Community Post Type: News

The final wave of international music acts have been revealed for this year’s Africa Oyé Festival in Liverpool this summer.

Taking place on 22nd and 23rd June 2024, the country’s biggest celebration of African and Caribbean music and culture will take over Sefton Park for two packed days of live music, dance, workshops, DJ stages, food stalls, traders and more.

Completing the international line-up of acts on the main stage is Congolese rumba royalty, Nyboma; Haitian multilingual poet and MC, Vox Sambou; and Senegalese griot, Batch Gueye.

Nyboma Mwan’dido, known by his ​stage name Nyboma, stands as an ​illustrious figure in the realm of ​Congolese rumba music, with a ​career spanning over five decades.

Born in 1952, Nyboma’s journey to ​musical prominence began as a ​pivotal member of several ​acclaimed bands, including “Les ​Kamale”, where he showcased his ​exceptional tenor vocal talent and mastery across various musical styles.

His leading role in the establishment of the ​influential ensemble “Orchestre Lipua Lipua” ​further solidified his stature within the ​Congolese music scene. Nyboma’s contributions ​to the evolution of Congolese rumba are ​undeniable, with his commanding, irresistible, ​sweet voice and innovative compositions ​shaping the genre’s landscape.

Nyboma’s timeless influence transcends the ​traditional confines of the genre, as ​demonstrated by the prominent placement ​of his band, Kékélé’s wth the track ​”Conséquence,” at the top of Barack Obama’s ​2021 Summer song playlist.

Montreal-based Haitian rising star, MC, and multilingual performer Vox Sambou blends the spirits of Fela Kuti and Bob Marley in his multicultural sound.

Incorporating elements from Afrobeat, Brazilian candomblé, jazz, reggae, funk, and hip-hop, his fiery “Cosmo-Beats” resonate globally, captivating listeners and compelling them to move. With abundant energy, passion, and musical brilliance, the charismatic showman, Sambou, enthralls his audience.

As a founding member of the Montreal-based hip-hop collective Nomadic Massive, he effortlessly communicates in Haitian Creole, French, English, Spanish, and Portuguese. His recently released fourth solo album, “We Must Unite” (2023), serves as a musical manifesto for the resilience of oppressed societies in Haiti, Brazil, Chile, North America, and Africa.

In addition to his music career, Sambou dedicated 15 years to leading a youth community center in Côte-des-Neiges, Montreal. As a passionate advocate, he denounces injustices, advocates for greater solidarity, and honours Haiti’s rich heritage through his art.

Batch Gueye is a West-African Griot; a storyteller through his music and dance. Singing Baye Fall chants at ceremonies in his village is where Batch Gueye found his voice. His songs are about life experiences; travel, immigration, places he has lived and people he is grateful to. His music also talks about feelings such as love and jealousy, as well as life wisdom, teaching to be good to oneself, respecting others, and to listen, to trust and to have faith in life.

His life as an artist, originally began as a professional dancer. By the age of 12, Batch performed with dance company Group Assane Thiam and subsequently performed for many famous Senegalese artists including Youssou N’Dour, Baaba Maal, Cheikh Lo, and Coumba Gawlo.

Batch is the founder and CEO of Sabar Family, a company and movement which celebrates West African dance, music, art, and culture, in collaboration with some of the best Senegalese artists across the diaspora.

Already announced for the festival this summer, the creative force of Les Amazones d’Afrique will close proceedings on Saturday 22nd June, whilst Julian Marley, fresh from his Grammy win for Best Reggae Album, tops the bill on Sunday with his band, The Uprising. Def MaMa Def, The Zawose Queens, Fulu Miziki, Florence Adooni, and Super Duty Tough Work were also announced earlier this month.

Oyé’s Artistic Director, Paul Duhaney said: “Congolese rumba is a sound that’s synonymous with Africa Oyé and we’re delighted that such an important figure in the history of the genre is playing the festival this year in Nyboma. Vox Sambou is someone that’s been on our radar for a while so it’s great to finally bring him over to Liverpool, and Batch Gueye was one of the first performers to take part in Nyumbani – our YouTube series we filmed during the lockdowns – so being able to see him perform live will be a real treat for those who enjoyed his online dance workshop and showcase that he filmed for us back then.”

