03 May 2013 (gig)
03 May 2013
Returning for a second year, the Liverpool Music Awards is back and ready to highlight the wealth of talent populating a bustling music scene on Merseyside.
Entries and nominations are now open to the public at www.liverpoolmusicawards.com until the end of May, and what better way to celebrate than the official launch party; hosted at the elegant Liverpool town hall building and featuring free drinks courtesy of Barefoot Wine, nibbles, cupcakes and of course some live music.
In the first of two solo sets, Christopher McIntosh AKA Silent Sleep is up on stage with his acoustic guitar, performing a short set that really sets the flavour for the rest of the night: Heartfelt, genuine and with a distinctive Scouse tinge that rings through his lyrics. If these awards were made to benefit anyone, it is guys like this, guys who create music that captures the very essence of Liverpool.
Katie Nicholas follows and brings a more straight-forward, poppier sensibility to the nights proceedings, with country inspired guitar work culminating in a cover of Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi. Nicholas’s vocals are impressive and fill out a spacious room, immediately grabbing the attention of everyone present.
There is barely room on the stage for the 6-piece folk band, The Hummingbirds. The winners of last years ‘One to Watch’ award, and all eyes are on them tonight as they crank out ear-pleasing, folk tinged acoustic rock music. There is a sense of local pride in the room as the six lads confidently bust out the Beatles classic, Day Tripper. While it is certainly too early to be drawing comparisons, The Hummingbirds demonstrate that they have all the tools to be the next big thing.
The night closes with a heart-wrenching rendition of ‘Rise and Fall’ from Alex Evans, the best friend of the tragic young musician Michael Molloy who died in a bus crash last summer on his way back from the Bestival Festival. The song is the subject of a campaign to get it into the singles charts and never has such a cause been worthier. Endorsed by legendary Queen guitarist Brian May, ‘Rise and Fall’ is an intricate and beautifully written song which is made all the more haunting and poignant by its awful circumstances and also by a soulfully powerful vocal performance from Evans.
Rise and Fall is available for download now to help Michael posthumously achieve his lifelong dreams and to take a wonderful song into the charts.
