Music Review: Steps - Liverpool Echo Arena

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Music Show
Genre: Pop
Date: December 6 2017
Location: Echo Arena, Liverpool

It's hard to believe that it has been 20 years since Steps first formed and marched their way to the top of the UK charts, with some of the most memorable and catchy pop tunes of the era. In recent years, we've seen Lee Latchford-Evans, Claire Richards, Lisa Scott-Lee, Faye Tozer and Ian Watkins (H) reform, bringing the band together much to the delight of fans new and old.

And the culmination of this has been their most notable year yet since reuniting, as their fifth studio album Tears On The Dancefloor was followed by the announcement of a UK tour, including a visit to Echo Arena. The demand for their previous show on November 18 led to a return date last night at Liverpool's premier music venue, and all in attendance were rewarded with a great night of entertainment.

Kicking things off to warm up the crowd were the up-and-coming Max Restaino, and longtime pop music favourites the Vengaboys. The latter group particularly had the Liverpool audience on their feet, with the likes of We're Going To Ibiza, The Vengabus and Boom Boom Boom Boom creating a real party atmosphere. All of this provided the perfect introduction to the main act of the night, Steps.

All five were in fine form, singing and dancing to maximum effect alongside some funky dancers and plenty of stunning visual effects, each specific to a particular song, on the gigantic LED screen behind the group. Additional props such as beds and cowboy garb (from head to toe) were additional elements thrown in to boost the value of the show, and given the intricacies of certain extended dance routines, it was a credit to all involved that everything flowed seamlessly without interruption (which wasn't the case for their previous Liverpool show, when one backing dancer literally hopped off early on due to an injury).

All of the classic Steps tunes from yesteryear were on offer, such as 5,6,7,8 (which really had the Liverpool crowd dancing in the aisles), Last Thing On My Mind, Better Best Forgotten, One For Sorrow and, of course, Tragedy. The latter song closed proceedings, and the show peaked at this point due to the first-class vocals of the performers, the Liverpool crowd being in the palm of their hands, and the huge amount of confetti which accompanied the final chorus. There were also several numbers from their latest album for the younger and newer fans to appreciate, including Neon Blue and Tears On The Dancefloor.

One criticism I would have is that, from when Max opened the warm-up section to when the show closed, it was close to four hours, meaning that those who arrived early will have been on their feet for a very long time, especially those nearer the stage. Also, the ticket times didn't necessarily represent when the earlier acts appeared on stage, which may have led to confusion for those without access to social media channels explaining specific performer times. Otherwise, though, this was a lot of fun, and almost everybody left with a smile on their face.

Whether you're a newbie to Steps or an older attendee looking for a slice of late 90s nostalgia, a live show from Steps is as enjoyable a night at the arena as you could possibly get, and backed up by some cool party vibes from the Vengaboys and an eye towards the future with Max, the complete package comprises plenty of fantastic pop music.

Overall Rating: 8.5/10 - Excellent

Music Review: Wannabe: A Spice Girls Tribute - Epstein Theatre, Liverpool

Image Source:
Wannabe: A Spice Girls Tribute

Written By: Alison Jones

Format: Music Show
Genre: Pop
Date: October 19 2017
Location: Epstein Theatre, Liverpool

There was a full house in the Epstein Theatre, full of excited ladies who were ready to party 90's style (along with a few fellas who seemed up for a laugh). Soon, it was lights up and straight into the first number.

The audience spent most of the evening on their feet singing along to every word of their favourite Spice Girls hits. Wannabe: A Spice Girls Tribute didn't disappoint.

With authentic-looking costumes, we were transported back to the era of Girl Power and Brit Pop. Early in the show, Posh Spice sailed through a slight wardrobe malfunction without batting an eyelid; she remained cool and collected.

The 'Spice Boys' also provided some eye candy for the ladies. Four male dancers with some decent break-dance and back-lip moves complemented the show, and also gave the girls the opportunity for some wardrobe changes.

There was Sporty Spice with enviable abs and great vocals, Scary Spice with loads of personality (whose family had popped in to see her), Ginger Spice with legs that Geri Halliwell would have died for, and finally Baby Spice who really did remind you of Emma Bunton.

The girls gave us some stats and information on just how successful the Spice Girls were with over 80 million record sales worldwide. There was loads of interaction with the audience, with a chance to win some bottles of bubbly by participating on their Facebook and Instagram pages. Bottles were duly awarded, and there was also a chance to let the Spice Girls know what you were celebrating. There was Julie's new baby, Helen's hen night and Nicole's birthday. Each one got a cheer and applause from the audience.

All the Spice Girls hits were visited, along with some additional disco and soul numbers that added variety, as well as loads of energy with professional dance routines and vocals.

The audience loved it, with a great party atmosphere allowing everyone to join in, and a performance that definitely Spiced Up Our Lives!

Overall Rating: 9/10 - Outstanding

Music Interview: Astroid Boys On Their Rise, Their Success & Their Future

Image Source: Chuff Media

Written By: Mark Armstrong

(Thanks to Chuff Media for arranging this interview.)

One of the fastest-rising bands in the UK are the Astroid Boys. Formed back in 2012, they have made strides and built their fanbase year-on-year, whilst gaining exposure through gigs and festivals around the country. Perhaps their biggest project is on the horizon, as they will be the support for Enter Shikari for a major nationwide tour which begins in Liverpool on Thursday November 16. We caught up with the group - consisting of Benjamin Kendall, Phillip Davies and Elliot Brussalis - to learn more about their formation, their rise up the ranks and other tidbits which fans may not know about one of the UK's brightest up-and-coming bands!

