Gig Guide Monday 20th August

Tuesday 21st August
Parrjazz presents The Deportees – Studio 2, Parr Street – 8:30pm
A relatively new grouping of five experienced players makes its debut in the Ropewalks area of town. Led by expert guitar player Alex McDowall, the often-times side-man is joined here by keen improvisers such as Nick Branton on saxophone, Max O’Hara on keys, Pablo Sonnaillon on upright bass, Soroush Fard on drumset, and instantly-recognisable local trumpeter Martin Smith. Expect the combo to offer lively interpretations of their own compositions that cover the European and American jazz traditions, with flamenco, latin and avant garde influences under the belt for good measure.
 
Jake Shears – Arts Club – 7pm
The Scissor Sisters frontman is touring a solo record flanked by the studio musicianship of members of My Morning Jacket. Sonic Yootha DJs in support, should be a perky party.
 
Wednesday 22nd August
‘Circle of Choro’ film screening – The Brink – 6pm
Brazilian music documentary Circle of Choro’s primary concern is unravelling the mysteries of this communal music genre. The 52min film will be followed by live music with the first Liverpool Choro group with Martin Smith on Trumpet , Georgina on Cello, Parabhen Lad on acoustic bass, Amy Bowles on 7 strings Guitar and Milena Sá on pandeiro percussion. Special guest Veronica Baird-Smith on violin.
 
Pussy Riot: Riot Days – Arts Club – 7pm
The rightfully legendary Moscow feminist-activist art-punks Pussy Riot will be touring an alternative format musical play based on a book Riot Days by Maria Alyokhina.
 
Bilge Pump, Lake of Snakes, Nasdaq – Soup Kitchen (Manchester) – 7:30pm
Likely the UK underground’s longest kept secret, transpennine leaders of the DIY circuit of yore Bilge Pump seem to be the only band to regroup and knuckle down harder every time the moment comes to do so. King Crimson, Jesus Lizard, the Fall, Blue Cheer, Funkadelic and a slew of discordantly-recalled ‘classic rock’ played through custom-built amplifiers with time kept by one of the greatest behind-the-scenes touring drummers. A treat if just for their super speedy wit and patter, let alone a back catalogue of atonal, overdriven guitar pop. Suitably, Milton Keynes expatriots Lake of Snakes (made up of Action Beat’s Harry Taylor on guitar and the McLean twins on lead and sax duties respectively) open up; their ‘lounge metal’ should provide an apt ramp up.

Thursday 23rd
Seatbelts, The Aleph, Annexe the Moon – 81 Renshaw Street – 7:30pm
Must-see opportunity to catch ‘pop re-constructivists’ and prodigious polymath multi-musical duo The Aleph live “in their living room”. Be hopeful for re-enactments of the most recent EP and a promised guest singing sun-spot from one of Stealing Sheep. Seatbelts – the new project of aforementioned Heavenly Records hitmakers Hooton Tennis Club – and the psych punk adventurism of Annexe the Moon also worth sticking around for at this Bido Lito social event marking issue 92 (!) of the Merseyside publication.
 
Friday 24th
FestEvil (‘til Monday 27th) – Evil Eye (Smithdown Road) – 6pm onwards each day
All weekend long, the former butchers shop turned Burrito Bar and beer shack plays host to the likes of Rat Bit Kit, Matt Barton (of Tramp Attack), Snakes Everywhere and The Unstoppable Sweeties Show. Fantastic-sounding free fun with a food bank drive running throughout.
 
Jacaranda 60th Birthday: False Advertising & more – Phase One (40 Seel Street)
The three piece headline as part of a big bash to mark a noteworthy turning point for the city centre institution. Dave Haslam heads up a Q&A at the venue proper round the corner from their new Ropewalks venture – Phase One – providing records for sale and a spirited live music setting. Includes a drinks reception at the original Jac, too. Ongoing activities all weekend.
 
Saturday 25th
A Day in the Sun – Birkenhead Priory & St. Mary’s Tower – 11am
The mind behind Emotion Wave goes large on the site of this ancient monastery with “all bases covered” electronically: ambient, kosmische, 80s-horror-soundtrack, and acid techno. Line-up includes Lo Five, Reedale Rise, Isocre, Melodien, M T Hall, TVAM, and Breakwave, set to take punters through to 11pm. Family-friendly and an unlikely use of this 12th century building.
 
Bootle Music Festival – Lock & Quay – Saturday & Sunday
Featuring Space, Hue & Cry, and The Real People at this community pub round the corner from Bootle Oriel Road train station.
 
 
Looking ahead: Saturday 8th September
Vibracathedral Orchestra – Drop The DumBulls – 8pm
Legendary Yorkshire underground crew bring their horizon-wide collage of crackling drone, valve-blown noise and elemental free rock to Liverpool after nearly 25 years in the business of transportative collective improvisation through amplified strings, percussion, reeds and electronics. “This is music as shamanic aid, made as much for the players themselves as for the listeners. But as I’m writing from the listening perspective I have to inform y’all that this is music to Get You There. It has always just ‘been there’, it’s just you ain’t quite tuned into its peculiar frequency until now. ” – Julian Cope 

+ Composer/performer Jonathan Hering of Ex-Easter Island Head, The Aleph and more uses his bass to counter-tenor vocal range to present renaissance and contemporary compositions for up to 8 vocal lines, taking Early Music out of the Historically Informed Performance idiom to sing every part in his own voice. Brian Wilson visits Westminster Abbey 500 years ago
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Saturday 15th September
Pete Bentham & The Dinner Ladies 10th Birthday – IWF Substation – 8pm
Compilation ‘best of’ launch time as the punk rock party starters invite a revolving cast of band members old and new to join them on-stage for a hoo-har downstairs in the Invisible Wind Factory. Interrobang (a new band fronted by Chumbawumba singer Dunstan) and long-time-serving Midlands railpunks Eastfield are amongst the esteemed guest acts. Bag a bargain and support these stalwarts of the scene.