The razor-sharp garage-surf trio bring their wild and exotic instrumentals to shake and shimmy to.
Held at Kazimier Stockroom, 15 November, 7.30pm, with support from The 99 Degree.
Event type: Concert
Lindy in the Sky
Get yourself a ticket to ride and join Mersey Swing for Lindy in the Sky with Diamonds Swing Dance Festival.
Featuring international teachers, adventurous learning, and three parties in two boss venues, you’ll wish this weekender lasted eight days a week (it’s only 3!)
Teaching Lineup
Stephen Atemie & Korantema Anyimadu
Stephen is a fresh young talent emerging from the new generation of Lindy Hoppers. In 2017, Stephen travelled to South Africa to spend a month working with the charity Sing Inchanga. There he shared skills with local children & young people across their own dance styles and Lindy Hop. Stephen’s performance/competition credits include 10 Downing Street, Harrods, Savoy Cup (France), ILHC (USA). His latest projects include organising talks, webinars and advocacy for cultural appreciation within the Lindy Hop/AAVJ communities across the world as a board member for Collective Voices For Change (CVFV).
Korantema Anyimadu is a dancer from London and fell in love with African American Vernacular Jazz in 2014. She has tapped for Zadie Smith and performed at the 2012 London Olympics. When she’s not dancing, Korantema is a curator and zine maker, and runs an award winning creative project called Black Hair Stories. She is passionate about the cultural links between the past and the present, and the stories of the African and Caribbean diaspora. Korantema was the former co-leader of the chorus line troupe, The London Starlings (formerly known as The Dinahs).
Angela Andrew
Angela Andrew is a multi-disciplined artist from London, UK.
Her dance story began with the first generation of hip-hop dancers on the streets of Hackney, where she was born and raised. She began lindy-hopping in 1991. By the time Angela started teaching Lindy-Hop, she was already an established educator working in schools, colleges, other institutions, and festivals.
Angela’s artistic work is varied and trailblazing. For just over 6 years, Angela was the Artistic Director for Rhythm Tap N’ Swing association based in Lyon, France (where the Lindy Hop started its French journey). Her mission there was to reboot the scene and forge strong links between music organisations and other dance disciplines in Lyon and across France; a goal which she vibrantly achieved.
Maria Mallan & Clàudia Fonte
Swing dancers (Lindy Hop and Authentic Jazz), Maria and Clàudia’s work is focused on developing their own context for couple dancing. While having learnt from the classics, from Lindy Hop and Authentic Jazz roots, showing admiration and gratitude they also look for expressing their own interpretation and voice always adjusting their individual moves to each other.
Although working on the dynamics from both roles, they believe in initiating the movement from the body as a whole; as one unit. Body awareness is one of the foundations that enables them to develop and work on a continuous and flow of movements, adding rhythmical contrasts.
Their objective is to find different ways to understand movement and rhythm changes in order to apply it to Swing music and give way to playful interpretations. What they believe is that the more open we are to learn and explore, the more freedom we can feel to fill the dance with personal characteristics united with the partner and enjoy the swing songs together.
Ithalia Johnson – Joyful African Rhythms Taster
A co-founder of Movema, an award-winning dance charity, and the creator of Dancing Queens, Powerful Gal, and Circle of Joy, Ithalia is dedicated to empowering communities and fostering inclusivity through movement. As a qualified ADHD coach, Ithalia incorporates her understanding of neurodiversity into her teaching approach, creating safe, supportive spaces where individuals of all abilities can explore self-expression and connection through dance.
As a visiting lecturer at the University of Salford and UCLAN, she uses dance to bridge cultural divides, address societal issues, and inspire self-expression. Her work is rooted in the belief that movement is a universal language and a catalyst for healing and belonging.
Wendy Okoli – Afro Dance Taster
This taster will be a fusion of popular African dance styles that has taken the world by storm! Suitable for all levels
Wendy Okoli is a self-taught dancer of Nigerian Heritage. She first started dancing at the age of 14 performing hip-hop on stage from secondary school to University. After moving to England Wendy learned other dance styles; Salsa, Dominican Bachata, Merengue, Semba, Kizomba and Brazilian Samba. She specialises in teaching and performing Afrodance and Brazilian Samba.