Beginning over three decades ago in 1992 as a series of shows in the city centre, the Africa Oyé Festival has evolved into one of Liverpool’s most beloved annual events, attracting artists and attendees from across the world.

For more information on the festival and other events held across the country by Africa Oyé visit africaoye.com and follow them across social media.

“Ready for love? Well look no further! Lovestruck have been matching people like you for what feels like an eternity. Using their state of the art hypno-DNA technology, they’re certain you’ll meet someone you find drop-dead gorgeous!

Lovestruck are coming to your area with an exclusive event to get hearts pumping, and brains fizzing. Boasting a 100% ‘perfect match’ success rate, they guarantee you’ll never go on another date again…”

This summer, Paperwork Theatre presents Lovestruck, a multi-location immersive theatrical adventure, mixing live performance, escape room activities, and smartphone technology taking place across three separate locations in the North West. You can watch this exciting new show at Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre, the Shakespeare North Playhouse and Chester’s Storyhouse.

The immersive show will explore the extraordinary ability of ordinary people to make positive change. Catastrophe on a global scale is looming; the impact of the climate crisis is being felt across the planet, as threats of nuclear war and growing political divisions rip throughout global communities.

By empowering audiences to take a stand in the world of Lovestruck against a dangerous capitalist organisation, Paperwork Theatre hopes to ignite ideas for change in the real world.

The performance is suitable for anyone aged 16+ and is not just for those looking for love – the thrill of the chase is suitable for anyone…

“We’re delighted to be creating Lovestruck this year as Paperwork Theatre turns 10! If you haven’t experienced a Paperwork show before, this is definitely one to try – it’s immersive, darkly comedic and full of unexpected adventure. It’s been a really exciting journey to grow and develop our work with artists, communities and audiences across the last decade, creating bold and playful theatre and experiences for people from all walks of life championing excellence in our region’s arts and culture scene. We’re really excited about what the future holds for us. We’re delighted to be working on this with Frightwig, an exceptional horror theatre company, and some amazing venues and partners.“
Nicole Behan, Co-Artistic Director of Paperwork Theatre

“This July, Paperwork turns 10 years old, and Lovestruck is a celebration of all that we have achieved in that time. It sees us work with both emerging and established artists across digital and live platforms. It sees us bring our most ambitious show yet to Liverpool, Chester and Knowsley, where we have been making work, connecting with audiences, and delivering participatory projects for 10 years.”
Hayley Greggs, Co-Artistic Director of Paperwork Theatre

Accessibility

The performance is suitable for anyone aged 16+ and is not just for those looking for love – the thrill of the chase is suitable for anyone.

Due to the nature of the event, bookers are asked to liaise directly with Paperwork Theatre to discuss access needs on an individual basis. To ask any questions you may have about the performance, please email info@paperworktheatre.co.uk for more information.

Get Lovestruck – put your heart in their hands…

Everyman Theatre
19 – 22 June
Tickets

Storyhouse (Chester)
4 – 6 July
Tickets

Shakespeare North
12 – 13 July
Tickets

Highlights at Liverpool’s Calderstones Park include a new season of outdoor shows and events from open-air theatre and garden parties to the first ever one-day ukulele festival, ‘From Page to Stage’ Shared Reading and wellbeing workshops.

Liverpool-based charity The Reader has unveiled a fun-packed summer programme of curated outdoor events, brand-new family-friendly productions including The Fabularium’s Reynard the Fox, music and literary-inspired wellbeing activities, all immersed in nature.

As warmer days and lighter evenings approach the season opens with free drop-in Garden Parties returning for the second year on Sunday 5, 19 May and Sunday 9 June. Guests are invited to pop up a deckchair or lay out their picnic blanket in the stunning Mansion House Garden for a chilled afternoon with a sizzling BBQ, summer tipples, music, the Ice Cream trike and crafts. Browse the Library on the Lawn – a handpicked selection of books for adults and children to explore and enjoy live entertainment and activities for all the family.

