Community Post Type: News

Join the debate on Arts, Sustainability and the Climate Crisis with three more, free Public Lectures in the Arts at the University of Liverpool, Wednesdays 17.30-19.00 in the Paul Brett Lecture Theatre, Yoko Ono Lennon Centre or online.

4 May: Sustainable Art for a Changing Climate

Discover some of the surprising ways in which the literature and the visual arts respond to the challenges of environmental crises with Dr Sam Solnick (Department of English, University of Liverpool), Dr Vid Simoniti (Department of Philosophy, University of Liverpool), and Mariama Attah (Open Eye Gallery).

18 May: Stories from Bangladesh and India

Stories telling how people’s lives in informal settlements in Bangladesh and India are affected by the pandemic and climate emergency with Dr Junjie Xi (Liverpool School of Architecture, University of Liverpool), Professor Shahadux Zaman (Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex) and Dr Priti Parikh (The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction Faculty of the Built Environment, UCL).

25 May: A Lens on the Weather

Explore how weather changes and extreme weather events are seen, felt and experienced by people through photographic history with Professor Georgina Endfield (Professor of Environmental History, University of Liverpool) and Professor Michelle Henning (Chair in Photography and Media, University of Liverpool).

TO REGISTER in-person or online attendance: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/arts/events/public-lecture-series-2021-22/

Liverpool Tattoo Convention returns to the city this May after a year’s absence, promising three days of world class tattooing, live music and entertainment.

Widely perceived as the most prestigious and innovative tattoo event in the UK, the show takes place on the 27th, 28th and 29th October 2022 at the Britannia Adelphi Hotel in the heart of the city centre and just a stone’s throw away from Lime Street Station.

Renowned for its innovation, non-stop entertainment and incredible atmosphere, the 3-day event will include over 250 UK and international tattoo artists, awards, competitions, two stages of non-stop live music, stunt shows, fire shows, burlesque glitz, glamour and even more tantalising performance.

The Convention is a great opportunity to get tattooed by some of the world’s finest artists and promises to be a weekend to remember; a true celebration of the art of tattooing.

The 13th international Liverpool Tattoo Convention takes place at the Britannia Adelphi Hotel from 27th to 29th May 2022.

For more information visit www.liverpooltattooconvention.com

Fantastic family friendly shows, incredible music, footballing memories and comedy capers are all set to entertain audiences at Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre this May. 

Epstein Entertainments Ltd which runs the Grade II Listed venue – named after the late legendary Beatles manager Brian Epstein – is presenting a packed programme of shows with something for everyone.

The May programme opens on Sunday 1 May when the multi-award nominated Immersion Theatre presents its irresistibly colourful adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s classic tale The Wind In The Willows. Join Ratty, Mole, Badger and the irrepressible Toad as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime as they attempt to save Toad Hall from the mischievous weasels.

On Saturday 7 May, the show Perfectly Frank comes to The Epstein with a Swinging Salute To Sinatra. Liverpool’s David Knopoff has entertained audiences across the world over the last three decades with his uncanny vocal and physical celebration of the legendary ’Ol Blue Eyes Frank Sinatra, including Her Majesty The Queen and the King Of Greece. Now he is bringing his swinging quartet to The Epstein for one night only – joined by special guest vocalist, Liverpool singer-songwriter Daisy Gill. 

The brilliant music continues on Tuesday 17 May when Albert Lee arrives at the historic Hanover Street theatre. Double Grammy Award winner Lee is one of the finest guitarists in the world, and is also a talented pianist and singer. Over his long career he has worked with a host of music legends including the Everly Brothers, Glen Clampbell, Dolly Parton, Joe Cocker, Bill Wyman, and Linda Rondstadt. In November 2002, he played at the Concert For George at the Royal Albert Hall, and has appeared a number of times at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival in Texas. 

The Doris Day Story comes to The Epstein stage on Wednesday 18 May, promising an evening celebrating the incredible talent of the late, great actress and singer. The show, from the producer and director of award-winning The Eva Cassidy Story, goes behind the Hollywood star’s public persona and promises to take its audience on a musical journey through her dramatic real-life story from jazz singer to sweetheart of the silver screen. Expect all those Doris Day classics including Move Over Darling, Secret Love, Pillow Talk, and Que Sera Sera. 

On Friday 20 May none other than champion fundraiser Speedo Mick takes centre stage in Kenny O’Connell’s funny and moving The Grand Old Lady. Two Blues have barricaded themselves inside the historic Everton lock-up, hoping to find the lost gold of Prince Rupert and thwart their beloved club’s plans to quit Goodison Park for Bramley Moore Dock – only to discover they are the only two fans who want to stay. 