Astroid Boys will be performing at the Liverpool Echo Arena on November 16, providing support for Enter Shikari. Though the band has toured the UK before, this upcoming arena tour will be arguably the biggest opportunity that the group has had to date. How much are the band looking forward to touring some of the UK's biggest venues alongside Enter Shikari?

We are massively looking forward to it. We like playing shows, and we get to do it on big stages with a bunch of mates for a month!

As noted, the tour will begin in Liverpool. What experiences have the band previously had of performing in the city?

We have played a few metal festivals there, a few headline shows; it's always been pleasant.

This comes on the heels of Broke, the debut album for Astroid Boys which was recently released. What has the feedback been like to your first album, and how does this shape how the group will approach future albums?

To be honest, the feedback has been amazing. We aren't commercial sounding, so it's always not going to be the easiest music to digest. But yeah, the response has been great. It just shows that you can get by doing what you want to do and not necessarily conforming to what is hot at the moment.

Tell us about how the band originally formed back in 2012; it's a fascinating back-story from what I have heard.

In short, Traxx and Benji (Cardiff) wanted to get out of their trouble-filled lives and focus on music, and it was a similar thing for our producer Dellux (Newport) and DJ Comfort (Cardiff). We all grouped together after meeting either in youth centres or at music events in South Wales, and we started making music. Once we had a bit of traction, we got our drummer Big H (Cardiff) involved, and we started touring. There are obviously a lot more stories to the band, but we haven't got all day right!

The group quickly gained traction, and appeared at the Freeze Festival in London in October 2012. Was this a daunting gig to play so soon after forming, or do you feel that the band were ready for it?

We really enjoyed this actually; it was a good show! We played to a load of people, which we hadn't really done before, and yeah it went really well to be fair. We're not really a nervous bunch of guys, so once you go out there, you just get the job done innit.

Bacon Dream was released in 2013, followed by CF10 in 2015. How did these songs help to increase the profile of the band, and which of these two hits did the group prefer?

They were completely integral in where we are now. Looking back, I wish we had released more music, but Bacon Dream especially was pivotal in us touring, people getting into us and understanding what kinds of music we bring to the table, and generally our DIY ethos reverberated through those two EP's.

The style of the band has been described as a mix of grime, punk rock and hardcore punk. Does the diverse nature of the group's music allow Astroid Boys to cater to different target audiences?

Yeah, it allows us to do what we want, to a bigger variety of people. It's fun playing all different kinds of shows; it tests us constantly, and it makes us better in all circumstances. We are what we are at the end of the day though, and if you are into it then great; if not, that's cool too.

The band are particularly well-known for pulling out all the stops at major festivals. Tell us about your favourite festival experiences, particularly in recent years.

For me, the first time playing Reading festival last year was such a vibe. Loads of people came with us and loads of people came to watch us. It was carnage in that tent at 12 midday on the Sunday. Just a proper moment, you know.

Your song Dusted was used as the title track for the WWE United Kingdom Tournament, which was held in Blackpool at the beginning of the year. How did it come about that you worked with WWE on this?

To be honest, it was Julie Weir, the lovely woman who signed us. She had the contact; she has all the bloody contacts! But yeah she got that one for us, legend!

What are the future ambitions for Astroid Boys?

Just to keep doing what we want to do, and for people be into us authentically, not just because of hype. Real recognise real.

Finally, tell us something about Astroid Boys which your fans reading this interview may not know?

Urmmmmm, well Harry the drummer, his uncle is Patrick Stewart, and they play lacrosse together most weekends!

To find out more about Astroid Boys, you can visit www.astroid-boys.com.

To purchase tickets for the Liverpool leg of the upcoming Astroid Boys/Enter Shikari tour, you can visit www.echoarena.com/whats-on/enter-shikari.

Music Review: The Big Moon

Image Source: Chuff Media

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Music Show
Genre: Indie Rock
Date: October 6 2017
Location: Magnet, Liverpool, England

The Big Moon are one of the more recognisable and respected indie rock bands coming out of the UK right now. Juliette Jackson, Soph Nathann, Celia Archer and Fern Ford have advanced their status year-on-year since their formation in 2014, which has culminated this year with the release of their debut album Love In The 4th Dimension, and their subsequent European tour which is still ongoing as I write this.

As part of the tour, The Big Moon visited the wonderful city of Liverpool, performing live from Magnet. And it was an appropriate site to play at, since the four-piece band drew their audience into the show akin to a magnetic attraction: from start to finish, the crowd were well into the show and peaked, as ever, for their most famous tunes, all of which made for a very entertaining gig.

Over the course of 60+ minutes, The Big Moon performed 17 songs, almost all of which were greatly received. Silent Movie Susie kicked things off with a bang, with other highlights coming from such songs as Pull The Other One, Love In The 4th Dimension (the title track of their first album), Cupid, Formidable and Bonfire. One of the more popular renditions of the night was the group’s cover of Total Eclipse Of The Heart, which I have to say was very well-performed. Audience interaction was also important to the group, with one example being Juliette recapping her unusual journey from London which included a fellow commuter’s struggles with Mini Cheddars!

The final song was Sucker, and this saw The Big Moon at their best as the atmosphere was positively wild, enhanced again by audience interaction with Juliette Jackson entering the crowd and dancing with some of the attendees, bringing them into the performance even more and making an already hot fanbase that much more excited to be there at that particular moment.

