Live Reviews

Christy Smyth catches the occasionally funny, often heartbreaking Richard Dawson at Studio 2. ...

Launching what might be his most accomplished set of songs yet, Emilio Pinchi continues to surprise Shaun Ponsonby. ...

Tom Adam snaps the trip hop icon in the glorious surroundings of District. ...

Graham Smillie captures a momentous night at the O2 Academy featuring She Drew The Gun, Peaness and Mamatung. ...

Feeling under the weather actually helps elevate our enjoyment of these three, grungy bands. ...

Despite being unimpressed with the band on record, Connor Patrick Ryan is enthralled by Daughters in the flesh. ...

Excited to see a Motown legend in an intimate space, Paul Robert Mullen can't help but feel deflated with the reality. ...

KCC Live join up with LIPA for a bumper night as part of The 2ube. Dan Spelman reports. ...

There are few people as iconic as Cher. Shaun Ponsonby can't believe his eyes seeing the Gay Elvis in the flesh. ...

Connor Patrick Ryan catches the New Order and Joy Division legend in the interesting surroundings of the Shankly Hotel. ...

Shaun Ponsonby and Brian Sayle head to Invisible Wind Factory to dance the night away with two funky African influenced stars in the making. ...

Review by Soulfultiz and photos by Vicky Pea from a huge night at the Arts Club for Liverpool's R'n'B and Hip Hop scene with MiC Lowry, Sub Blue, NuTribe and Shak Omar....

A major coup in booking some major stars, but Planet Slop wonders if this precedent set by LIMF can feasibly continue. ...

You wanted the best, you got the best. Shaun Ponsonby catches the KISS' brilliantly silly farewell tour in Manchester. ...

Following the Electric Lady for nearly a decade, Shaun Ponsonby almost sheds a tear as Janelle Monáe performs to a sold out crowd at Manchester's huge Castlefield Bowl. ...

It's the best weekend in the city, Africa Oyé's 2019 edition saw sunshine and rain, and Tony Nwachukwu was there to bask in its glory. ...

Celebrating four decades of Rapper’s Delight, Graham Smillie heads to the Shankly Hotel to catch Sugarhill Gang with Gradmaster Melle Mel and Scorpio....

In what was one of the most anticipated tours of the year, Shaun Ponsonby sees a trio of hip hop icons descend upon Manchester Arena. As a veteran of classic rock shows, ...

Broadening the names of the top of the bill appeared to give Sound City 2019 a whole new audience. The Planet Slop team spend the weekend in the Baltic Triangle. Sound Ci...

Celebrating four decades of skanking, Alan Parry catches The Specials for a night filled with dancing and overt political messages. Four decades ago, The Specials arrived...

Feeling like a rejuvenated section of the scene, the brains behind Wrong Festival present their second all-dayer. Graham Smillie earns his keep with both words and photos...

Despite the competition, Threshold Festival proved that they remain a vital date in Liverpool’s cultural calendar. Shaun Ponsonby and Lorna Dougherty go the distanc...

XamVolo launches his debut album, which Shaun Ponsonby believes has set a new standard for Liverpool music. ...

Bronnie marks her homecoming with an incredible show at Zanzibar. Dan Spelman witnesses an artist hitting a whole new level....

When John Waters comes to town, all bets are off. Planet Slop enjoyed a weekend of bad taste with The Pope of Trash and Liverpool’s very own Eat Me + Preach. ...

Planet Slop wouldn’t miss Queen Zee launching their debut album, would we? Shaun Ponsonby heads to 24 Kitchen St to see 2018’s gig calendar out in sickening s...

Making the venue feel like an extension of her work, LUNA took over 24 Kitchen St to launch her latest single....

An astonishing performance to launch her astonishing EP, Mersey Wylie puts on an empowering night at Studio 2....

Paul Riley may be feeling his age, but that doesn’t stop him enjoying a bumper night at EBGB’s from Loner Noise....

Out of Context celebrate their first birthday with a huge line-up of locally based talent. Gary Dougherty finds a night of empowering folk, soul, jazz and hip hop....