Two big family-friendly events will be celebrating the 35^th birthday of author David McKee’s iconic patchwork elephant. During May half term there will be an Elmer Day at the Storybarn on Saturday 25 May with Elmer.

The celebrations continue with Elmer’s Big Summer Garden Party in the Mansion House Garden on Sunday 16 June. In addition toElmer stories there will be face painting, games, crafts and even a special visit from everyone’s favourite elephant.

The fast-growing Makers at the Mansion is back on Sunday 2 June, 11-5pmand invites Liverpool’s independent makers to the stunning Mansion House. Browse around the house and garden to check out the best local and handmade candles, soaps, jewellery, home décor, clothing, art, crafts and more, along with delicious food and family-friendly stalls outside.

And just announced is the first free one-day Ukulele Festival on Saturday 8 June featuring a line-up of the best ukulele groups in the Northwest with live music from 1-6pm.

An exciting summer season of pop-up theatre launches in the recently revived 1940s Art-Deco ‘Garden Theatre’ at the Mansion House in Calderstones Park.

This new season begins on Thursday 18 July with Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet by award-winning theatre company Illyria. On Sunday 4 August critically acclaimed cycling Shakespearean actors The HandleBards present their fast and funny new production of The Comedy of Errors.

The season continues on Tuesday 13 August with Hamlet, a new production by Lord Chamberlain’s Men, the UK’s premier all male theatre company.

The latest production to be announced is Reynard the Fox by family theatre company and Just So festival favourites, The Fabularium, back by popular demandon Tuesday 20August.Illyria return on Thursday 22 August with Sherlock Holmes mystery, The Hound of the Baskervilles based on the book by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and adapted by Oliver Gray.

Audiences will be invited to bring along a deckchair or picnic blanket, feast on freshly made pizzas and grazing boxes and sip drinks from the fully stocked bar.The historic stage underwent a huge renovation in 2019 as part of the £5m three-year refurbishment of the Grade II Mansion House as The Reader returned the building to public use.

Also new this year, is the first series of live From Page to Stage Shared Reading workshops allowing guests to delve deeper into the texts and get the most out of this season’s plays. Each one will take place on the same day, before the evening’s performance: Romeo and Juliet on Thursday 18 July,A Comedy of Errors onSunday 4 August, Hamlet on Tuesday 13 August, and The Hound of the Baskervilles on Thursday 22 August.

As always, The Reader will bring people together and books to life through literary events, includingtwo summer wellbeing workshops. The first will be inspiredby poetry anthology, A Book of Luminous Things, on Sunday 16 June and the second, on Saturday 10 August,by Scottish essayist and poet Kathleen Jamie.

Each workshop begins with Shared Reading with The Reader’s experienced practitioners before a guided walk through Calderstones Park and the chance to build a personal poetry collection to take home.

A host of family-friendly activities in The Reader’s imaginative play space for children, The Storybarn, range from a Meet the Author event on Saturday 13 July featuring a special reading of Lottie the Little Wonder by Katherine Woodfine based on the real-life story of superstar tennis player Lottie Dodd, to Storybarn Celebrates Pride on Saturday 27 July celebrating Liverpool Pride with stories about friendship and community.

Once schools are out, the Summer Holiday Club returns from 22 July to 9 August, with outdoor adventures in the park, games and much more for children aged 5-10. Every ticket purchased helps support The Reader’s charitable work for children and young people across the UK.

Children can meet a real archaeologist in Turn Back to the Stone Age on 24 August and set off to explore Books & Brambles in an imaginative play, arts and crafts session across the park with the Storyhunters every Saturday from 27 July to 31 August.

And of course, as throughout the year, drop-in Shared Reading sessions which bring people together to talk, connect and share experiences through stories and poems continue at The Mansion House and venues across the city.

The Mansion House is open seven days a week with guided tours exploring the history of the house every Tuesday at 2pm, and the History of the House exhibition, and the chance to see the ancient ring of six 4,800-year-old Calder Stones which give the local area its name.