If you ever get the opportunity to see The Big Moon live, I strongly recommend that you go along. You’ll not only have a fantastic experience, but you’ll see the epitome of a band who are already demonstrating great talent while progressing to an even higher level. The sky is the limit for The Big Moon, and I discovered that first-hand here.

Overall Rating: 8/10 – Very Good

Music News: The Big Moon Announce New Single 'Pull The Other One' & UK Tour Dates

Image Source: Chuff Media

Written By: Mark Armstrong

The following story is courtesy of Chuff Media ...

The Big Moon are excited to announce details of their new single Pull The Other One, lifted from their critically acclaimed debut album Love In The 4th Dimension, available now via Fiction Records. It impacts on August 25.

A new fan favourite and another monster moment in the band’s live show, Pull The Other One is another insatiably guitar and melody driven pop song, kissed by Juliette Jackson’s curt, wry lyricism. The London four-piece join the dots, weekend-to-weekend, across the UK festival circuit having already left a heaving tent in their wake at Glastonbury.

You can listen to Pull The Other One by visiting https://TheBigMoon.lnk.to/PTOOPR.

The band’s upcoming autumn UK tour sees them hit towns and venues less explored on their previous stints. They will conclude at London’s KOKO on October 20 for their biggest headline show yet.

Tickets for all forthcoming UK shows are on sale now via www.thebigmoon.co.uk and are listed below.

In addition, you can visit https://TheBigMoon.lnk.to/CLive to watch the live video for their previous single Cupid, recorded over the past few months by photographer Jodie Canwell, collating the band’s performances of Cupid on Brighton Pier from the band’s recent slot at The Great Escape, at London’s Village Underground and at The Scala. This captures The Big Moon at their scintillating best, and having more fun than anyone else whilst doing it.

The Big Moon UK 2017 Tour:

October 2 – LiVe, Preston
October 3 – Fruit, Hull
October 6 – Magnet, Liverpool
October 9 – The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent
October 10 – The Boiler Room, Guilford
October 11 – Ramsgate Music Hall, Ramsgate
October 13 – Sound and Vision Festival, Norwich (INFO)
October 14 – The Cookie, Leicester
October 15 – Moles, Bath
October 17 – The Loft, Southampton
October 18 – The Bullingdon, Oxford
October 20 – KOKO, London

Buy the album via The Big Moon’s online store at http://po.st/TBMLVPEC.

Gary Murphy’s Guitar Legends – The Rock and Roll Years

Image Source: Epstein Theatre

Written By: Alison Jones

Format: Music Show
Genre: Rock 'n' Roll
Date: July 27 2017
Location: The Epstein Theatre, Liverpool, England

Before I go any further, I must declare an interest: Gary Murphy and his multi-talented band have been favourites of ours for many years, and we in Birkenhead and Liverpool have been lucky enough to take this type of talent for granted.

Where do I start?  Well, performing from an early age, Gary has played all over the UK and Europe, and his project Guitar Legends made its debut at The Floral Pavilion Theatre in 2007. The production involved staging the history of the guitar from the 1920s to the present date, showcasing some of the pioneering guitarists in music history through various guitar styles from jazz, blues, country and rock. The show met with rave reviews and has returned to theatres several times with this visit to the Epstein Theatre the latest production.

The story was expertly narrated, often with humour by Mrs Butler’s eldest, Billy Butler. He brought back memories of guitar heroes from the past and informed us of the guitars the legends favoured, and whenever possible, Gary gave a demonstration of their unique sound.

Gary kicked off the evening with Chuck Berry’s Johnny B Goode, and then from the Eagle’s Hotel California to Brian Adams’ Run To You featuring Alan Armstrong’s vocals, the variety of iconic rock and roll songs satisfied everyone.

The soloists and accompanists were just amazing. Elvis Presley was expertly recreated by Elvis Clayton, and Queen’s Adam Lambert (represented by Craig Murphy) raised the roof. Bohemian Rhapsody required all hands to the pump with Rob Shirley switching from keyboards to guitar effortlessly and providing lead vocals, while crystal-clear backing vocals were provided by Jade Tremarco, all of which afforded a standing ovation. She also led vocals on Fleetwood Mac’s Chains, and then Gary Brown joined the party. Covering The Who, he delivered outstanding vocals with a charismatic presence, and when the audience heard the opening bars from Sweet Child Of Mine by Guns and Roses, you just knew he was going to knock it out of the park.

The final number, again fronted by Gary Brown, was AC/DC’s Highway to Hell, which turned out to be heavenly. A brilliant night which had the audience literally rocking in the aisles.

Overall Rating: 10/10 - Perfect

Music Review: Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra

Image Source: Liverpool Philharmonic

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Music Show
Genre: Music
Date: July 15 2017
Location: Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Jools Holland has been a staple of music for many years, with his talents ranging from singing to piano-playing to song-writing. His New Year's Eve Hogmanay, in particular, stands out for its unique blend of music, entertainment and big-name performers covering a range of genres. Therefore, the prospect of seeing Jools and his crew performing live in person was a tantalising one, and so it proved, as the show was a superb platform to showcase the true art of music in its finest and purest forms.

Before the main show began, we were treated to Jack Lukeman. Jack, an Irish folk singer with previous experience of performing in Liverpool, delivered several stunning and unique vocal performances, with perhaps the best being his acapella version of Old Man River. This was an incredible rendition, and one of the true highlights of the evening with the greatest of respect to Jools and co.

