Thursday 30 July 2015

The Jackals




As Ralph's heading North next week he thought it'd be a good time to check out the new People EP from psych rockers The Jackals who hail from Edinburgh.

A tight knit musical unit who are known for their blistering live performances, the band's sound combines cryptic lyrics with expansive guitars, underpinned with the solid grooves of the bass and drums.

The Jackals are Scott Watson - vocals & guitars, Paddy McMaster - drums & vocals, David Panton - bass & vocals and Gary Quilietti - guitars






 


Describing themselves as making cosmic rock and roll, The Jackals worked with legendary producer Owen Morris (Oasis and The Verve) on their double A side Holding All The Roses/L.E.A.R.N with Morris saying of the experience ”I've had a very good time mixing tracks for The Jackals, a great band with soulful, massive tunes".

With tracks like the rousing Rasperry Moon they're a shoe-in to catch live. They're playing The Duchess of Kirkcaldy on Friday July 31st.

A psychedelic video by Rising Edge TV of The Jackals to prove the point.


Wednesday 29 July 2015

The Hope Fest




Last year Ralph was pleased to be able to report on the very first Hope Fest in Liverpool which supported the homeless by putting on a unique no-fee multi-gig festival of music over three days. Well this year it's back and it's bigger and better than ever.

The Hope Fest idea is the brainchild of local musician Anna Grace Henney where the music venue admission wristbands can obtained by providing a 'Hope Pack' containing essential items for the area's homeless.

The Hope Fest runs from the 18th to the 20th of September in fifteen different venues with a plethora of local musical talent and your 'Hope Pack' wristband will gain you entry to as many of the gigs as you can manage.



The line-up includes Ralph's Top Picks Steve Thompson and The Incidents, The Jackobins, The Mono LPs and Go Fiasco but that's just naming a (very) few. The full line-up will be announced on August 15th.

It's an outstanding event for an extremely worthy cause and one which deserves our support as throughout the festival they will also be running training and development programmes for homeless people to help them gain workplace experience.



Go Fiasco

The items in the 'Hope Pack' will be distributed between the homeless shelters in Liverpool such as The Whitechapel Centre, The Basement Advisory Centre and Liverpool YMCA and passed onto their service users

A 'Hope Pack' must contain FIVE or more of the following items:



Steve Thompson and The Incidents
- Jumper/hoodie (can be second hand but must be in good condition. Smaller sizes preferred)
- Multipack of socks (must be new)
- Multipack of underwear i.e. boxer shorts or knickers (must be new)
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste

The Jackobins
- Multipack of bars of soap
- Bottle of shower gel
- Pack of tampons/towels
- A Merseytravel Save-away travel card.
- Mullti-pack of Disposable Razors (mens or womens)
- Carton of UHT Milk
- Multipack of non-perishable food (such as pasta, tinned foods etc.)




The Mono LPs

Alternatively, for a weekend wristband you can donate a voucher to the value of £15 from one of the major supermarkets (Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsburys).

There will also be one day/one venue ticket options over the festival weekend.






hope-fest-2015


Friday 18th September 2015
Hope Fest 2015 - Day 1



The Brink -  3pm til 11pm

Youth Stage hosted by Dominic Dunn

The Baltic Social - 9pm til 12am

9pm Agita Cor

9:30pm Twisted Trees

10pm The Havocs

10:45pm Indego Sky


The KrazyHouse - 7pm til 12am

7:45pm Warning!

8:30pm Black Neon Knights

9:15pm Black Cat Bones

10pm Sonic Revolvers



The Bumper - 7pm til 12am

7pm Under A Banner

7:45pm The Good Host

8:30pm Antidotes

9:15pm Mersey Wylie

10pm Heavyball

10:45pm The Soul Rays


Maguires Pizza Bar - 7:30pm til 12am

7:30pm Unconquered Sons

8:15pm Saints of Arcadia

9pm Los Gatos

9:45pm Black Diamond

10:30pm Choc Electrique




District - 7pm til 12am

7pm Katy Alex

7:45pm Dan Wilson (The Cubical)

8:30pm Edgar Summertyme

9:15pm The Ambition

10pm Jimmy & The Revolvers

10:45pm Sisteray

11:30pm Tommy Scott (Space)

Jacaranda - 7pm til 12am

7:30pm Terry Gray
8pm Anne Marie Howard
8:30pm Ladies
9:15pm Girls with No Faces
10pm Zen Project
10:45 Barron
11:30pm Stillia




Magnet - 7pm til 12am

Jacaranda - 7pm til 12am
Saturday 19th September 2015
Hope Fest 2015 - Day 2

Full line-up to be announced by 15th August. Live music in the following venues:

Sound Food and Drink: 3pm 'til 11pm

The Brink - 3pm 'til 11pm

The Albert, Lark Lane - 3pm 'til 11pm

Fox & Goose, Southport - 3pm 'til 12am

The Jacaranda - 7pm 'til 12am

The Krazyhouse - 7pm 'til 12am

District - 7pm 'til 12am

East Village Arts Club - 7pm 'til 10:30pm
Sunday 20th September 2015
Hope Fest 2015- Day 3

Full line-up to be announced by 15th August. Live music in the following venues:

District - 3pm 'til 12am

The Magnet - 4:30pm 'til 10:30pm

The Brink - 3pm 'til 10:30pm

Circo - 3pm 'til 11pm

The Fox and Goose, Southport - 3pm 'til 11pm