The full season is available to book here.

Daily Mirror journalist and writer Brian Reade launches his debut novel Sick Mick, published by Writing on the Wall, at WoWFEST 2024.

Writing on the Wall is proud to announce the launch of Sick Mick, the debut novel by award-winning Journalist and Writer, Brian Reade. The event will take place at Waterstones, Liverpool One, at 6pm on Tuesday 28^th May as part of Liverpool’s longest running radical writing festival WoWFEST.

Described as “Savagely funny” by The New European, Sick Mick is a darkly humorous tale of one man’s unwitting journey through the battlefield of culture wars.

In the aftermath of a tragic accident at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show, Britain finds itself plunged into chaos. When a beloved member of the Royal family falls into a coma after a stray pergola beam strikes, the nation mourns. But amidst the anguish, stand-up comedian Mick O’Shea seizes the moment to joke about the North Korean-style grieving enforced on Britons whenever a Royal falls ill.

Little does Mick know that his comedic jabs ignite a wildfire of political outrage and public fury. Branded as Public Enemy Number One, Mick, trapped in the eye of a storm of controversy, becomes the target of a relentless manhunt.

Date: Tuesday 28th May
Time: 6.30pm 
Venue: Waterstones, Liverpool One 

Tickets on sale for £5 and can be purchased here: https://writingonthewall.org.uk/myevents/sick-mick-by-brian-reade-book-launch (Live from 10am on Friday 26 April).

The novel is now available to pre-order from the Writing on the Wall website: https://writingonthewall.org.uk/shop/sick-mick/

Shuffle, an artist-led initiative that highlights the work of contemporary artists through DIY, short-run exhibitions and events, announces its upcoming showcase at Tobacco Warehouse at Stanley Dock, Liverpool.

The exhibition will run from Saturday 27 April to Sunday 12 May, opening during weekends and bank holiday Monday. Launching with a dynamic opening event on Saturday 27 April, the exhibition offers a carefully curated selection of works by both emerging and established artists.

The exhibition venue, Tobacco Warehouse, is a spectacular Grade II-listed structure, which was the largest brick building in the world at the time of its construction in 1901 and is now being renovated into stunning luxury apartments. The prestigious exhibition venue has been offered by Tobacco Warehouse, showing its committed to integrating cultural and artistic elements into its development project.

The Shuffle exhibition at Tobacco Warehouse will launch with an opening event, running into the evening with DJ sets, art performances, delicious food, and a licensed bar. A diverse range of visual art will include large scale sculpture by Manchester based Joe Hancock (@thisjoehancock), ‘hard edge’ abstract painting from Liverpool based Gareth Kemp (@garethkemp), the mysterious paintings of Manchester based Karol Kochanowski (@karolkochanowski) and exquisitely realistic portrait drawings by Liverpool based Colette Lilley (@colettelilley). The venue will be brought to life witha live art performance from Leeds-based Glen Ogden and his team (@glenthemaker) and DJ sets from Iniquity (@iniquity.lvp), accompanied by atmospheric projections.

Co-Director Max Mallender says: “Shuffle has become known for its unique events that bring the art exhibitions to life. Shuffle visitors experience a dynamic interplay between different art forms and can immerse themselves in Liverpool’s vibrant grass roots art scene.  We are honoured and excited to have the opportunity to bring the region’s best creative talent to Tobacco Warehouse.”

For experienced and budding art buyers alike, Shuffle exhibitions offer a wide range of artworks available to buy. This can be complemented by a unique personal art curation experience offered by Shuffle, for individuals and corporate clients looking for unique artworks to transform their home or office. Alongside the works on offer in this exhibition, Shuffle curators can also guide buyers through a personalised consultation process, responding to their individual tastes, requirements and budget and resulting in an extended selection of recommended artworks to purchase.

Shuffle Co-Director Josie Jenkins says: “Our mission at Shuffle is to curate compelling exhibitions that spotlight the best artistic talent from the region and beyond. We showcase artists at different career points and a variety of artwork that offers something for everyone.”