Of course, Jools himself was in top form, as were his orchestra, delivering a wide range of rhythm & blues tunes, some without the need for lyrics and vocal skills, others using the beat and the words to get the Liverpool crowd up on their feet dancing. There was plenty of variety mixed in with the music to keep things fresh, and Jools was able to demonstrate his vast range of musical talents along the way.

Helping the show were the use of special guests. Louise Marshall and Beth Rowley were very good, but it was perhaps the well-known Ruby Turner who truly shone, and who earned one of the night's biggest ovations upon her arrival. Her performances at the tail-end of the show were spectacular, elevating the standing of this show even further. The same can be said for Jools' longtime drummer Gilson Lavis, who possibly stole the show with some truly spell-binding drum solos.

I also appreciated the simple yet very effective special effects, in particular the lighting which helped to convey the mood of specific songs, as well as making each tune seem different and unique. The one downside to the show that I found would be that there weren't many instantly-recognisable songs performed, making it harder for the audience to sing along to, but this is only a minor thing, especially since the attendees were up dancing more often than not (and some may have been having too much of a good time in this regard!).

Summing this show up, then, if you're a big fan of Jools Holland then you'll have a great time, but even if this is your first introduction to Jools, you'll still come away with a real appreciation for him, his team and for music in general. A topnotch production.

Overall Rating: 8.5/10 - Excellent

KT Tunstall weeks away from returning to Parr Hall

Image Source: Culture Warrington

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Culture Warrington

Brit Award-winning singer KT Tunstall is returning to Parr Hall later this month as part of a 2017 tour to showcase her new album KIN.

The Warrington show on Friday May 26 is one of eight new dates announced last year to coincide with the release of her single It Took Me So Long to Get Here, But Here I Am.

The Brit Award and Ivor Novello Award-winning singer was honoured further with the Inspirational Artist gong at the Women in Music Awards.

It Took Me So Long to Get Here, But Here I Am is the third single taken from the full-bodied and full-blooded album KIN which was released last year to rave reviews.

KIN debuted at No. 7 on the official UK Album Chart and follows previous critically-acclaimed albums Eye To The Telescope, Drastic Fantastic, Tiger Suit and Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon.

KT had a busy few months at the end of 2016 as she was a special guest in the Jamie Cullum & Friends Jazz Café show, which raises money for Help Refugees, in London on 4 December, and lent her vocal talents to a charity single in memory of MP Jo Cox.

Early 2017 saw her support Simple Minds across Europe before heading out on her own headline tour which includes a show at Warrington’s Parr Hall on 26 May.

KT Tunstall's show takes place on Friday May 26, beginning at 7pm, at Parr Hall, Palmyra Square South, Warrington, WA1 1BL. Tickets cost £35, £25 and £17.50, and they are available now from www.pyramidparrhall.com and on 01925 442345.

Brit Floyd

Image Source: Sage Gateshead

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Concert
Genre: Rock
Date: March 3 2017
Location: Liverpool Echo Arena

Almost anybody who knows their stuff about music will know about Pink Floyd. A British rock band who focused on alternative, psychedelic and thought-provoking songs, many of which lacked lyrics but carried emotional instrumental sequences, Pink Floyd quickly gained legendary status, and are remembered today as one of the most important and unforgettable bands of all-time. They formed in 1965 and toured for the final time in 1994, with a one-off reunion at Live 8 in 2005. Although it is more than 50 years since they arrived on the scene, Pink Floyd left an indelible mark on the music industry, and influenced other artists and bands that went on to achieve big things such as David Bowie, Queen and Radiohead. One cannot tell the story of British music, or indeed music, without discussing Pink Floyd.

Brit Floyd brings the Pink Floyd experience back to life with an exclusive tribute show, performed by an all-British band. Damian Darlington, the lead guitarist and band leader, was previously part of The Australian Pink Floyd Experience from 1994-2011. The Australian group still tours today, but Darlington made the decision to leave in 2011 and focus on putting together his version of a tribute to Pink Floyd. (You can read about that and more in our interview with Damian by clicking here.)

Therefore, one can definitely state that this show really is his vision for how best to pay homage to Pink Floyd. It isn't just about the music, it's about the production. The screen frequently displays a mix of cool and thought-provoking imagery covering all forms of life, entertainment and, at times, of our own planet within the solar system. Some visual scenes are designed to match the song (such as a brick wall for, erm, Another Brick In The Wall), whereas others are simply a reflection of life which, mixed with the slow nature of certain songs, actually make for a pretty emotional experience at times. That's not including the strobe lighting which, whilst occasionally a little on the heavy side (those sat closest to the stage may not have been able to see directly into the lighting at certain points), provided another element to the show, whether it was the rainbow-colours to emphasise the band as a whole, or the changing colours of the dazzling lights on a rotating basis to match the emotion of that particular tune.

Now, for anyone unfamiliar with Pink Floyd, many of their songs would be - well - long. As in, well over six minutes, with quite a few coming in at ten or more minutes (Atom Heart Mother, released in 1970, lasted a whopping 23:39). This is reflected in the Brit Floyd show, as the actual number of songs may appear to be on the light side but, due to the extended guitar solos (and don't forget that quite a few Pink Floyd songs were instrumentals, meaning no lyrics at all), the length of the songs themselves makes up for that. That's not to mention that the songs were performed to an excellent standard and, as one onlooker pointed out, because of the band's focus on instrumental numbers, these hits could be performed with incredible accuracy, to the extent where if one closed their eyes whilst listening, they might genuinely mistake Brit Floyd for Pink Floyd themselves.

