John Smith at the Epstein Theatre - Friday March 22, 7pm
BORN in Devon, schooled in LIPA, John Smith has become a firm favourite in Liverpool becoming one of the world's finest folk guitarists.
Using a distinctive percussive guitar technique, Smith has to be seen live to be truly appreciated.
An ordinary name with extraordinary talent - enjoy this modern day prodigy who'll delight fans of John Martyn and Michael Hedges alike.
Support comes from TJ & Murphy and Birthday Girl.
Jennifer John singing in harmony masterclasses at the Bluecoat - Saturday March 23, 10am-4pm, £25
SENSE Of Sound vocal coach Jennifer John hosts a masterclass for singers and would-be vocalists.
Providing a range of techniques and exercises, John hosts this informal yet insightful class on how to release 'your inner voice'.
And she should know, having honed and mentored a vast array of Liverpool vocalists through her Sense of Sound vocal training agency.
For a full in depth interview with Jennifer John visit here.
Harmony Masterclass details here.
Tony Teardrop at St Luke's Bombed Out Church, Liverpool - Saturday March 23, 8pm, £10
LIVERPOOL'S Cut to the Chase Productions brings the world premiere of Esther Wilson’s play Tony Teardrop to the stage, in a site-specific production at St Luke’s (Bombed Out) Church.
Audiences will follow Tony on a journey through his interior landscape looking for the true meaning of ‘home’.
They will see the world through his relationships with fellow ‘space cadets’ and his struggles with the manager of the centre...until things come to a head when he takes the staff and residents hostage.
Tickets are £16 with £12 concessions (and students £10 from Monday to Thursday), while tickets are £10 for preview performances from March 21-25. All available on 0151 709 4776.
Ulrich Schnauss, Marconi Union at the Kazimier - Saturday March 23, 9pm-late, £10
PRODUCER Ulrich Schnauss Is a shoegaze institution.
Debut release Far Away Trains Passing By caught the attention of Berlin electronica label CCO and Domino Records, while 2007 album Goodbye’ won acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic with it's blend of electronica and honed krautrock.
Main support comes from Marconi Union, whose Brian Eno-inspired works saw the trio feature in Time Magazine’s Best Inventions of the Year 2011 for their track ‘Weightless’, described as ‘the world's most relaxing song... 8 min. 10 sec. of aural bliss’.
Completing the bill is fellow Mancunian denizen Begin, the project of DJ James Holroyd. A resident of legendary Leeds’ club Back to Basics since 1991 Holroyd has been The Chemical Brothers’ tour DJ for the past 15 years in addition to stints at Ibiza’s Cafe Del Mar.
The Spirit Of '45 at FACT - Sunday March 24, 6.30pm
BARELY pausing for breath after his trenchant Scottish comedy The Angels' Share, Ken Loach returns to documentary for the first time since 2005’s McLibel for The Spirit of '45.
The title refers to the last year of World War Two, when Britain’s Labour government rallied the nation to rebuild its battered economy.
An unabashed socialist, Loach believes that “Generosity, mutual support and cooperation were the watchwords of the age. It is time to remember the determination of those who were intent on building a better world.”
To that end he trawled local and national film archives for rarely seen footage of the newly nationalised industries and the infant National Health Service, melding it with interviews and sound recordings to create a fascinating and moving account of a time too easily forgotten by those who now live comfortably on its legacy.