Patrick Kielty brings his funny, bittersweet and poignant show Borderline to the theatre on Saturday 21 May. In it, the award-winning Northern Irish funnyman and presenter offers a personal take on borders, national identity, and the future of the Union in a post-Brexit landscape. 

Prepare to rock when The Who UK Perform Tommy TheMusical on Sunday 22 May. Eight world-class musicians recreate the seminal 1969 rock opera album live just as The Who did in 1989, complete with vocalists and special guests. And then after the interval, enjoy songs from Lifehouse Chronicles – Pete Townshend’s unfinished rock opera which became Who’s Next – including Baba O’Riley and Won’t Get Fooled Again. 

On Friday 27 May, join City Theatre deep in the greenwood in Bow And Arrow: The Ghosts Of Sherwood. The new high energy, adult comedy musical caper is set in the days of Robin Hood and is suitable for audiences aged 18 and over. 

For more details and tickets see here

The Liver Sketching Club has been active in Liverpool since 1872 and celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, making it the oldest continuously active art club in England.

Many events are planned to mark this significant milestone:

An exhibition of work by current members at The Atkinson from 28 May to 2 July.

A day of drawing / painting landscapes and posed models in Chavasse Park, Liverpool One, on Saturday 9 July.

An exhibition of members’ work at Cass Art, Liverpool, from 1 to 26 August with accompanying events.

A day of drawing / painting landscapes and posed models in Birkenhead Park on Saturday 20 August.

A portrait event in Liverpool city centre on 14 September.

A joint drawing event with Liverpool Urban Sketchers in September.

An exhibition of work by past members and archive material at the Williamson Art Gallery from early December.

For more details about the club and events visit: www.liversketchingclub.com

Tate Liverpool today announced the shortlist for Turner Prize 2022: Heather Phillipson, Ingrid Pollard, Veronica Ryan and Sin Wai Kin. An exhibition of their work will be held at Tate Liverpool from 20 October 2022 to 19 March 2023. The winner will be announced in December at an award ceremony in Liverpool.

Heather Phillipson

Nominated for her solo exhibition RUPTURE NO 1: blowtorching the bitten peach at Tate Britain, London and her Fourth Plinth commission, THE END. Phillipson’s wide-ranging practice involves collisions of wildly different materials, media and gestures in what she calls “quantum thought experiments”. The jury described the overwhelming experience of visiting her immersive Tate Britain commission after lockdown, and the transformative effect of her Fourth Plinth commission in Trafalgar Square. They particularly applauded the audacious and sophisticated way Phillipson splices absurdity, tragedy and imagination to probe urgent and complex ideas.

Ingrid Pollard

Nominated for her solo exhibition Carbon Slowly Turning at MK Gallery, Milton Keynes. Working primarily in photography, but also sculpture, film and sound, Pollard’s work questions our relationship with the natural world and interrogates ideas such as Britishness, race and sexuality. The jury commended Pollard’s work which for decades has uncovered stories and histories hidden in plain sight. They were struck by the bold new developments in Pollard’s recent work, especially a new series of kinetic, anthropomorphic sculptures, which build on Pollard’s career-long enquiry into the figure moving through space.

Veronica Ryan

Nominated for her solo exhibition Along a Spectrum at Spike Island, Bristol and her Hackney Windrush Art Commission in London. Ryan creates sculptural objects and installations using containers, compartments, and combinations of natural and fabricated forms to reference displacement, fragmentation and alienation. The jury praised Ryan’s highly accomplished new body of work made during a residency at Spike Island, which explores ecology, history and dislocation, as well as the psychological impact of the pandemic. The jury were struck by the exquisite sensuality and tactility of her sculptures, both in the gallery and for the public commission in Hackney.

Sin Wai Kin

Nominated for their involvement in the British Art Show 9 and their solo presentation at Blindspot Gallery, Frieze London. Sin brings fantasy to life through storytelling in performance, moving image, writing, and print. Drawing on their own experience existing between binary categories, their work realises fictional narratives to describe lived realities of desire, identification, and consciousness. The jury highlighted their film Dream of Wholeness in Parts 2021 in which traditional Chinese philosophy and dramaturgy intersects with contemporary drag, music and poetry. The jury were impressed by the boundary-pushing nature of Sin’s work, and how they deftly translated the visceral quality of their live performances into film.

2022 marks Turner Prize’s return to Liverpool for the first time in 15 years. Tate Liverpool was the first gallery outside London to host the prize in 2007 when it helped launch the city’s year as European Capital of Culture.

Alex Farquharson, Director of Tate Britain and Co-chair of the Turner Prize jury, said: “With so many museums and galleries reopening in May 2021, it’s been a terrific 12 months for contemporary British art, as demonstrated by this excitingly rich and varied Turner Prize shortlist. Art has provided much-needed enjoyment and escape over the past year, but it has also helped to reconnect us with each other and the world around us, as the practices of the four shortlisted artists variously exemplify. I congratulate all four artists on their brilliant contributions and can’t wait to see their exhibition at Tate Liverpool.”