As for the songs: Another Brick In The Wall went down very well. As Damian mentioned in his interview, Dogs became part of the set for the first time for this year's tour, and this too went down a treat. Is There Anybody Out There, Money and What Do You Want From Me were also memorable renditions from this particular show. Although Damian was superb all night, and the rest of the band were of the highest standard as well, perhaps the standout performance of the whole evening came from Angela Cervantes, who (having provided backing vocals in a trio of background singers for other tunes on the show) delivered wordless vocals for The Great Gig In The Sky, but did so with such passion, with such a vocal range and with such a high pitch, for so long, that she earned a standing ovation afterwards, not only from the crowd but from her fellow band members.

The only sticking point for me from a production standpoint was its length. Pink Floyd fans - and Brit Floyd fans, obviously - would recognise that longer songs mean a longer show. However, coming in at just over three hours may not have been advisable, especially with the encore songs being announced more than 30 minutes before the final bows were taken. For any attendees who weren't familiar with the band or were watching Brit Floyd for the first time, I'm not sure if such a long conclusion would be wise. On a side note, the group did well to overcome frequent heckling between songs from certain members of the audience, more so in the first half, although it probably didn't warrant what appeared to be a pretty large number of safety stewards scattered throughout the arena.

More than perhaps any other music show, one has to be a fan of Pink Floyd to truly appreciate Brit Floyd. If you are unfamiliar with the group or if you are only partially aware of who they were and what they meant to their industry, then this show may not be for you, and certainly its running time will not be a reason for you to come along.

If, however, you loved Pink Floyd back in the day, or even if you have become a fan of the band in the last decade or so and wish that you had the chance to watch them perform live, then Brit Floyd is the closest and best experience that you would probably find, with some superb performances, dead-on instrumental renditions and occasionally mind-blowing production techniques. Simply put, if you love Pink Floyd, you will love Brit Floyd.

Overall Rating: 8.5/10 - Excellent

The X Factor Live Tour 2017

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Concert
Genre: Pop
Date: February 26 2017
Location: Liverpool Echo Arena

The X Factor Live Tour has returned to Liverpool Echo Arena with the 2016 finalists, and based on the performances and the audience reactions, the show was a major success.

Having launched in 2004, meaning that the next series will be the 14th UK series, The X Factor has certainly seen its fair share of ups and downs, from massive worldwide success for the likes of One Direction to judging panel line-up changes. However, one of the truly great things about X Factor is how it provides a real platform for undiscovered talent to make their first step towards stardom, and never is this more evident than during the Live Tour, which showcased many of the top X Factor names from the 2016 run.

Kicking things off were 5 After Midnight with a stirring rendition of Uptown Funk. The trio performed further upbeat, disco numbers throughout the show (most notably September), and they did a great job in getting the audience on their feet and ready to dance. The opening half-hour also spotlighted Four Of Diamonds, who collaborated with 5 After Midnight as well as delivering strong performances for such songs as Royals; Honey G, who again got the crowd to its feet for customised remixes of Men In Black and Jump Jump; and Ryan Lawrie, who provided a mix of fast-paced tunes such as Twist and Shout and slower songs like If These Wings Could Fly, the latter alongside Emily Middlemas, who was superb - one of the best singers of the evening without question - who also shone with slower, quieter versions (supported by a huge vocal range, mind you) of such tunes as What Makes You Beautiful, Toxic and The Winner Takes It All.

Saara Aalto also provided unique renditions of various songs, partly due to the outstanding production techniques which were added to several tunes, but most noticeably those of Aalto. Case in point: for Quiet, Saara was handed a set of super-sized helium balloons which elevated her to the arena ceiling, and a similar, elevator-style chair also allowed Saara to rise above the crowd during a rendition of Everybody Wants To Rule The World. That's not to dismiss her singing talents, however, because she was very good; in fact, there wasn't one poor performer all night, and partly because most of the songs were familiar to the crowd, there weren't any low points throughout the show.

The show saved the best for last by waiting until the final quarter to present winner Matt Terry, who demonstrated first-class vocal talents and illustrating why he ultimately won the competition. Matt performed Put A Spell On You, One Day I'll Fly Away, Purple Rain, When Christmas Comes Around (Matt's debut single) and Writing's On The Wall, all to a high standard and to an incredibly enthusiastic crowd response. All of the former contestants returned to the stage for a final, super-funky rendition of Sax to close the show with style and pizzazz.

Going back to the production for a moment: I appreciated the extracurricular activities through the show, from the pre-show music videos of star performers like Little Mix and Olly Murs (who, of course, have X Factor experience) to the use of pyrotechnics (which was frequent, but not to the point of overkill, ensuring that its impact would not be diluted) to the superb lighting and screen effects (for example, a London Tube-style train with the logo amended to spell out "Honey G" during one of her numbers) to the variety of stand-out costumes by all performers to the use of various settings to begin or even completely perform certain tunes (such as a second stage in the middle of the arena, and sitting alongside fans to open some songs thus providing further audience interaction). Add to that TV-style intros to bring on performers or introduce songs, as well as providing show highlights, and a chance to sign up as an auditionee for the next series, and you have an experience tailor-made for the X Factor fanatic that will have matched expectations of both the young and the old.

