Nerve

Jan 13, 2025 | catalystmedia.org.uk | Rob Harrison

The Birthday Party 27th March 1982 Liverpool / The WarehouseThis is an occasional series that highlights Liverpool’s cultural life in the past. A kind of revision of history, or at least one that’s not being handed down. As of late, Liverpool’s Musical history has been a deep resource to reshape the past for certain members of the rose coloured glasses brigade. In this instance I could be accused of the same with this review.

Feb 25, 2024 | catalystmedia.org.uk | Cornelia Gräbner

The office of The Windows Project is surrounded by internal and external windows, offering an outlook into the city and an invitation to come in. Shelves full of boxes and papers convey a sense of hidden treasure that is just waiting to be discovered. The Windows Project is one of the oldest community arts poetry projects in the country. It has been around since 1976. Its coordinator is Dave Ward, who was also one of its founders.

Feb 6, 2024 | catalystmedia.org.uk | Rob Harrison

Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge FinalLeaf, 65-67 Bold Street, L1 4EZSaturday 27th January 2024Reviewed by Rob HarrisonLast year during September, Songwriters were invited to submit new songs inspired by various artworks in and around Liverpool or The Wirral. When the songs are performed in a live context, the work of art will be shown as the performer plays. Super kool idea hey..

Nov 27, 2023 | catalystmedia.org.uk | Rob Harrison

Those RoadsBy Úna Quinn and Neil CampbellAvailable via BandcampMusic review by Rob HarrisonThose Roads is a song commissioned by the Irish Festival in 2023. The song marks the 175th anniversary of the great potato famine and tells the tale of the movement of the Irish people to England. This movement would continue through the country and eventually take many Irish refugees onward to the United States.

Oct 24, 2023 | catalystmedia.org.uk | Rob Harrison

Siapiau – Pi – 161CD (2023)Discus MusicSheffield UKNow availableAlbum review by Rob HarrisonSiapiau, is Welsh for “shapes” as the four members of the band attempt to create shapes in the air out of apparently nothing. And so weave their improvisational spell so to speak. The band came together in September 2021, at a gathering for improvisation musicians in South Wales. Hence the Welsh name.