Live Music

The Brit Fest – Ashley Show Ground

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Opening Night verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If there’s one thing us Brits love, it’s a summer festival, come rain or shine, if there’s a festival to attend, we’ll make a party of it whatever the weather. Thankfully Cheshire’s brand-new family friendly festival, The Brit Fest, was blessed with sunshine (mostly), a superb lineup and a little something for everyone to enjoy.

This three-day extravaganza hosted by presenters Jenny Powell and Mike Toolan was packed with top class musical acts, surprise special guests, creative workshops, fun activities and fabulous food offerings. The brainchild of brothers Anthony and Edward Prophet, The Brit Fest is a true celebration of music, community and culture.

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Staged at Ashley Hall & Showground in Cheshire over the weekend of 5th, 6th 7th July and bringing acts as varied as Scouting For Girls and Bonnie Tyler to the stage it was clear to see the appetite for a family friendly festival right here in the heart of Chesire is huge and The Brit Fest well and truly delivered. The brilliant big names such as Kim Wilde and Heather Small were complimented by up-and-coming acts such as The Lottery Winners fresh from their Glastonbury set as well as a brilliant mix of fantastic regional talent.

With over 15,000 attendees joining the party over its inaugural weekend the festival looks set to become a permanent fixture in Cheshire’s social calendar with a return in 2025 officially confirmed.

paulvelasco@mac.com

With general entry and a VIP option available The Brit Fest offers choice and great affordability with both weekend and day tickets on offer. What we loved so much about the festival was the vast age range of attendees and the super friendly vibes, from babes in arms to their glorious grandparents everyone was made welcome at this innovative event. There is also the option to camp, glamp or even bring your own motorhome to the event with pitches just a short stroll from the main arena. The entertainment options went way beyond the music with a fairground, artisan market, a family cinema, comedians, and classic cars as well yoga and self-love workshops in the ‘Mindful Meadow’.

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With such a successful first year we can’t wait to see where 2025 takes The Brit Fest when it returns on 4th, 5th and 6th July. This feel-good festival is the perfect summer celebration.

Sign up now via the link below to be the one of the first to know the 2025 line-up and also be in for a chance to win VIP tickets for next year’s event.

https://thebritfest.co.uk/

Pepperland

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Reviewed by Nikki Cotter

Opening Night verdict ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First performed in Liverpool in 2017 to mark the city’s Sgt. Pepper at 50 Festival, Mark Morris’ unique tribute to the iconic album is a joyful explosion of music and movement painted with the most vibrant of colour pallets.

Referencing several of Sgt. Peppers most memorable songs as well as the exuberant Penny Lane, Pepperland is an uplifting celebration with its airy choreography & clever interpretations.

Ethan Iverson’s bold score reimagines each of the much-loved songs; the rich sounds of the piano are accompanied by the electronica of the theremin which marries beautifully with Morris’ playful choreography.

Elizabeth Kutzman’s swinging sixties inspired costumes offer a rainbow of Carnaby St inspired colour while the 17 dancers navigate their way through joyous jives to dreamy hippy vibes. The mood is playful, fun and free.

While there are some pieces which are fairly abstract it’s those with live vocals from Clinton Curtis which really engage the audience. The wit of Morris’ choreography during When I’m 64 clearly an audience favourite as the dancers interpret the out of kilter music with comedic consequence.

Morris’ decision to have his dancers stand and sing along to A Day in the Life is particularly striking with just the right amount of nostalgia.

At just over an hour long Pepperland is the perfect show to bring Sgt. Pepper to vibrant life for modern dance audiences. The fluidity of the choreography a fine example of the quality of Mark Morris’s innovative work while the precision of his dancers will inspire and enthral.

On at the Lowry until Saturday 30th March tickets available here.

The Vyrll Society

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ZZ

“Any Scousers in?” lead singer Mike Ellis nonchalantly asks the rather snug audience members at Manchester’s Soup Kitchen venue. This is a question that never really goes down well in most Manchester venues, (pretty much the same way asking if any ‘Mancs’ are in if you were in a Liverpool venue) however this questions isn’t met with the usual customary boos; the response is met with a few cheers and no animosity. There are two reasons for this. Number 1, The Vyrll Society have developed a loyal fan base after years of honing their craft live, which has seen them creating quite a buzz. The second is that not everyone is brainless dickhead and inner-city rivalries take a back seat to decent music!

The constant touring of pubs, clubs and festivals has certainly paid off for the band, as stated they have a developed a loyal fan base, and with their debut album, Course of the Satellite going into orbit this August, you can but only see big things for this five piece from Liverpool.

Opening with live favourite Shadow of a Wave, the band work their way through a set that include singles Flight and a Perfect Rhythm. It’s easy to see why the band have garnered so much interest, filled with catchy baselines and killer licks: this is dreamy psychedelia, that will have you tapping your feet , sure there are no sing-along anthems but there plenty of tunes where you can a grove on too. The stand out track was the Thriller-esque Inner Life.

The band have drawn obvious comparisons with The Zutons and The Coral, mainly due to their association with the late Alan Wills, founder of the Deltasonic label, but for me there’s plenty of early Pink Floyd, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac and the criminally underrated The Music.

The band look the part, they sound fantastic and are developing a great visual show, as a host of shapes and a kaleidoscope of colours are projected out though out their set . It would appear they’ve fully embraced the rock ‘n’ roll life style slower track Soft Glue dedicated to the band’s tour manager who is suffering from pneumonia.

This was a great showcase for a hugely talented band, which is quite rightly getting the praise they deserve. Their tour continues in Leeds tonight and wraps up on Friday with a huge hometown show at the O2 Academy in Liverpool Academy. They’re back in Manchester in February and will almost certainly and quite deservedly be playing bigger venues, catch them and join the society whilst you can because the sky is the limit for these lads.

Vyrll Society Play Liverpool O2 Academy on the 19th October tickets can be bought here.

Tags: The Vyrll Society, The Soup Kitchen. Live Music, Guitar, Course of the Satellite,