For any fans of The X Factor, the Live Tour is well worth going to see, as a chance to both reflect upon the previous competition by being wowed once more by the finalists, and as a platform to begin feeling excitement towards the next series. Simply put, if you're a die-hard fan of The X Factor, you really need to see the Live Tour!

Overall Rating: 8.5/10 - Excellent

Modern Baseball

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Gig
Genre: Pop Punk
Date: February 17 2017
Location: Manchester Academy 2

Heading up a busy Friday night line-up that also included warm-up acts Thin Lips and The Superweaks, Modern Baseball brought their popular pop punk style to Manchester Academy 2.

With an enthusiastic crowd looking on, Modern Baseball - who formed in 2011, and have since released three studio albums and six singles - delivered many of their most famous hits, which were performed excellently and which were very well-received. They included Wedding Singer, Note To Self, Every Day, Hiding and Tears Over Beers, all delivered brilliantly by Jake Ewald, Sean Huber and Ian Farmer.

At present, lead vocalist Brendan Lukens is taking time off from the band due to health issues, a fact that fans were aware of beforehand and which was acknowledged during the show by Jake. Far from a hindrance, fans were more than supportive, chanting Brendan's name, which is a nice reminder that at a time when many people seem to have the mentality of wanting everything or nothing at all, the fan base here was more concerned that Brendan's health improves. Besides, Jake did a fine job of keeping things moving along, to the point where someone unfamiliar with Modern Baseball would never have guessed that its main singer was not present.

The band also made this particular experience unique in a number of ways. For instance, more than one of their tunes was performed in acoustic form, which were different to their original incarnations but made for some intriguing and cool renditions nevertheless. The group also invited a member of the audience onto the stage to sing The Weekend, which is something that very few bands would be willing to do on any level (and by the way, the fan did a great job!).

The main problem - actually, the only problem - with the show was the fact that it suddenly concluded. Wrapping things up very quickly with the mention of there being no encore, the moment when the band left the stage was almost greeted with laughter, due to the absolute abruptness of it. Some were expecting an encore anyway, and therefore when it didn't happen, the finale felt very rushed, and a bit of a low note (no pun intended) to end upon. The subject of the encore is tricky, because it has become so commonplace that when a performer or group doesn't provide an encore, it's frowned upon. That was partly the case here, but it was also because the band did not introduce their last number as being the show-closer; they simply said that they were done and left. It wasn't presented as if there had been a problem or a last-minute decision to walk off, by any means, but in the future, the band may be better served to at least introduce their final song as being such, rather than informing people after the fact.

Under the circumstances, with the lead singer absent, Modern Baseball put on as good a show as could be expected from a performance standpoint. The abrupt conclusion which prevented die-hard fans from hearing some of their favourite hits put a bit of a dampener on the evening, but otherwise, it was a satisfying experience that will leave the band's supporters coming back for more.

Overall Rating: 7.5/10 - Good

G4: "It's all about the music to us"

Image Source: G4

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Following a successful reunion tour, coming off their original stint together in the mid-2000s, G4 are hitting the road again with their newest UK tour, which includes a performance at Parr Hall, Warrington on Thursday March 2. This comes alongside the release of their new album Love Songs, for which G4 held a special performance at HMV in Liverpool One. Beforehand, we spoke to the group about their next tour, their history together and an interesting fact which their fans may not be aware of ...

First of all, tell us about your upcoming UK tour, beginning in March.

Jonathan Ansell: "It's going to be fun! We love being on the road, it's exciting to see so many great audiences around the UK and to live in close proximity on the tour bus is something that we love and hate at the same time!"

Ben Thapa: "You love it and I hate it! (Laughs)"

What inspired you to become singers, and what attracted you to the opera style?

Mike Christie: "A lot of us have sung since we were kids. I was a chorister from the age of 8-13, and we all ended up at music college. We were all inspired to train singing, and that's where we met as a group. We formed originally as a barbershop quartet, and then it took off from there."

How much of a life-changing experience was it when you applied for The X Factor in 2004, and did you ever envision the success that you would have on the show?

Jonathan: "Massive!"

Ben: "It was definitely a massive, life-changing experience because I remember that we had a few weeks in between the filming of the auditions and when the first show was broadcast, so we had that time (to prepare), and I remember we sat in Mike's flat with a curry, and I thought 'this is the last time we'll be able to sit around and have a curry.' The next day after it went out, John with his massive blonde hair was getting recognised by everybody, saying 'were you that guy from the telly last night?' Everybody's lives did change forever; The X Factor was an amazing TV vehicle to help us onto a journey that we've been on ever since. It's been something that I don't think we could have imagined when we first set foot in the college."

You released a number of albums over the next few years including the self-titled G4, G4 and Friends and Act Three. Which songs stand out the most for you from those albums?

Jonathan: "I have to say that Bohemian Rhapsody is up there I think, as one of the biggest, more controversial but well-received releases that we put out initially in our careers. Then we went on to sing songs like Radiohead's Creep in a very different way to the original, and it's those moments that I think capture the imagination of the audience who realise that genres can be broken down. It's actually just singing and entertainment, and it's been exciting from that point on to just keep the variety going."

How did you adapt to life on the road during the early years of your careers?

Jonathan: "Getting in the pub more, at the time I think! (Laughs) That's how we adapted to it, it was a permanent haze!"