Helen Legg, Director of Tate Liverpool and Co-chair of the Turner Prize jury, said: “I’m excited that these four outstanding artists will be showing their work in Liverpool for this year’s Turner Prize in what should be a mesmerising and dynamic exhibition. The jury has travelled the length and breadth of the country, taking advantage of the easing of lockdown to enjoy the explosion of creativity that has emerged from the pandemic. The result is a diverse group of artists, each with a singular vision, who impressed the judges with the intensity of their presentations, while also dealing with important issues facing our society today.”

One of the world’s best-known prizes for the visual arts, the Turner Prize aims to promote public debate around new developments in contemporary British art. Established in 1984, the prize is named after the radical British painter JMW Turner (1775-1851). The Turner Prize winner is awarded £25,000 with £10,000 going to each of the others shortlisted. 

The members of the Turner Prize 2022 jury are Irene Aristizábal, Head of Curatorial and Public Practice, BALTIC; Christine Eyene, Research Fellow, School of Arts and Media, UCLan; Robert Leckie, Director, Spike Island; and Anthony Spira, Director, MK Gallery.

The Turner Prize 2022 is supported by BNP Paribas with additional support from The John Browne Charitable Trust and The Uggla Family Foundation.

Liverpool Lighthouse Choir will release “Abide with Me” on April 15^th to mark the 33^rd anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster as a song of healing to share with the nation.

The much-loved hymn had been sung by the choir’s predecessor, Love and Joy Gospel Choir, at the Hillsborough Memorial service whilst the names of those who lost their lives at the Hillsborough tragedy on 15 April 1989 were read out.

This was done every year for 20 years before the pandemic. Lighthouse Choir recorded this song as part of a collection of songs to pay tribute to those affected by the Hillsborough disaster including several of its members and to offer hope and healing to everyone in the nation who is affected by loss or tragedy at this time. The popular hymn also sets the scene for many sporting events, including every FA Cup final since 1927.

Lighthouse Choir was formed during lockdown. Unable to meet in person, the Choir rehearsed on Zoom for almost two years under the guidance of award-winning Choir Director Anu Omideyi, now Liverpool Lighthouse’s full-time Music Director.  As restrictions relaxed, choir members were finally able to meet in person for the first time in small groups for recording last spring.

The two soloists on “Abide With Me” have personal connections to the disaster. Gareth Hayes survived the disaster having been in pen 3 on 15 April 1989.  Danya Rushton, 16, whose mother lost her best friend Vicki Hicks alongside Vicki’s sister Sarah Hicks at the disaster said: “Abide With Me is a very meaningful song for many people. While my initial involvement with the choir was because of its connections with Hillsborough, I think the song is for anyone that has experienced loss and is looking for a sense of strength to get through it.

I feel extremely honoured to open the song. I sang “Abide With Me” along with the choir at the Songs of Healing Concert in December last year which was attended by some of the Hillsborough families and it felt like the song was an integral part of the remembrance.”

The effects of the past two years on people’s well-being have been wide-ranging and unprecedented, and so it seemed completely natural for the Choir to extend the dedication of its music to include all those who have suffered or been affected by tragedy or any kind of loss over the past two years.

Proceeds will go towards the work of Liverpool Lighthouse charity to support youth and community engagement in music in the local area.

Anu Omideyi, Choir Director: “Many of our choir members have been recently impacted by different kinds of loss or tragedy one way or another and some were directly affected by the Hillsborough disaster. So, we wanted to use this much-loved hymn as a song of healing for ourselves and as many people throughout the nation as we can.“

Over 300 people attended a free Christmas concert held at Liverpool Lighthouse on December 4^th 2021.  The Liverpool Lighthouse Community Choir performed soothing songs and hymns that were sung at the Hillsborough Memorial Services over the last twenty years. The songs were chosen to remember loved ones and uplift as songs of healing. The choir released a single Wind Beneath My Wings following the concert in December.

Rebecca Ross-Williams, Creative Director of Liverpool Lighthouse said: “It’s really quite wonderful for the music from the Hillsborough Memorial Services to have a legacy. In response to grief and sadness they were chosen to remember loved ones to uplift and instill hope. They were songs of healing in effect! And now when so many people are facing such hardship and loss, they can be shared with the nation. Our hearts desire is that in releasing the single Abide with Me it reaches every corner of the land to touch the hearts of many.“

Abide with Me will be released on April 15^th 2022, the 33^rd anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster

Abide with Me:  https://vimeo.com/697974063

Abide with Me will be free to stream from all platforms including Spotify and https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ngCDjGJvPubFBj81HSEoUodDlnUvGvP2?usp=sharing and 99p to download.

