Event type: Music

What began in 1995 as a ground-breaking union of musicians and instruments, has continued as a unique musical offering through one live album, four studio albums and countless outstanding performances. A new recording is due for release in early 2025. After 30 years Flook show no sign of letting-up in their brilliance, their dynamism, or their inventive flair. 

The band early on evolved an inimitable trademark sound and hold fast to their rightful reputation as exceptional musical innovators; the whistles and flutes of Brian Finnegan and Sarah Allen, the guitar of Ed Boyd and the bodhran of John Joe Kelly weaving and spinning tunes rooted in tradition over precise acoustic grooves, with a rare blend of fiery technical brilliance, delicate ensemble interaction and a bold, adventurous musical imagination. 

There is an ever present abundance of individual virtuosity amongst Flook’s four members, but there is also something wholly unique when this iconic Anglo-Irish band step on stage together, their playing always an intuitive, almost symbiotic, exchange between the various flutes, whistles, frets and skins. An evening and a celebration you don’t want to miss out on.

The musical partnership between the world-renowned Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser and brilliant Californian cellist Natalie Haas spans the full spectrum between intimate chamber music and ecstatic dance energy. Over the last 20 years, they have truly set the standard for fiddle and cello in traditional music –and continue to thrill audiences at festivals and concert tours internationally with their virtuosic playing, a near-telepathic understanding and the joyful spontaneity and sheer physical presence of their music.

A 2011 inductee into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame, Fraser has a career spanning over 30 years, with a long list of awards, accolades, radio and television credits, and feature performances on movie soundtracks. Haas, a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music, is one of the most sought-after cellists in traditional music today, and has performed and recorded with a who’s who of the fiddle world. Together, the duo blend a profound understanding of Scottish tradition with cutting-edge string explorations, and, in addition to performing, they both have motivated generations of string players through their teaching at fiddle camps across the globe.

After the resounding success of Tapestry: A Tribute To Carole King, Visions of Albion return to the Music Room on Saturday 7 June  ready to embark on another musical journey through the ages. This time, the spotlight shines on Neil Young’s seminal 1970 masterpiece After The Gold Rush. 

Led by the captivating vocals of Samantha Shields and supported by harmonies that envelop the audience, Visions of Albion brings Young’s masterpiece to life. With Daniel Ryan’s soulful guitar work, Helen Maw’s enchanting piano melodies, the rhythmic foundation laid by Chris Jones on bass, and the dynamic beats of Pete Roper on drums, the stage is set for an unforgettable evening.            

From the raw emotion of ‘Tell Me Why’ to the haunting beauty of ‘Birds’ and the socially charged anthem ‘Southern Man’, experience the full spectrum of Young’s musical genius in a setting that is both intimate and electrifying.            

With two spellbinding performances to choose from, join Visions of Albion as they pay homage to Neil Young’s unparalleled artistry, weaving a tapestry of sound that captures the essence of a bygone era while resonating with timeless relevance and power.        

Whether you’re a die-hard fan or new to Young’s music, this is an experience not to be missed—a night of transcendent beauty, unforgettable melodies, and the timeless allure of After The Gold Rush.

Andy McKee, a renowned acoustic guitarist, is set to release his six-track EP “Symbol” on September 17. The EP features McKee’s interpretations of influential tunes that have inspired him, showcasing his ability to branch out and include music not originally for acoustic guitar.

Symbol includes renditions of songs by artists such as Michael Hedges, Preston Reed, Billy McLaughlin, and Prince. McKee’s unique approach to the guitar, including altered tunings, tapping, and percussive hits, has garnered him millions of YouTube viewers and established him as a prominent figure in the music industry. His upcoming EP is a testament to his musical prowess and the impact of influential artists on his own work.

Mary Coughlan is often described as the greatest female vocalist that Ireland has ever produced, standing alongside some of the world’s most iconic jazz singers.

She is unique in blending whisky-blurred, smoke-seared, husky notes with the laconic wit of Billie Holiday and Peggy Lee. She draws the line of deep, down and dirty blues singers back to Bessie Smith with the sardonic, bitter-sweet defiance and despair of Edith Piaf. Yet Mary Coughlan delivers it all in a delicious and unapologetic Irish drawl: sceptical, rueful, mournful and melting and ardent for love.

Mary Coughlan is one of our greatest singers because over 40 years she has made the most grown-up, uncompromising, wholly personal yet utterly universal music on either side of the Atlantic about what goes on between men and women.

After their hugely successful Christmas Concert, The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) Big Band and Singers are back for a celebration of jazz and swing classics.

Over 20 iconic songs from across the ages including: Frank Sinatra’s New York New York, Ella Fitzgerald’s Black Coffee, Michael Bublé’s Sway, Paul Anka’s Eye of the Tiger and jazz from Louis Jordan, and Quincy Jones.