Ben: "It was fun, as we had a few more pennies to our names to spend in the bar, whereas when we were students, we were literally counting out our change, and sometimes we were lucky enough to have notes! (Laughs) So that was one good thing! But it was an amazing experience, and it just kind of passed us by in a rush sometimes. At the same time, there were other amazing experiences along the way that we remember and that we'll treasure forever."

G4 reunited in 2014, and would tour the UK again in 2015. Was it a thrill to get back together?

Jonathan: "It was mad. It was a really good experience to stand at the front of the stage and to not be able to sing for what felt like minutes while the audience were just screaming. It made us all realise that we really had to keep this going and to re-ignite our careers. It's exciting to have Nick as our new boy in the group; Matt didn't want to be part of that reunion, but it's great to see how well Nick has been embraced by the audience and how much fun he's having with it! So, it's been a good team effort from then on."

What can the Warrington audience expect from G4 on March 2?

Mike: "It's very exciting as we've never been to Parr Hall before. We'll be singing the songs from our Love Songs album, and also some of the hits from back in the day, like Bohemian Rhapsody as John mentioned, we've got a bit of opera with Nessun Dorma, a bit of Frank Sinatra with My Way, and some interesting duets with soprano that are also from our album."

Finally, tell us something about G4 that fans may not know.

Jonathan: "Gosh, that's an interesting one. Maybe that I'm not as intelligent as I might sound? (Laughs)"

Nick Ashby: "I can say that we do all help with loading the equipment in and out every day, every show, wherever it is. Even today at the signing, we've done that, and we do that for every show around the country whether it's a big theatre or not, and whether or not they already have a crew there, we always get in there and help. I think it's a really important part of the process to mentally help getting into the building. You feel like you've physically earned your beer at the end of the day! (Laughs)"

Ben: "There's no writers, there's no fluffy lambs in the dressing room, none of that stuff; it's all about the music and that's what we love, so that's what important."

G4 perform at Parr Hall, Warrington on Thursday March 2. To book your tickets, click here.

For more information about G4, click here.

Damian Darlington: "We want to do justice to the amazing music of Pink Floyd"

Image Source: CMP Entertainment

Written By: Mark Armstrong

(Thanks to CMP Entertainment for arranging this interview.)

Brit Floyd, a Pink Floyd tribute band formed by Damian Darlington in 2011, are about to begin another tour of the United Kingdom, and their new Immersion World Tour will help to keep the music of one of the most famous British bands of all-time alive. For Damian, this tour is the latest chapter in a long and successful career intertwined with paying respect to Pink Floyd, having previously performed on the Australian Pink Floyd Show for 17 years. We recently spoke to Damian about all of this and more, as well as Pink Floyd's upcoming show in Liverpool on Friday March 3.

First of all, tell us about Brit Floyd.

Brit Floyd is a Pink Floyd tribute show, and we've been around for six years now. We're a nine-piece band that have performed all over the world in places like America and all across Europe. It's a very big production, with lots of lights, lasers, videos, inflatables - everything that you would expect to see at a Pink Floyd concert back in the day. We play a wide variety of Pink Floyd's catalogue of music, from the very beginning right through to The Division Bell album, and we're about to go on tour again around the UK in about two weeks' time.

Had you always been a fan of Pink Floyd growing up?

Yes, from a very early age. My earliest memory of Pink Floyd was from when Another Brick In The Wall was the #1 single at the end of 1979, as a very unlikely Christmas Number One! I started seriously playing the guitar around the age of 13 where I would cover the whole album in its entirety, so that was my first real introduction to Pink Floyd. I was a fan from that point onwards. Some years later, in 1994, I got to join a Pink Floyd tribute show, The Australian Pink Floyd Show, and here I am 23 years later, still playing Pink Floyd music all around the world.

Tell us more about your musical background.

Well, I come from a musical family: I'm one of six brothers and sisters, and five of us are musicians, so it was pretty inevitable that I would follow in the footsteps of some of my older brothers and sisters. I went to a music college from around the age of 16 onwards: I did various music courses, and I was in many different bands at the time from country-western to big (brass) bands, from jazz bands to original material bands looking to get record deals; all sorts, really. I've had an acoustic guitar trio that I've been doing on the side for many, many years playing stuff from the likes of John McLoughlin. Then, as I say, I received the opportunity to join the Australian Pink Floyd Show and to perform full-time.

You were in that group from 1994 until 2011. What were some of the highlights of this period for you?

I suppose one of them was getting to meet David Gilmour (a member of the original Pink Floyd) and getting to perform at his 50th birthday party with Rick Wright. I'd also mention getting to do my first tour of the US; most musicians in the UK dream of going over to the States and trying to break America, so that was a special moment for me to start doing that in 2004. There were a lot of good moments along the way.

Have you always performed in the same capacity throughout your career, or have you transitioned into different roles over time?

I've always been a guitarist first and foremost, but while I was working on the Australian Pink Floyd Show I transitioned into being more of a lead vocalist alongside my guitar-playing, and as time has gone by, I've also become much more involved in all of the other things relating to putting the show on, such as helping the lighting and the video teams. I've become the musical director along the way as well. So, I've increased my responsibilities and gained new skills over time.

What made you decide to form Brit Floyd in 2011?

I just felt it was time to have a bit more freedom and to do my own Pink Floyd tribute show. I'd been doing the Australian show for 17 years, and although it had been very good to me - it enabled me to hone my craft - I felt I needed the chance to put on my own show and do some things a bit differently, work with some different musicians, and hopefully improve the way that this show would be produced along the way.