Visiting the Shuffle exhibition during daytime hours will offer a more relaxed environment in which to enjoy and engage with the incredible and complex artworks on display. Tea, coffee and cake will be available for visitors who would like to spend time in the exhibition and there are also the nearby alternatives of Cafe Riccardo on Regent Street (Saturdays only) and Stanley Dock’s own Rum Bar in the Titanic Hotel, offering coffee, cocktails and light snacks. With the exhibition open over two more weekends, including the bank holiday, it offers a great alternative afternoon of culture for Liverpool residents and tourists alike.

For more information, please visit www.shuffleshuffleshuffle.co.uk, Follow @__.shuffle on Instagram and Facebook or contact 00shuffle@gmail.com.

The Walker Art Gallery and the Bluecoat Display Centre have partnered to present Metamorphosis, a selection of new works by sculptors Emma Rodgers and Johnny Vegas.

St Helens-based comedian Johnny Vegas is perhaps best known for his surreal sense of humour, however he originally trained in art and ceramics at the University of Middlesex. During the COVID pandemic, Johnny found solace in creativity, and three decades after he graduated, he returned to the studio following a chance encounter with Wirral-based sculptor Emma Rodgers. Together, they have created new works inspired by the Walker’s collections, exploring the idea of ‘metamorphosis’ – meaning a mental or physical transformation.

Vegas’ work draws from his experiences living with ADHD, which he has described as an ‘accursed blessing’, and concepts of flight, faith, and fear of failure are prominent in his sculptures. He has described his return to sculpture as, ‘an unfinished part of my story’.

Rodgers is recognised world-wide for her animal sculptures, including the world’s largest ‘Liver Bird’, a work comprised of giant, oversized Meccano pieces. In Metamorphosis, her works imagine demonic creatures conveying the nightmare of broken sleep, and the escape made possible through flight.

Johnny Vegas said: “Currently, flight, faith, fear of failure and broken/tested faith, are the subjects most fluent in my work. Emotional evolution and how best I can express that in 2D or 3D forms. A thought process, be it linked to hope or fear, captured in time.

“I’ve a head full of butterflies and all of them designed with unique intentions of distraction from the task at hand. When I think to exhibit I’m compelled to try and recreate in clay or oil what I’ve caught in my net that day… before it is once more set free to distract me from the hurried and sometimes ill-constructed expectations of normality.”

Emma Rodgers said: “Confrontation, energy, curiosity, essence of a moment and interaction are the main elements that initially draw me to a new subject and are indicative of the very nature of the animals I have depicted.

“When approaching a new body of work I produce a large amount of visual research. Sketching is particularly important as it provides me with a greater understanding of the form. I aim to interpret these drawn qualities into clay and remove the work from pure representation. A jagged line in ink is re-interpreted as a torn clay edge; an arc of soft pencil becomes a soft fold. The energy of the animal and the tautness of the pose are conveyed by a distortion in the medium.”

Works from Metamorphosis will be on display at the Walker Art Gallery from 30 April 2024 – 31 March 2025, while the selling exhibition at Bluecoat Display Centre runs from 3 May 2024 – 15 June 2024.

Africa Oyé have announced the next wave of acts for their 2024 festival in Sefton Park this summer.

Taking place on 22nd and 23rd June 2024, the country’s biggest celebration of African and Caribbean music and culture will take over one of Liverpool’s most picturesque green spaces for two packed days of live music, dance, workshops, DJ stages, food stalls, traders and more.

Beginning over three decades ago in 1992 as a series of shows in the city centre, the Africa Oyé Festival has evolved into one of Liverpool’s most beloved annual events, attracting artists and attendees from across the world, and this latest announcement shows that the event continues to showcase new and exciting African talent over three decades later.

Just announced for the main stage line-up are Congolese eco-friendly punks, Fulu Miziki; frafra gospel talent, Florence Adooni; and Canadian hip-hop contingent, Super Duty Tough Work.