All proceeds will go to Liverpool Lighthouse Charity which will support music in the local community with a focus on disadvantaged and vulnerable young people.

An amazing programme of top entertainment is being brought together to thrill and enthrall visitors to the inaugural Cheshire Festival of Power which takes place this summer.

The hotly anticipated new event is planned for the August Bank Holiday weekend when it will take over the 50-acre Ashley Hall Showground near Altrincham.

A packed two days of carefully chosen arena entertainment is promised for the event on 27-28 August, headlined by the brilliant Bolddog Lings FMX Team. The UK’s top freestyle motocross display team – and official stunt team of Honda – provides a unique, non-stop show featuring Britain’s best motocross and extreme sports experts.

The show, based around the world’s largest and most sophisticated mobile landing system, features the UK’s top ranked freestyle motocross riders who are continually pushing the boundaries of FMX.

It promises to have audiences on the edge of their seats with its daring stunts, heart-stopping tricks and non-stop aerial action – some with riders giving live commentary to the crowd as they fly 35ft in the air.

And between displays, visitors are invited to get a closer look at the interactive stand where they can see the bikes close up and meet the riders.

The arena will also host Nick Gregory’s Misselchalke Gundogs. Nick Gregory has been a winner and runner-up in the Kennel Club’s Cocker Spaniel Championship which he has also judged.

An internationally recognised dog trainer who is particularly in demand in the United States, he will showcase his skillful training techniques with the assistance of a range of gundogs from spaniels to Labradors and from puppies to fully trained animals in this unmissable, family-friendly show.

The show’s finale will give people the chance to see Nick working different dogs off lead while remaining in complete control.

Meanwhile ahead of the August festival date there is a chance to enter an amazing car raffle with the prize being a Porsche 911 worth a stunning £90,000.

Tickets will be sold for the opportunity to become the new owner of this iconic and legendary high-performance sports car, with the winning ticket being picked at the Festival of Power itself. And there will also be a charitable donation made from the funds raised.

Elsewhere, car lovers and petrol heads won’t want to miss the Motor Brand Showcase which will feature classic and supercar paddocks packed with exclusive models like Bentley, Rolls Royce, McLaren, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Nissan Nismo, Tesla and more.

There will also be classic and superbikes on display, including Ducati and Honda, while GB Helicopters will show one of their fleet next to the main stage.

And visitors will be able to learn more about some of their favourite vehicles with car clubs set to be in attendance, while there will also be a fascinating steam and traction engine display.

Family-friendly attractions also include a huge, traditional funfair.

Meanwhile the festival also boasts a stellar music line-up with two nights of unmissable live performances on the main stage.

M-People singer Heather Small will headline on Saturday 27 August. And on Sunday 28 August there’s a chance to break out all those groovy disco moves when the brilliant Boney M, featuring Maisie Williams, take centre stage.

Festivalgoers will also be able to enjoy a wide range of delicious and carefully chosen gourmet food and drink options – with the festival beer being Moretti, and an artisan Makers Market packed with gift and craft stalls.

Cheshire Festival of Power Managing Director Sir Peter Grainger said: “Since we announced the new Cheshire Festival of Power last month we’ve been overwhelmed by the reaction from the public – there’s a real appetite out there for what is going to be a great, family-friendly August Bank Holiday weekend.

“The whole team has worked hard to bring together a programme of high-quality events and attractions that together will make the Festival of Power an unmissable two days of exhilarating entertainment.

“In addition to that, we’re also delighted to be able to offer such a stunning raffle prize for one lucky festivalgoer who will be able to roar into September behind the wheel of one of the great, iconic sports cars of the last 50 years.”

Day tickets for the Cheshire Festival of Power are £27.50 for adults and £10 for children – while youngsters aged four and under go free (although you will need to order a ticket). There are also special family and weekend ticket options.

VIP Experience tickets include fast track entrance, access to a VIP area with special bars, foodstalls and toilets, a complimentary glass of champagne or bottle of premium beer, and entrance to the Secret Wood – an exclusive cosy lantern-lit area behind the main stage with bespoke music, bars and food.

And an Ultimate Hospitality Experience includes the full VIP package with the addition of access to a caddy to go to any location in the festival, a drinks/table package in the hospitality suite, and a meet-and-greet with the headline acts.

All tickets are subject to a booking fee.

Cheshire Festival of Power will take place across the weekend of Saturday 27 August and Sunday 28 August 2022, at Ashley Hall Showground near Altrincham.

For more information visit www.cheshirefestivalofpower.co.uk/

Book tickets via Ticketline at https://www.ticketline.co.uk/cheshire-festival-of-power#bio