How has the Brit Floyd experience been so far compared to the previous Australian group that you performed for?

It's been a lot of fun doing Brit Floyd, and it's definitely gotten better. We've gotten so much better at putting this sort of show on, and that's obviously very rewarding for me personally. I'm very passionate about doing this show right, doing justice to this amazing music, performing it in the correct way, so doing Brit Floyd has enabled me to achieve that more, I feel, than I had with the Australian show. But there's still room for improvement, so I never become complacent about it.

What are the future ambitions for Brit Floyd?

We'd like to take the show to some other places in the world, particularly in the Far East to the likes of Japan, China and Australia. They're on the to-do list! And it's generally to just carry on improving the show, to make it bigger, to make it better, to make it more spectacular, and to make it a more faithful representation of Pink Floyd's music.

What makes the Liverpool audience stand out from other crowds when you perform there?

Yeah, they're definitely very passionate about the music. For whatever reason, there seems to be a lot of Pink Floyd fans in the Merseyside area, and it's always been a lot of fun playing there, as it has been for many, many years. My first memory of doing a show in Liverpool was in the Royal Court Theatre in 1994, so it's always been one of the high points and one of the most exciting places to do a show.

Finally, tell us what fans in Liverpool can expect from the new Immersion World Tour on Friday March 3.

If people saw the show last year and in the previous year, they can certainly expect to see a different set list, including some Pink Floyd songs that are brand new to us as we've never played them before. We're also bringing back some songs that we haven't played for a few years (such as Dogs, as this year marks the 40th anniversary of the Animals album and that song is a pretty iconic tune from that album). Also, we'll be performing a lot of tracks from the very beginning, so that it's a very representative spread of Pink Floyd's catalogue of music. Plus, the lighting show has been redeveloped, we've invested in more lights, better projections, all those sorts of things, and we've also created new video footage for these songs for people to see too.

Brit Floyd perform at the Liverpool Echo Arena on Friday March 3. To book your tickets, click here.

For more information about Brit Floyd, visit www.britfloyd.com.

60th Anniversary Of The Cavern Club

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Music Show
Genre: Music
Date: January 16 2017
Location: Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

On January 16 1957, the Cavern Club opened in Liverpool and, in the years that followed, it became the hottest place to be due to the increasingly-popular musical acts who would perform there, not least The Beatles who made it something of a spiritual home en route to becoming the most famous band of all-time. Although it was closed in 1973, it re-opened in 1984 and, since then, it has continued to act as a vital step along the way for inexperienced yet talented acts to make their names before becoming major stars in their own right.

To mark 60 years of the Cavern, a special show was held across two nights at the Philharmonic Hall. I was fortunate enough to attend the second evening, on the very date of the Cavern's Diamond Anniversary, which began specifically at 19:57 in line with the year of its foundation. Although I am too young to remember the Cavern at its 1960s peak, many of those in attendance were not, but regardless of age, this was a very enjoyable trip down memory lane.

The Overtures, a well-known 60s tribute band, were on hand to perform many hits from a large variety of artists. Of course, The Beatles were represented with several numbers, but the producers deserve credit for not making this solely a homage to the Fab Four, great as they were, because as mentioned earlier, the Cavern played host to many famous performers. Amongst those who were spotlighted, generally consisting of their most famous songs, were The Hollies, The Kinks, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Herman's Hermits and many others. A number of guests joined the fray to provide a more faithful rendition of hits from the likes of Cilla Black (whose statue was unveiled by the Cavern earlier in the day), The Rolling Stones and Queen.

It wasn't just local acts who played the Cavern though, and it weren't just British performers either. As the poularity and name value of the Cavern grew, big stars from across the pond came over, wanting to add the famous club to their own resume. Some of those included Stevie Wonder and Chuck Berry, who were also represented. The later stages of the show spotlighted major names from the latter 20th century including Status Quo, Rod Stewart and Oasis, and just before a big finale with Hey Jude, recent stars like The Arctic Monkeys, Adele and Jake Bugg were paid tribute to with their most famous numbers.

The show made good use of colourful strobe lighting, as well as video footage and photographs on screen which not only book-ended sections of the show, but also served to illustrate the actual posters used to promote many of the Cavern gigs. And there was additional variety: In My Life was performed as an instrumental, and a rendition of All Shook Up had me wondering what it would have been like if Elvis Presley, the only musical performer whose name value can match or better that of The Beatles, had performed live from the Cavern.

It's hard to pick out a particularly strong song or performance, simply because the standard was very high across the whole show. It was very much a tribute to all of the aforementioned bands and solo artists, as opposed to an attempt to bring something completely different to a classic hit (besides the instrumental for All My Life, which flowed perfectly with video footage of the destruction of the original Cavern). The wise choice of wigs and costumes during certain tunes added to the feeling that this was a real journey through not only the Cavern itself, but British music history as a whole, since so many performers spanning seven decades have performed there.

Whether you visited the Cavern back in the day or if you were learning about its history for the first time, and regardless of whether you were around during the rise of The Beatles, the evolution of British music in the 1970s and 1980s or if your only connection to the songs being performed came from those artists who have only garnered fame in recent years, this was a thoroughly entertaining nostalgia trip, and a reminder that as much as the world may change, the music industry will always have its strongest ties to Liverpool, and the Cavern Club was, is and will always be the focal point of the world's most famous musical city.

Overall Rating: 9/10 - Outstanding