The former Talking Heads frontman stages his most elaborate show since Stop Making Sense, but does it live up to the hype? Shaun Ponsonby heads to Manchester to find out....

After a seven year absence, Ladytron return for a homecoming at the O2 Academy. Shaun Ponsonby finds out if they still destroy everything they touch. ...

Michael Fell heads out to the O2 Academy for two nights of sold-out shows in one of Liverpool’s favourite venues....

Gary Dougherty catches XamVolo’s return to Constellations for his fourth instalment of The Art of Dffrnce....

What’s in your toy box? Celebrating ten years of unabashed queer expression, Planet Slop takes in the House of Suarez’s annual Vogue Ball at Invisible Wind Fa...

The best night in Liverpool now comes with added Kylie. Shaun Ponsonby catches a bona fide national treasure in the act. ...

Heading to Manchester for Janelle Monae’s first full UK show in four years, Shona Carmen feels alive, emotional and included as the Electric Lady wows in a venue al...

Andrew Nicholls takes his regular Queenstion Time on the road, rocking up to Europe’s biggest drag convention in London, and speaking to Jujubee, Manila, Cheryl Ho...

Bringing together music and gig photography, Graham Smillie finds great potential in Shout About It Live. ...

The former Scissor Sisters man brings his solo show to the Arts Club, where Shaun Ponsonby finds a vibrant,  colourful and thoroughly Queer show. ...

A perfect marriage of rock & soul, Shaun Ponsonby checks out California’s Vintage Trouble in the Baltic Triangle. ...

Three incredible Liverpool artists come together for one night at 81 Renshaw, and Graham Smillie was on hand to take it all in. ...

With LIMF debuting their new set-up for 2018, Shaun Ponsonby and Soulfultiz take in this year’s event and ponder the future. ...

George Clinton makes his final visit to Manchester, but despite his impending retirement, Shaun Ponsonby finds a defiant Dr Funkenstein refusing to rest on his laurels. ...

Little Steven returned to Liverpool six months after playing two shows in one day. Shaun Ponsonby was on hand to light the soulfire. ...

Going back to their roots in Studio 2, ParrJazz welcomed Forq to Liverpool’s finest Tuesday night entertainment. Mikey Fell was there to check it out....

After rescheduling their shows in the spring, the New Zealand musical comedy duo finally bring their reunion tour to Liverpool. Shaun Ponsonby finds out whether it was w...

Sandwiched between Positive Vibration and the new look LIMF, Shaun Ponsonby finds Africa Oyé is still the greatest weekend in Liverpool’s cultural calendar. ...

As Positive Vibration stage their most successful weekend yet, Paul Riley and Shaun Ponsonby wonder if, after just three years, the reggae festival has outgrown the Balti...

Planet Slop & Sakura join the tens of thousands making the pilgrimage to Manchester to see Rock n Roll’s living legends. ...

For WOWfest’s 2018 finale, Shelique Braithwaite takes in Potent Whisper at Constellations, and sees the themes of this year’s festival come together. ...

Joel Leary spends a night in the Jacaranda to witness some horn drenched Carlisle rockers head to Liverpool with a bluesy edge....

As Sound City return to their roots, Planet Slop send Giulia Cecchi, Mikey Fell, Mark Holmes, Brian Sayle, Graham Smilie and Soulfultiz to spend the weekend in the Baltic...

A modern jazz festival in the heart of the Baltic Triangle? Soulfultiz thinks its just what the doctor ordered....

Back for its second year, Paul Riley and Vicky Pea find Wrong Festival building on last year’s triumph and securing a unique place in the Liverpool music calendar.Â...

Threshold Festival use their fallow year to launch a more compact event. Shaun Ponsonby spends two days in the Baltic Triangle for Across The Threshold. ...

Not knowing what to expect from the Roxy Music legend, Alan Parry discovers what grown up pop sounds like. ...

A pretty perfect way to wind down on a Sunday evening, Shaun Ponsonby takes in some Manchester soul on Bold Street.  ...

With Paloma Faith bringing a local hero on the road, Shaun Ponsonby catches a pop star who is both fantastical and relatable. ...

