Liverpool Acoustic

By Graham Holland - 1/2/2009

I've been the producer and presenter of the It's A Frog's Life Acoustic Podcast since July 2006. This show features some of the best podsafe, acoustic music from Liverpool and across the UK. I'm also an acoustic musician and performer in my own right, and have co-hosted the Come Strut Your Stuff open floor poetry and acoustic music night at Liverpool's Egg Cafe since 1999 (this has been reviewed in Nerve). It's at this event that I'm regularly asked the question by musicians "Where else can I play in Liverpool?" I knew that there were lots of acoustic events happening in and around Liverpool, but that it was difficult to find out information about many of them. So the Liverpool Acoustic website was born.

The website is designed as a central resource for anyone interested in acoustic music in and around the Liverpool area. Whether they're a musician looking for an open mic event where they can play for the first time, or just a lover of acoustic music looking for somewhere to go for a good night out, they'll find all the information they need on the site.

Musical talent runs deep through the veins of the City of Liverpool, and is reflected in the healthy acoustic music scene. Thanks to pioneers such as Acoustic Engine (you've featured Alun Parry in a previous issue of Nerve) and Catacoustic local acoustic musicians not only have the chance to perform at Open Mic nights but also to be booked to perform as artists in their own right. Add into the mix informal open mic nights in pubs up and down the region, plus the bedrock of local folk clubs, and you have a exciting and expanding scene befitting one of the world's great music cities.

There's lots on the website at www.liverpoolacoustic.co.uk

The Diary is a calendar of acoustic gigs and open mic nights in Liverpool and the surrounding area. Of course, it's only as good as the information we're given so if anyone knows about an acoustic event that's not listed in the diary then they can let us know and we'll add it. All I need is the name of the event, its location/address, start and finish times, and where people can find out more information (website, email, phone). The handy Next events (on the front page) lists the events from the diary coming up in the next 30 days.

In the News and Reviews section you'll find news about new and established events, CD launches, artists and bands, and general tittle-tattle from the Liverpool acoustic scene, plus reviews of gigs and CDs. Anyone can contribute.

The new Artists page is a directory of local acoustic artists and bands available for bookings for gigs and other events. Each artists gets a pic, a web link and a brief summary or quote.

The Spotlight is an audio show and blog featuring a different local acoustic performer every month, giving them a chance to sell themselves to the world. These artists are chosen at random from a list of names submitted to me.

The first Liverpool Acoustic Live takes place on Friday 20th February, 8 - 11pm, more details to come.