Fulu Miziki roughly translates as “music from garbage” – an accurate description of the thrillingly chaotic eco-friendly-Afro-futuristic ensemble of punk artists from DR Congo who will be performing on the Sunday of the festival.

This multidisciplinary collective is based in the heart of Africa, in the Congolese capital city Kinshasa. Its members have conceptualised an orchestra made from objects found in the trash, constantly changing instruments, and always in search of new sounds. Making their own instruments, performance costumes and masks, their unique sound supports a pan-African message of artistic liberation, peace and a severe look at the ecological situation of the whole world.

Born and raised in the Ashanti capital of Kumasi, the epicentre of high-life music, Florence Adooni is part of the exciting Frafra Gospel scene in Ghana. Surrounding herself with the city’s best young musicians, she now uniquely combines the soul of the northern savannah and the sound of the rainforest region, fusing the best of both cultures into one unique show.

Her Sunday set in Sefton Park promises to be a party of epic proportions, connecting history and modern times through her contagious dance music.Expect local Ghanian traditions combining with inspiration from pop, rock and jazz, including lots of festive horns. Florence Adooni’s music has soul, charm and is bursting with talent from everyone involved.

Since forming in late 2014, Super Duty Tough Work have gone on to become one of Canada’s most exciting hip-hop outfits. The eight-piece hybrid rap-jazz-r&b group fronted by Brendan Grey and backed by a highly skilled group of local and international musicians, with the band’s show including an ensemble with horns, drums, bass, guitar, and keys.

Liverpool can expect “silky bass lines and honey-soaked horns, paired with exacting lyrics about sky-high ambitions” channelling ‘90s East Coast Hip-Hop. Grey himself describes their sound as “Public Enemy meets Griselda Records and Sampa The Great”.

Already announced for the festival this summer, the creative force of Les Amazones d’Afrique will close proceedings on Saturday 22nd June, whilst Julian Marley, fresh from his Grammy win for Best Reggae Album, tops the bill on Sunday with his band, The Uprising. Def Mama Def and The Zawose Queens were also announced earlier this month, adding to the already powerful female representation at this year’s event.

The final wave of main stage artists will be revealed soon, alongside the young local artists who applied to play this year’s Oyé Introduces programme, which sees up-and-coming North West talent showcased on the line-up alongside the international heavyweights. Oyé’s ethos of being ‘free and open to all’ also means that the popular Access Tent, on-stage British Sign Language translators and the Accessible Viewing Platform will all return for this year’s festival.

The Oyé Active Zone on site will once again be hosted by Liverpool’s world dance charity Movema, and audiences can expect the usual array of multi-arts workshops across the whole weekend, for all ages and abilities. The increasingly-popular DJ stages Trenchtown and Freetown are also confirmed to return with a line-up of local selectors and MCs to be announced in May.

This year’s Africa Oyé festival will take place on June 22nd and 23rd 2024, in Liverpool’s Sefton Park from 12:30pm til 9:30pm both days and entrance is FREE.

For more information on the festival and other events held across the country by Africa Oyé please visit africaoye.com

A new disability history trail at Museum of Liverpool explores the fascinating stories of the city’s disability heritage.

Created through co-production with local disabled people, prioritising their ideas, needs and perspectives, their lived experiences have enriched the trail, which will enable all visitors to discover the galleries and collections from a new perspective.

The community trail has been developed as part of Curating for Change, a workforce development programme placing D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent curators in museums across England, challenging their underrepresentation in the sector. The project has been delivered by Screen South’s Accentuate programme and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England and Art Fund.

With disabled people constituting around 17.8% of the population of England and Wales as of 2021, and Liverpool having one of the highest proportions of people living with a disability in the region, this new trail has a crucial role in reflecting the lives and stories of the city.

Iris Sirendi, Curating for Change fellow, works with members of Liverpool’s disabled community to uncover fascinating stories that span decades of Liverpool lives. Alongside the trail is a new online hub full of collections, stories  and what’s on information.

Iris said: “Museum of Liverpool explores the people and stories of our amazing city. The stories of the local D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people are an important part of this, and our new trail aims to highlight and celebrate them.