With almost six decades of music to choose from, Brian Sayle catches the reggae legend on his return visit to Liverpool. ...

With Stealing Sheep debuting new material in a show named Big Wows, Graham Smillie finds it an appropriate title for a genuinely dazzling show. ...

Raiding Bob Marley’s back catalogue without their fallen leader, Shaun Ponsonby catches the reggae legends at the height of their powers. ...

The up and coming Malaysian-English comic came to Southport’s Atkinson, and Alan Parry found the young comedian performing beyond his years. ...

Maybe some things are best kept a fantasy. Planet Slop catches a disappointing Wiley at 24 Kitchen Street....

The former Black Uhuru star performs the most iconic music in his back catalogue, and Graham Smillie was there for the positive vibrations. ...

Launching his new single at Studio 2, Emilio Pinchi ends up offering one of the finest nights out in recent memory. Graham Smillie and Jazamin Sinclair were there to take...

With a big night at Invisible Wind Factory, Paul Riley finds himself disappointed by Nightmares on Wax, but finds a promising new talent in MC Nelson. ...

Vicky Pea tears up the draft and goes back to the drawing board after seeing Kendrick Lamar destroy her expectations in Manchester. ...

The night before her Kendrick Lamar collaboration drops, Jorja Smith brings her sell-out UK tour to the Invisible Wind Factory. Soulfultiz checks out an artist on the cus...

In a brand new venue on the outskirts of town, Shaun Ponsonby takes in an all-night Boom Bap party that could become a central part of a criminally overlooked scene. ...

Last week, Planet Slop joined up with Rogue Gallery for an eccentric and eclectic night of rock, hip-hop, blues, jazz-pronk and acoustic queercore. Here’s how it we...

A maverick musical with a message, Gary Dougherty reports on a night of songs, laughs and anarchic performance....

As Queen Zee stage their second Sassden event, Matthew Reekie finds a raucous night that is pushing boundaries. ...

Sakura presents a snippet of the night when Paramore’s arena tour came to Manchester. ...

Despite his disdain for New Years Eve, Paul Riley finds himself dancing with everybody else during Fiesta Bombarda’s triumphant end of year bash. ...

With a double bill of 2-Tone legends ending their year in Liverpool, Graham Smillie gets his Christmas skank on....

As Slade stage a Christmas party in Liverpool, Shaun Ponsonby feels the noize with the glam legend’s current incarnation. ...

Did we just see some defining performances from a couple of Liverpool’s stars in waiting? Shaun Ponsonby seems to think so....

In arguably the finest large venue in the city, Paul Riley finds a rock icon far from playing it safe. ...

The favourite band of his youth, Shaun Ponsonby heads to the Echo Arena to find out whether Queen are still the champions with Adam Lambert. ...

Bringing 25 years of Africa Oye to a close, Shaun Ponsonby sees a performance of sheer class from French-Cameroon artist Blick Bassy....

Stephen Lewin has high hopes as he sets out to join the dedicated DeMarco masses at Mountford Hall. ...

In the perfect surroundings of the Laughterhouse, Alan Parry finds Paul Foot reminiscent of Robin Williams in his pomp. ...

The shock rock icon returns with the original band for the first time in 46 years, and welcomes Shaun Ponsonby to his nightmare. ...

Consigliere to both Bruce Springsteen and Tony Soprano, Little Steven wows Liverpool with two very different shows in one day. Superfan Shaun Ponsonby wasn’t going ...

Taking a trip to New Orleans, albeit via Manchester, Owen Mullen finds a pure love of music at Gorilla. ...

With Blondie’s new album arguably being their most popular in two decades, Shaun Ponsonby finds a band far from resting on their laurels.  ...

Vicky Pea finally catches the band that has inexplicably eluded her since the glorious summer of ’04. ...

With Squeeze expertly showing us how it’s done, Alan Parry finds out what grown ups do on a night out. ...

With regular indie faces on stage, and some genuinely exciting MC’s relegated downstairs, Shaun Ponsonby, Vicky Pea and Lorna Doughtery think it’s time for Li...

Wednesday night may not be raring for a party, but Shaun Ponsonby finds a warm reception for Childhood....

