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Friday 23rd March is the next Liverpool Acoustic Live show, and we've got an international lineup for you.
Singer-songwriter Jimmy Rae was one half of local duo The Reverb Brothers who rose through the Merseyside live music scene in the 1980s before signing to RCA and touring the UK and Europe with the likes of OMD and Joe Jackson.
But just as the Reverbs were being tipped for bigger things, Jimmy pressed the self destruct button and walked away from the band and the music business altogether. Some 20 years later, he rediscovered himself as a songwriter and is now winning over a new generation of supporters, both as a solo performer and with his new five piece alt-country band The Firewalkers.
His solo album ‘Deliverance’ (released on Matchbox Records in 2009) received unanimously favourable reviews and he has performed at numerous festivals and live music venues in the UK and Ireland. You can read the glowing Liverpool Acoustic review here.
Jimmy’s music blends the finely crafted lyrics of a natural storyteller with influences of folk, country and blues to unique effect. Think Paul Simon meets Johnny Cash and you’re getting close… or better still, visit jimmyrae.co.uk
Jimmy will be playing on 23rd March with two members of The Firewalkers, Jason Riley on bass, and Adrian Hall on piano. jimmyrae.co.uk
For Roxanne de Bastion there is no plan B. Performing since she was 10 and composing since she was 15 years old, she is a musician, heart and soul. Roxanne moved to the UK in 2007. She had her guitar, a suitcase and a one-way ticket. In the 5 years since then, she has gone from playing open mic nights to headlining some of England’s most prestigious venues such as the 100 Club, the Cavern Club and the Barfly.
Roxanne performs regularly in the major music centres, Berlin, London and New York. Berlin’s raw cool, England’s musical legacy and New York’s vibrancy have all coloured her music - it’s honest, quirky and in a genre of its own. The artist’s song writing has been aligned to Dylan, Ray Davies and Regina Spektor. Roxanne’s song “One Morning” was embraced by the BBC receiving national and regional airplay (Tom Robinson, Martin Winch and Dave Monks).
Together with her songs, it is Roxanne’s remarkable stage presence and spirit that captures ears and hearts – her live shows are magically dynamic and engaging, invariably concluding with a mass sing-along. roxannedebastion.com
A real gem. We don't really need another singer-songwriter, but when they're this good, you just have to rearrange the furniture and make room’. Jackie Hayden, Hotpress Magazine.
Celine Carroll is a Songwriter and Performer from Dublin. Her music has been described from soft-jazz to damn fine acoustic soul, with shades of Burt Bacharach, Carole King & Paul McCartney. Accomplished on both piano and guitar, Celine has independently released three studio albums to date. Her first entitled 'Catch You As You Fall' was produced by Declan Sinnott (Christy Moore) and also provided Frances Black with the song, 'Don't Get Me Wrong', which became the title track of her best selling album. Her follow up 'Itch', a collection of 10 original songs, received much critical acclaim and was described by one journalist as "a real thing of beauty". She released her third album, a twelve track player entitled 'Such a Beautiful Light' in 2011, receiving much applause.
She’s even won approval from a certain Mr Gilbert O’ Sullivan... ’Enjoyed listening to your album, your voice is strong and distinctive. Great songs, nice changes and very well produced’.
Acclaim for ‘Such A Beautiful Light’… Album of the Week on RTE Radio One…Featured artist on Aled Jones Show, BBC Radio 2… 'Live in studio' sessions on BBC Radio Merseyside and RTE Radio One… Playlisted 4FM…LMFM..RTE Radio One.
Oh by the way, she also taught Bono how to play the guitar. Ask her about it!! celinecarroll.com
Dominic Dunn is a 15 year old singer/songwriter/lefthanded guitarist from Kirkdale in Liverpool. He is influenced by a diverse range of artists from Maybelle Carter to The Clash and Steel Pulse, from Simon and Garfunkel to The Fleet Foxes and Bombay Bicycle Club.
He had his first gig on St Patrick's Day 2005 in the Lee Jones Pensioners Club where he played Johnny Cash songs. He was eight years old and brought the house down. He loved it and that's where his passion for live music began.
Dunn has since played in many of Liverpool's finest venues, The Cavern (Club and Pub), The Picket, O2 Academy, The Zanzibar, Lennon's Bar, Head of Steam, and Threshold Fringe Festival. He has a residency in The Harbour Bar in Waterloo, and has gigs lined up in the coming months in Barcelona Bar, Pan-Am, Modo and of course, the Liverpool Acoustic Live event in the View Two Gallery on March 23rd.
He has had two of his songs released on compilation albums by Independent Music News and the same songs have been aired on Darren Caine's Sounds of Liverpool show on Liver Radio and on Small Room Radio. He loves writing songs and playing live music and tries to gig at least once a week. He's studying for his GCSEs right now, and to relax he plays his guitar!
BONUS TRACKS
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Bold Street Bill David Harbottle and the Friendly Cats are a seven piece Folk/Acoustic outfit. They are a hardworking band that prides itself on originality and musical independence. As a collective they have completed two tours of Ireland and a tour of Italy. They have also appeared on English and Irish Television. Following on from the release of their debut EP 'Strangers', they are currently in the process of mastering their debut album. http://soundcloud.com/david- |
The Toy Hearts are one of the UK's hottest acoustic acts right now, their style of music neatly placing them at the forefront of the resurgence of interest in folk and Americana. 2010 saw this hard working band touring across the UK, Europe and the USA.
The culmination of their work so far being the national release of their third album "Femme Fatale" in September, which was recorded in Nashville TN earlier in the year. Fronted by sisters Hannah (mandolin) and Sophia (guitar), accompanied by banjo/dobro, bass and fiddle, the band draws upon the genres of Bluegrass, Western Swing and Gypsy Jazz for inspiration. By combining original songwriting, sweet sister harmonies, hard driving rhythms and energetic performances, The Toy Hearts have developed a truly unique sound that leaves their audiences breathless and ready for more!
The Toy Hearts will be appearing at Grateful Fred's Roots and Acoustic Night in Formby on Wednesday 4th April 2012, with support from Pip Mountjoy. Tickets are £7.50 from wegottickets.com thetoyhearts.com
Liverpool Acoustic Spotlight #66 - March 2012
If you get the chance, please support your local artists by emailing them, joining their mailing lists, leaving them comments, going to their gigs, and buying their music direct from them where possible. The Liverpool Acoustic Spotlight is produced and presented by Graham Holland on behalf of the Liverpool Acoustic website, and is a proud member of the Association of Music Podcasting. The theme music is King of the Faeries by Andrew Ellis from his CD Midnight On The Water.
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