Live Reviews
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Shaun Ponsonby and Brian Sayle head to Invisible Wind Factory to dance the night away with two funky African influenced stars in the making. ...
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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... -
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...
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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, ... -
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... -
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 ...
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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. ...
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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. Â Â ... -
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.... -
Africa Oyé Feat. Max Romeo, Mokoomba, Jupiter & Okwess International & More: Sefton Park, Liverpool
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....
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