Positive Vibration brings another reggae legend to Liverpool as part of Music Week. As if Shaun Ponsonby would miss this one....

Celebrating 20 years of the Bella Union label at Leaf for Liverpool Music Week, Paul Fitzgerald finds an evening of true celebration....

Having only known Jungle for two weeks, Graham Smillie takes a chance and catches them at the Invisible Wind Factory. Do they convert a new fan?...

Having a little look back at our adventures so far in Liverpool Music Week 2018. ...

As the Abstract Orchestra makes an inevitable return to the city, DJ2Kind watches them triumph in a re-imagining of a hip hop classic. ...

Liverpool Music Week brings us the good times, and it leaves Shaun Ponsonby wondering how many hits you can fit in one show....

Traveling down to London’s O2 Arena, Shaun Ponsonby became one of the first people to view the items on display at the world premiere of the official Prince exhibit...

Mark Johnstone gets his skank on as Reel Big Fish fuel the fire at the O2 Academy. ...

Don’t just stand there, let’s get to it; Andrew Nicholls takes in the House of Suarez annual Vogue Ball at the Invisible Wind Factory....

Impropriety’s improvised soap opera The Happening is coming to the end of its run at 81 Renshaw Street. Sean Broadhurst returns to take in the penultimate episode and r...

Stephen Lewin finds The Shipping Forecast void of answers but brimming with the seeds of essential conversations courtesy of Downtown Boys. ...

Paul Riley embraces the Freak Scene – and the whiskey – and the rock – at Loner Noises’ Freak Scene All-Dayer. ...

Paul Fitzgerald joins a sold out crowd at the Buyers Club to discover the true definition of a band on an evening of one special monent after another. ...

An odd pairing? Not at all! Stephen Lewin travels to Leeds for a formidable double header. ...

Luke Foo Guest has been away during Smithdown Road’s redevelopment, so he was delighted to spend the day at the free all-dayer they staged last week. Warning: Wrist...

Paul Fitzgerald enjoys two full hours of unremittingly joyous Congolese wonder at the Liverpool Philharmonic’s Music Room with Kanda Bongo Man. ...

Sean Broadhurst is witness to a mushroom related murder in the improv county of Kazimier-shire in Episode 4 of The Happening....

The laughs turn to genuine emotion for episode three of Impropriety’s improvised soap opera, and Sean Broadhurst finally avoided becoming part of the show....

The only all-female line-up at the Liverpool Comedy Festival, Sean Broadhurst took in Laughter Locker and found it a refreshing antidote to a male dominated industry. ...

Michael Edward joins a shawl of sound engineers as they swarm to witness Shellac at the Manchester Academy 2. ...

A virgin to The Funk, Sean Broadhurst becomes a bona fide convert at the homecoming concert for Liverpool’s galactic funk soldiers....

Kicking off the much anticipated Raskit Tour in Liverpool, Christy Smyth finds Dizzee Rascal well and truly back in the corner. ...

Greg Davies brought his You Magnificent Beast tour to Liverpool Comedy Festival, and Alan Parry found a man with the energy of a man half his age. ...

Having unwittingly become part of the show during episode one of Impropriety’s improvised soap opera, Sean Broadhurst was determined not to let the same thing happe...

Sakura shares her shots from Lorde’s gig at Manchester’s O2 Apollo. ...

A Friday night in fine company, Planet Slop takes in art rock legends Sparks for a rare live performance in Manchester. ...

The first ever We Are Grime event took place at EBGB’s last week, and Planet Slop were there to take it in. ...

Sakura presents her photo gallery from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds at Manchester Arena. ...

As part of Liverpool Comedy Festival Vicky Pea attends her first Cabaret show, with a twist. ...

Planet Slop’s Paul Riley, Brian Sayle and Vicky Pea present their review and photo gallery from this year’s Liverpool Psych Fest. ...

An improvised spoof soap opera? Why not? Sean Broadhurst takes in episode one of Impropriety’s The Happening. ...

The gig may have been downsized, but Jesus and Mary Chain triumphed regardless, according to Paul Fitzgerald. ...