Wendy is the co-founder of Samba Livre, a dance troupe that has performed all over the country and beyond, at events as well as commercials and TV. As an Afro dancer, Wendy teaches at colleges and youth centres as well as giving dance workshops in collaboration with various CICs such as Afrodance Academy, Movema, and Wigle Dance Dance CIC to name a few. Wendy is also an actor and model represented by Urban Talent and has appeared in various films, tv programmes and commercials.
Live Bands and DJ’s
Friday – Ma Bessie and Her Blues Troupe
Nicknamed the ‘Empress of the Blues’, Bessie Smith was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s/30s. She is often regarded as one of the greatest performers of her era and was a major influence on other jazz singers.
Ma Bessie and Her Blues Troupe perform a narrated show, featuring music such as ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band’ and ‘Ain’t Nobody’s Business’, as well as showcasing many of Bessie’s songs. The show chronicles Bessie’s life from a one-room shack in Blue Goose Hollow, to becoming the highest-paid black entertainer of that time, to the tragic accident on Route 61 in September 1937 that ended her life aged 43 years.
Saturday – Castle Rock Jazz Band
The Castle Rock Jazz Band are in the business of serving up hot swing music, played by dancers for dancers. They draw influence from the great jazz artists and orchestras of the Swing era, while their experience as dancers ensures that the floor will be kept full all night. When they’re not on the stage, they’re busy jamming, working out new arrangements and throwing down on dance floors in Edinburgh and beyond.
Weekend DJ – Laura Knight
Laura has been DJing in the swing scene for almost 16 years. She has worked as a staff DJ at Herrang, Lindy Focus and London Swing Festival and has kept the dancefloor swinging at countless other events in Europe and around the world. Laura is passionate about music and connecting through music, so if you hear something you like, or you just want to chat about music and dance, do come and find her in the DJ booth.
Workshop Streams
All streams will have sessions with all the core instructors, and you’ll have access to the panel discussion and taster workshops.
We are a community of dancers who are IN community – all growing, learning and playing together. You will be alongside others at all times, people perhaps with different strengths to you. We believe that you get out what you put in, so whatever Stream you pick, it’ll be boss because you are boss 🙂
Ringo – Develop
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your octopuses garden is really growing. Like all good drummers you are hearing rhythm everywhere and exploring how to express it.
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This group will be best for people who want to develop creativity and rhythm whilst working on key core concepts
Paul – Innovate
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The first few albums went down well, you’re ready to bring in the whole orchestra and plan an international tour
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This group will be best for people who are ready for a challenge. ‘Tain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it is the key theme here. You’ll be expected to have very good rhythm and timing and good adaptability to new ideas at a range of tempos.
George – Grow
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‘Lindy’s really got a hold on me’, and you’re ready to add new songs to your playlist.
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This group will be best for people who want to work on a key concepts and go into good depth on them. Learning speed moderate.
The Venues
Classes:
- The Arts Bar on Hope Street
- Liverpool Guild of Students
Party Venues:
- Friday & Saturday Night – Mountford Hall, Guild of Students
- Sunday Night – Stanley Theatre, Guild of Students
Ma Bessie and Her Blues Troupe
Nicknamed the ‘Empress of the Blues’, Bessie Smith was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s/30s. She is often regarded as one of the greatest performers of her era and was a major influence on other jazz singers.
Ma Bessie and Her Blues Troupe perform a narrated show, featuring music such as ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band’ and ‘Ain’t Nobody’s Business’, as well as showcasing many of Bessie’s songs. The show chronicles Bessie’s life from a one-room shack in Blue Goose Hollow, to becoming the highest-paid black entertainer of that time, to the tragic accident on Route 61 in September 1937 that ended her life aged 43 years.
Please note that this event is part of Lindy in the Sky which is a weekend long Lindy Hop dance festival, featuring classes with national and international teachers, parties with live music and a panel discussion. You are more than welcome to join in the dancing but there will also be designated seats for anyone just wanting to watch the band.
Find out more about Mersey Swing here – www.merseyswing.com
Full information for Lindy in the Sky here – www.merseyswing.com/lindy-in-the-sky
Beans On Toast
Beans On Toast is back at Future Yard for the 3rd year running as the DIY folkster brings his Wild Goose Chase tour to Birkenhead on Friday 15th November.
Playing songs from his extensive back catalogue alongside some newfangled pagan hymns from his new album ‘Wild Goose Chasers,’ out 1st December, Beans will be joined onstage by long-term musical companion and piano virtuoso King Killership.