“During my time at Museum of Liverpool it has been fascinating to see how elements of Liverpool’s disability history can be found in all sorts of places. From disability history narratives than span archaeology, sport, industry, activism, empowerment and self-advocacy, these are the kind of stories we are proud to highlight with this new community trail.”

Iris has also worked alongside communities to highlight already existing sensory content across Museum of Liverpool, aimed at improving the experience for visitors with sensory needs, to develop a tactile and sensory gallery trail. The gallery trail offers both an audio-described and a digital guide, adding a new layer of interpretation and enhancing the experience for visitors looking to explore the museum through touch.

Visitors can listen to or read the descriptions of many objects on display in the museum using a nearby QR code, and objects are marked with a distinct icon and label. British Sign Language interpretation is available for each object and a print copy of the trail is also available in the museum, as well as images, text and BSL interpretation for all exhibits.

The new disability history trail, created as part of Curating for Change, will be available to explore from Thursday 18 April. The community trail is also available online, with a complete audio-described guide to the trail.

To explore National Museums Liverpool’s Disability History Hub, visit: www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/disability-history-hub.

 

Liverpool’s Capstone Theatre will celebrate International Jazz Day on Tuesday 30th April with a double bill of North West based female fronted groups, each presenting a 45 minute set of exciting and original music.

International Jazz Day has been recognised as an official ‘International Day’ declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation since 2011. The aim of the day is “to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe.”

Performing at the acclaimed Liverpool Hope University venue later this month will be Moore & Fairhall and Emma Johnson’s Gravy Boat.

Moore & Fairhall are a folk-jazz accordion and violin duo, based in Manchester. They bring together Indian Ragas, American Folk and jazz from all eras, resulting in music that is lyrical, passionate and highly rhythmic. Adam and Olivia met when they were selected for Edition VI of Serious’ prestigious ‘Take Five’ Artist Development Scheme and this duo is the result of their shared interest in a jazz approach to folk and world traditions. They have performed to enthusiastic audiences in Manchester, Sheffield and Newcastle.

Olivia Moore (violin) has studied in India with her guru Kala Ramnath, and is a long-established band leader, fusing her love for Indian music and Jazz in groups such as The Owl Ensemble and Unfurl. She has performed internationally with Elaha Soroor (Afghanistan), Mukesh Jhadav (India) and Alabaster De Plume. Much in demand for her intoxicating, microtonally-infected playing style, Olivia has recently worked with the Srishti Dance company and with Milapfest’s Indo Jazz Club band, with superstar Zoe Rahman.

Adam Fairhall (accordion) is best known as the pianist in Nat Birchall’s acclaimed Coltrane-inspired groups, and for his trademark ‘ragtime-to-free’ eclecticism as a jazz pianist. Over the past several years he has been working intensely on his accordion playing to get closer to the folk and roots music which has always informed his approach. The result is an accordion style that incorporates ostinato baselines, innovative rhythmic bellow techniques and free-flowing melodic improvisation.

Emma Johnson’s Gravy Boat is a cinematic, melodic instrumental group based in Leeds, led by saxophonist and composer Emma Johnson.

Since augmenting into a quintet in 2019, the band have gone from strength to strength – moving from touring as part of Jazz North’s Northern Line Scheme that year, to being awarded the Peter Whittingham Development Award to record their first album, Worry Not in 2021. In 2022, Johnson was commissioned by Lancaster Jazz Festival to write new work to be performed that year, and out of this, the group developed the music into Northern Flame, their second album release which ‘confirms Johnson as a singular and exciting talent’ according to All About Jazz.

Their sound has been compared to a whole host of greats including Walter Smith III’s In Common project and Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band. As with most jazz acts, Gravy Boat really comes to life in the live setting, with freedom and interplay at the heart of their performances, punctuated by stories and inspirations behind the music from bandleader Johnson.

The Capstone’s Theatre International Jazz Day double bill takes place on Tuesday 30th April and features performances from Moore & Fairhall and Emma Johnson’s Gravy Boat. Tickets are available now via TicketQuarter.