With Australia’s POND making a Liverpool appearance, Brian Sayle catches them launching this year’s anticipated Psych Fest. ...

With two massive reggae gigs in just a couple of weeks, Brian Sayle and Graham Smillie are blown away by the ambition of Positive Vibration. ...

One of the world’s biggest superstars comes to Blackpool. Shaun Ponsonby takes in the first ever Livewire Festival, starring the one and only Will Smith....

Sakura presents a photo gallery as Bright Eyes frontman Conor Oberst delivers a gig of the year contender to the pleasure of his fans....

Packed into a venue that may have been too small for a gig of this size, Paul Riley tries to enjoy jazz legend Roy Ayers during a night of ups and downs.   ...

After a number of years away from the stage, Shaun Ponsonby catches the reggae giants’ return to Liverpool at the Olympia. ...

Adam Chapman reviews the now legendary Sunday of Hope and Glory 2017. ...

Heading down to London solo, Nelson experiences Afropunk in all it’s multicultural glory....

An alternative to Pride? Shaun Ponsonby thinks that Queer Rrriot was not only a rousing success, but that it is imperative that it continues....

Playing The Beach Boys’ masterpiece Pet Sounds in full, Shaun Ponsonby finds the Liverpool crowd delighted to simply be in Brian Wilson’s presence....

Having stopped paying attention to Gary Numan by the early 80s, Graham Smillie decides to pop along to the Exhibition Centre and discovers why the artist retains such a ...

Sakura presents a gallery of the bearded behemoths as they bring their Tonnage Tour to Manchester’s O2 Apollo. ...

Returning for it’s 5th year, LIMF overcomes the obstacles to retain it’s central place in Liverpool’s summer gig calendar....

Yes, Glastonbury happened. In fact it feels long ago in the memory now, but that can’t be helped. Upon returning this year we promptly fell apart, hit down with the...

With Detroit legends The Gories headlining, Mark Greenwood heads to Magnet for a whopper of a night from Harvest Sun....

With the rock legends making a rare trip overseas, Shaun Ponsonby joins the sold out crowd in Hyde Park for Tom Petty’s long awaited 40th anniversary tour. ...

With numerous generations of his family missing out on various incarnations of The Jacksons for decades, Shaun Ponsonby finally dances, shouts and shakes his body down to...

Seeing his favourite band in the flesh, Paul Riley braves the tourists for Radiohead’s massive gig in Manchester....

With a jazz superstar in intimate surroundings, Soulfultiz is left captivated by the great Kamasi Washington....

A funk and soul all-dayer? Don’t mind if we do! Shaun Ponsonby checks out Craig Charles’ Beats, Beer & Boogaloo at Camp & Furnace....

With one of the great cult bands on a rare UK trek, Shaun Ponsonby finds Cheap Trick sounding as great as they ever did....

Cancer Bats forming a Black Sabbath tribute band? Brian Sayle catches a curious, but arresting set....

As Africa Oyé turns 25, Shaun Ponsonby basks in the glory of what is arguably the best weekend on the Liverpool calendar....

With the only UK date for Springsteen’s right hand man being in Manchester, Shaun Ponsonby finally gets to see one of his heroes playing a solo set in the flesh....

Having won Best New Festival at the UK Festival Awards, Shaun Ponsonby finds Liverpool’s reggae festival upping the ante. ...

On the eve of Positive Vibration’s second festival, Soulfultiz headed to Art of Reggae Exhibition at Constellations....

A perfect marriage of rock & soul, Shaun Ponsonby checks out California’s Vintage Trouble in Manchester....

Anyone expecting Sonic Youth’s greatest hits would have been sorely disappointed, but David North finds Thurston Moore’s celebration of The Mersey Sound capti...

Sakura was at The Ritz to see Liam Gallagher make his live return on a poignant night in Manchester. ...

With Sound City’s tenth anniversary celebrations moving them to a new home, and some extra special one-off shows, Shaun Ponsonby and Paul Riley took in the sights a...

 A line-up that rivals All Tomorrow’s Parties at it’s zenith, Michael Edward heads to Manchester for a humungous night at the Victoria Warehouse....