August 2009 Archives

Liverpool's Royal Court is releasing three songs from its new Willy Russell musical Our Day Out with all profits from the CD going to the Echo's Liverpool Unites.
I'm in Love With Sir, To The Zoo and No One Can Take This Time Away are the three heartwarming, funny - and ridiculously catchy in a worm their way inside your head way - songs.

I've fallen in love with the Beatles all over again.
Not that I've ever really fallen out of love with the Fab Four, but when you live in Liverpool they can become part of the scenery and you don't really see them as the rest of the world does.
However, it's Mathew Street weekend. Not only that, but I've just heard some snippets of the remastered CDs which go on sale on September 9 and boy, are they good.

Remember last year, Capital of Culture, when every weekend visitors ran the gauntlet of strack engineering work on the West Coast Mainline?
Then, Network Rail decided to carry on with its work schedule, despite the pleas of the city council and Virgin trains, saying it would mean it got the upgrade completed more quickly.
Well, here we are on the busiest weekend of Liverpool's year, and what do we have?

Strictly Come Dancing fans will have been eagerly awaiting this week's news about which celebrities are dancing with which professional partners in the new series.
I was down in London yesterday, not at the TV announcement but later to chat to some of the dance pros about a separate project they're involved in.
More of that next week.

I popped into Culturepool's third birthday party at the View Two gallery in Mathew Street on Saturday.
It was a lovely celebratory afternoon and the thanks for that must go to Vinny and Luan Lawrenson-Woods who work so hard to make the initiative a success.

If your desire to dance has been whetted by watching Strictly (and more of that in the Echo next week so keep your eyes peeled) or taking part in the balls at St George's Hall, I've got a treat for you.
The Echo is giving away six pairs of tickets for Tango Fire! at the Philharmonic Hall on September 13.
Added to which, two of the tango professionals are offering six readers and a dancing partner their chance to learn a few nifty moves with a special class on September 11.

I've been to two performances in St George's Hall over the last week - one in the small concert room and one in the crown court.
But they have had one thing in common. The Echo's Search for a Magaldi.

The regeneration of the Everyman has been boosted by millions in Arts Council funding, and the Royal Court has ambitious plans for refurbishment of its art deco landmark.
Now it's the turn of the Philharmonic Hall in the spotlight.
Those in Phil circles will have been discussing this for some time, but now I hope the wider Liverpool public will also get involved in the debtate.
Read about the issues and possible solutions in today's Echo
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2009/08/17/will-there-be-orchestral-manoeuvres-to-a-car-park-100252-24455346/

Imagine a five kilometre high spiral of vapour twisting up from the Mersey.
That's what artist Anthony McCall has done, and now his vision has won him a place on the shortlist for the Arts Council England and London 2012's Artists Taking the Lead project.

Never mind to be or not to be, the question should really be to go or not to go and the answer is a resounding yes.
Shakespeare's most celebrated tragedy is given a pacy, gripping workout by Lodestar Theatre Company whose Liverpool Shakespeare Festival is now in its third year.