Tag Archives: Live Music

The UK’s first Theatre Company of Sanctuary, Stand and Be Counted, present Where We Began, a wild and vivid vision of the future that combines storytelling, movement and live music. Five performers from across the globe challenge existing notions of ‘home’ in a multilingual celebration of personal identity.  They consist of Shireen Farkhoy as The Transition Guide (Persian British Actor), ...

Writer: David Greig Composer: Gordon McIntyre Director: Kate Hewitt Reviewer: S.E. Webster A whole decade has passed since acclaimed playwright David Greig’s Midsummer first premiered at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh. Since then the play has toured across the world from New York to Seoul. 2018 now sees this fun, carefree musical theatre production return to the city of its ...

Reviewer: Dave Cunningham  Bowjangles have a reputation as classically-trained musicians who are capable of singing and dancing while also performing note-perfect versions of classical and popular tunes. It is a difficult Act to describe and takes the audience at The Lowry some time to adjust to such an original routine. The atmosphere becomes more relaxed when one of the group ...

Reviewer: Dave Cunningham Albert Lee opens his set at The Lowry with something of a mission statement – a blistering cover of I’m Ready that confirms his willingness and ability to rock’n’roll all night.  Lee has played sideman / lead guitar for some of the greatest acts in popular music, which gives him legitimate access to a superb back catalogue. ...

Writers: René Char adapted by Pierre Boulez, Toru Takemitsu, Tom Harrold and Luciano Berio Conductor: Jamie Phillips Reviewer: Dave Cunningham Psappha Ensemble is The North’s only stand-alone contemporary classical music ensemble. They are based at the highly atmospheric venue Halle St. Peters- a former Italian Chapel in inner-city Manchester. Inside the venue the mood is intimate and informal – the ...

Reviewer: Dave Cunningham In 2017 Fairport Convention celebrated their Golden Anniversary. Their current tour suggests that, as they work towards their 60th Anniversary, the band has caught their second wind. The set list is varied and surprising avoiding a lazy selection of fan favourites for a more refreshing choice of material. Physically, singer/songwriter duo Winter Wilson seem a mismatched couple – ...

Director: Sergei Eisenstein (1925) Music: Jan Bang, Matt Calvert Reviewer: Ron Simpson Strictly speaking, the appropriate film by Sergei Eisenstein to commemorate the centenary of the October Revolution (which occurred in November 1917 according to the New Style calendar) would have been October, but, as Battleship Potemkin is a much superior film, most of us would go along with Opera ...

Reviewer: Dave Cunningham Support Act Steve Hill enters from the wings already playing his guitar with what looks like a toffee apple stuck to the neck. The reason soon becomes apparent: Hill is that rarest of acts – a one-man heavy rock band. Working drums with a foot pedal and bashing the cymbals with the drumstick attached to his guitar ...