This show will be a celebration of music, friendship, nature, and what it means to be human. Everyone is welcome.
Meteor Airlines
A Moroccan rock band is set to play Liverpool as part of their first ever UK and European tour this November.
The acclaimed Meteor Airlines is set to captivate audiences with their unique “Amazigh Rock” sound when they play Invisible Wind Factory on Saturday 2nd November. From Tinghir in southeastern Morocco, a city famous for its stunning Atlas landscapes, Meteor Airlines infuses their music with profound cultural, historical, and environmental significance.
The AGDAL tour, named after their 2024 album, is a tribute to the rich heritage and ecological wisdom of Morocco’s Amazigh communities. This album musically explores climate vulnerabilities, resilience, and traditional Amazigh environmental knowledge. “Agdal,” a term rooted in Amazigh culture, symbolizes an ancient system of sustainable land and water management, reflecting the band’s commitment to preserving cultural and natural heritage amidst the climate crisis.
Co-Muse presents Musical Affirmations ...
Experience an inspiring evening with Co-Muse Quartet’s ‘Musical Affirmations’ concert, performing an eclectic mix of contemporary and 20th century music and featuring the powerful words and rhythms of decolonial hip hop artist André Jahnoi.
We are also very excited to premier the powerful new composition ‘Acceptance’ and the composer is our very own Amy Crane.
Join us for this captivating blend of music and spoken word, all in support of St Bride’s building projects.
Flamenco from Almeria with Julio Ruiz
Renowned Andalucian flamenco star, Julio Ruiz, returns to Liverpool this November following a sell-out show two years ago.
The highly anticipated return will see him star alongside Cristo Heredia and David de Ana — three award-winning world-class artists presented by Espiritu Flamenco.
Heading to The Capstone Theatre on Friday 15th November, the night promises to be a flamenco extravaganza like no other. An outstanding dancer and choreographer, Julio has been touring internationally as both a dancer and teacher — gracing iconic dance festivals and reaching the finals in the most important flamenco competition in the world, Festival del Cante de las Minas.
He has continued to have many successes with both his traditional and his more contemporary work including ‘Tocar un Hombre’ which he presented at Sadler’s Wells in 2023 — his quirky Sevillanas went viral on TikTok! Now, once again he brings a more traditional show based on the music and songs of Almería — performed alongside two equally emphatic talents.
Julio is joined again by the cantaor (flamenco singer) Cristo Heredia, famous for his solo album ‘Almeraya’. Cristo won first prize at several national competitions at the age of 16 and 17 and is revered as a singer for flamenco dance. He was born into a family of flamenco artists and cantaores, son of the singer and composer Juan Heredia ‘El Hércules’ and grandson of the singer Juan Heredia ‘El Pirri’.
Liverpool Bach Collective: Evening Pra...
November’s cantata is BWV 77 Du sollt Gott, deinen Herren, lieben (You shall love God, your Lord, with all your heart). The ensemble includes three oboes and trumpet, four vocal soloists, chorus, strings and organ.
The Church of St Michael and All Angels is situated at the end of a long, wide avenue in the planned village of Woodchurch and was awarded a RIBA Bronze Prize in 1967.
Future Yard presents The Last Waltz
On Friday 29th + Saturday 30th November, they welcome Seafoam Green and special guests Bobby West, Motel Sundown, Robert Vincent + Skylarks (more still TBA) to the Future Yard stage to pay homage to the film covering The Band’s final concert in 1976.
Released 2 years after this legendary farewell show, The Last Waltz, directed by the one and only Martin Scorsese, features music from The Band, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and many many more – all of which can be heard on their stage this November. Friday and Saturday tickets available. On sale now.
Tickets available online in advance or in person at the Future Yard Box Office.
Future Yard is a cashless venue – all payments are taken by contactless or chip and pin. Live curfew 11pm, bar open til 12am. Kitchen open 5pm-9pm.
If you have any specific access requests, please read all of the details about accessibility at Future Yard here.
Spanish Guitar Night- Reencuentros Tou...
Classical guitar enthusiasts and music lovers are in for a treat as the internationally acclaimed guitarist Andrea González Caballero brings her Spanish repertoire to Liverpool.
After the sensational launch of her album “Reencuentros” and a triumphant tour across the United States Europe and Australia, Caballero is set to perform at the St. George’s Hall.