Northwest Music News – 7 May: Africa Oyé Full Line-Up, Liverpool International Music Festival + more
Further Liverpool festival announcements
Undeniably one of Liverpool's biggest summer parties, Africa Oyé (20-21 Jun) has revealed the rest of its line-up to go alongside previously announced headliner Omar. The new names on the bill include Jamaican dancehall reggae legend Frankie Paul, Modou Toure and Ramon Goose's West African Blues Project and, showcasing the influence of the continent around the world, Peruvian collective Cumbia All Stars. Full line-up here.
Meanwhile, another outdoor bash at Sefton Park has added more names to its schedule, with Liverpool International Music Festival (27-31 Aug) once again unearthing some gems amidst the usual array of internationally renowned pop acts (Basement Jaxx, Katy B) and local veterans (Echo and The Bunnymen). The full bill's on the LIMF website, but picks for us are The Skinny favourites Barberos and the kaleidoscopic textures of Esa Shields, while there's also the intriguing sounding commission The Revolution Will Be Live: A Tribute to Gil Scott Heron, taking place at St. George's Hall (Thu 27 Aug). More details to come on that one.
Fat Out's Burrow Announced
Promoters of music heavy and forward thinking, Fat Out Till You Pass Out are to take over Salford’s Islington Mill venue space for a two-year programming residency. They’ll officially launch their programme, titled The Burrow, with a week’s worth of events from 12 Jun, featuring collaborations with acts and collectives such as James Blackshaw, Dan Deacon, Now Wave, Gesamtkunstwerk, and Muto, as well as visual artists Jermyn MTK and Tasha Whittle. Visit fatout.co.uk for more details.
New record by dbh out on Thread Recordings
Arguably one of the most virtuosic and varied musicians Manchester's independent community currently knows, dbh has most prominently been seen recently playing in the hotly-tipped Kiran Leonard's live band as a guitarist and occasional violinist. It's with the former instrument he's frequently at his most breathtaking, as evidenced on his Thread Recordings debut LP Moods, which ranges from tightly-bound, finger-picked intricacy to snarling blues stomp and more drawn-out looped passages.
Digital Crate Digging
BLACKLUNG - Black Bones
Originally premiered on The Quietus and out just in time for election day, the video for Black Bones, the cold wave-flecked synth panorama of new Manchester duo BLACKLUNG, sees a poster of Nigel Farage demolished among other references to the main party leaders. Appearing as part of Sways Records The Circle at Sounds From The Other City recently, the pair picked up more than their share of rave reviews and this video – directed by Pariah Press' author Austin Collings – certainly serves notice of their intent.
Elle Mary & The Bad Men — Falling
Something new from the velvetine-vocalled Elle Mary and her band The Bad Men ahead of her new EP Happiness, out 29 May. Debuting on Tru Luv last year, after performing for several years under her real name Ellie Rossiter, digital single Angels hinted at some slowcore influences shining through her spatial songwriting; but by contrast Falling feels more forceful, although still revels in an atmosphere paradoxically rich in its emptiness.
Gut Model - Demo EP
Having only debuted in March in support of recent Marc Riley-loved London punk types Monotony, similarly-minded Mancunian scuzz lovers Gut Model have stuck up a demo EP on Bandcamp that bristles with a forthright energy, thundering intentionally or otherwise around American post-hardcore-influenced garage band touchstones like The Wipers and Pissed Jeans, juxtaposed with the local lilt of vocalist Mike Cahill (formerly of party emo-punks Well Wisher). In fact, as far as early demos go, the six short tracks within contain a huge, greasy dollop of promise.
Elsewhere on The Skinny.co.uk
- May's gig highlights! As picked by Elle Rockwell.
- We preview Dot To Dot and Lost Carnival in our Festival round-up. Read on for that here.