, and the balladeer who kept returning with his rendition of a Horse WIth No Name.
And the vision of Jamie Carragher and Stevie Gerrard dancing and punching the air and taking a bow with the cast on stage at the end will stay with me for a long time!
But, and there is a but, I do get a bit despondent about the reliance on topics like the Grafton, the Lisbon, Widnes etc to get laughs, and I would have loved one of the "interviewees" on the cod-Sky TV broadcast to come out with an eloquent analysis of the Reds' march to the final just to defy the Scouse stereotypes on show.
I don't want to appear churlish because it was a rousing night's entertainment and the crowd absolutely loved it. More power to Nicky Allt's elbow. But sometimes, just sometimes, I want more!!

vincent and flavia at the summer ball in st george's hall

2009-07-08T09:08:10Z

Dance duo Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace are heading for Liverpool this weekend for the latest ball at St George's Hall.
The pair, who also performed at Southport International Jazz Festival in May, will be tripping the light fantastic in the grand hall to the RLPO - back (with Vasily Petrenko at the helm) for the first time since the Viennese Balls last year.

]]> I've been to each of the balls and just love watching the professionals at work (although the amount of perspiration flying off Ian Waite last time was quite disconcerting when you're sitting on the edge of the dancefloor!!).
But I also love watching the regular couples who have come along to enjoy themselves.
As a left hander with three left feet, I feel in awe of those who can glide around the room. The extent of my dancing career was learning how to Viennese waltz for last April's balls, and alas, the Viennese variety doesn't seem to have made much of an appearance since.
How I long to be able to foxtrot, quickstep, tango and - my favourite - American smooth with the best of them.
My new year resolution this year was making homemade soup! Maybe next year's should be learning to dance?
Incidently, I hear there are still some tickets left for Saturday which you can get at the Philharmonic box office.

easy rider - or the curious case of James Morrison's two sinks

2009-07-05T09:17:00Z

The Liverpool Summer Pops are upon us once again and with the big gigs come the little details which make them so much more interesting.
Riders - the requests made by artistes who perform at venues - can be very enlightening.
And as you'll see they're not always of the Crystal champagne and Diptyque candle variety.

]]> For example, when Julian Lennon visited Liverpool a couple of weeks ago to launch the White Feather exhibition at the Beatles Story, he and mum Cynthia were surrounded by all kinds of PR hoopla.
Once you got past the ropes and the clipboards however, the 46-year-old was as lovely as they come and if you want an example of how down to earth he was himself, I hear the only thing he'd asked for was bags of salt and vinegar Hoolahoops.
Maybe you can't get them in France where he now lives?
Anyway, news has come to me of a few of the 'rider' requests of those appearing at the Echo Arena this month.
James Morrison has apparently asked for non-GM food and not one but two sinks. Go figure......
Those cheeky boys from McFly will be enjoying wine and a mixed cheese platter before their gig on Saturday.
And as for Summer Pops veteran Jools Holland? Go-go dancing girls? Silk cushions? Sushi flown in from Japan?
Nope, apparently Jools would like a dozen postcards. Oh, and stamps for them too.
More, I hope, as the Pops progresses!

doctor, doctor - vasily petrenko and jude kelly are honoured by liverpool university

2009-07-05T09:17:00Z

Two of Liverpool's cultural icons - one born here, one an "adopted" Scouser - are honoured by Liverpool University this week.
Jude Kelly, currently artistic director of the Southbank (and someone many people think should have been lured to help deliver Capital of Culture) receives an honorary doctor of literature degree on Tuesday.
Meanwhile Vasily Petrenko, the Philharmonic's boy wonder, celebrates his 33rd birthday by receiving an honorary doctor of music accolade.

]]> It's the second honorary doctorate for Petrenko this year, following one from Liverpool Hope in the spring.
Please feel free to post your doctor, doctor jokes here (clean ones only though - this is a family blog) and I'll pass them on! He tells me he's heard a few already......
I had a chat with Jude Kelly about her honour, but it came too late for yesterday's Echo although what she said should be included in the online version.
For those of you who haven't read it, I think it bears repeating here.
Ironically, although she went to Birmingham (one of only four universities in the country to offer a drama course in the mid-1970s), Jude does have a connection with Liverpool Uni - she used to work in the Augustus John Uni bar in the holidays to earn some cash!
She told me: "It's lovely to get this honour from your home town.
"Liverpool University has such a fantastic reputation and has produced so many people I admire."
And she had a thing or two to say about Capital of Culture too.
Jude, who is currently the chairman of the group planning for the cultural and educational dimensions of the London Olympic Games in 2012, founded arts organisation Metal in Liverpool and often comes "home"
She said she was "tremendously excited and heartened" at how Liverpool creates "interesting, edgy art" and spoke about how the city had regenerated and the continuation of that artistic vision.
Of course, that brings us back around to the RLPO which is firmly part of that vision.
So academic hats off to Jude Kelly and Vasily Petrenko on Tuesday - and don't forget the chorus of Happy Birthday. In four parts please.....

what's on in liverpool july 4-11

2009-07-03T09:00:00Z

It's a poptastic week ahead with the Summer Pops kicking off today with Australian Pink Floyd and the Phil's classical summer pops continuing tomorrow with the return of Vasily Petrenko to the podium for an all-Russian programme.

]]> The Summer Pops continue with N-Dubz tomorrow, James Morrison on July 7, McFly on July 11 and of course, it's Beatles Day next Friday, July 10.
Then there's Bryan Adams, who isn't part of this year's line-up but who brings his acoustic show to the Empire. Expect to hear one man, one guitar and 2,000 audience members singing "everything I do, I do it for you".
On the art front, Whistler etchings go on display at the Lady Lever art gallery over in Port Sunlight, and the Walker's new exhibition New Radicals opens on Friday. You can still also see Cecil Beaton's stunning portraits at the Walker too of course.
July is a notoriously quiet month at the theatre, but the Playhouse continues its run of The Hypochondriac while on Thursday the Empire's big new show, Nicky Allt's One Night in Istanbul, opens with a fanfare.
And don't forget to catch Liverpool's own Stephen Graham acting alongside Johnny Depp and Christian Bale in Michael Mann's new Depression era gangster tale Public Enemies.