Liverpool music’s movers and shakers offer their thoughts on 2013, giving their top albums, tracks, gigs and tips for the new year.
Getintothis catches up with those behind the scenes making Merseyside music tick. From promoters to label owners to venue managers and festival bookers, this lot represent a big section of the mechanics to making Liverpool music happen – and this is what’s got them going during 2013.
Andrew Ellis: Samizdat (Getintothis profiles Samizdat)
Albums Of The Year
1. Grouper: The Man Who Died In His Boat
2. Tim Hecker: Virgins
3. DJ Koze: Amygdala
4. Pissed Jeans: Honeys
5. Forest Swords: Engravings
EPs Of The Year
Moin: Moin
Visionist: I’m Fine
Top Tracks of 2013
1. Pharmakon: Ache
2. Gold Panda: Brazil
3. Blondes: Andrew
Top Gigs of 2013
1. OM at Sonic City, Kortrijk
2. Hookworms at Blade Factory (Getintothis review)
3. Thee Oh Sees at the Kazimier (Getintothis review)
4. Enablers at Kraak Gallery
5. Haxan Cloak and DIN19643 (as part of AND Festival) at Haus
Tip for 2014
Andrew said: “A track came out this year called Get Lucky by an obscure group called Daft Punk. If you search hard enough and manage to find it it’s well worth checking out. Seriously cutting edge stuff.”
Patrick Doherty: General Manager of Liverpool O2 Academy
Top Gigs of 2013
1. Bastille at Liverpool O2 Academy
2. Bonobo at Liverpool O2 Academy (Getintothis review)
3. Editors at Liverpool O2 Academy (Getintothis review)
4. Eels at Liverpool O2 Academy (Getintothis review)
5. Foals at Liverpool O2 Academy (Getintothis review)
Event of 2013
Patrick said: “Radstock Festival. Great to see a new festival launch that is different to what Liverpool normally offers. The fact that it has been built by a team of local people only adds to it and makes it all the more brilliant.”
Tip for 2014
Patrick said: “Bad Rabbits. Not what you would expect. See them if you get the chance.”
Chris Tyler: Bam!Bam!Bam!
Albums Of The Year
1. Fuck Buttons: Slow Focus
2. The Icarus Line: Slave Vows
3. Moderat: II
4. Chance The Rapper: Acid Rap
5. John Grant: Pale Green Ghosts
Top Gigs of 2013
1. John Grant at East Village Arts Club (Getintothis review)
2. Icarus Line at Shipping Forecast
3. Bo Ningen at Screenadelica for Liverpool Sound CIty (Getintothis review)
4. Future Of The Left at Screenadelica for Liverpool Sound CIty (Getintothis review)
5. Dilated Peoples at East Village Arts Club (Getintothis review)
Darren Roper: Liverpool Sound City
Albums Of The Year
1. Darkside: Psychic
2. Julia Holter: Loud City Song
3. Outfit: Performance
4. Suuns: Images Du Futur
5. Jon Hopkins: Immunity
Top Tracks of 2013
1. Grizzly Bear: Sleeping Ute (Nicolas Jaar Remix)
2. Stealing Sheep: Do As You Will
3. Braids: A Dawn In Me
Top Gigs of 2013
1. Goat / Fuck Buttons / Grizzly Bear and everything else at Primavera
2. Thee Oh Sees at Liverpool Sound City
3. Slint at the Forum
4. Buke and Gase at the Kazimier (Getintothis review)
5. Hookworms at the Blade Factory
Event of 2013
Fuzz / Moon Duo / Holy Drug Couple at Liverpool Psych Fest
Tip for 2014
Darren said “4D printing.”
Dave McTague: One Fell Swoop (Getintothis interviews Dave McTague)
Top Gigs of 2013
1. Ragz Nordset supporting Alice Russell at the Kazimier. “It was great to see Ragz back in action after only playing a couple of gigs in the last couple of years.”
2. Mellowtone Bandstand in Sefton Park for Liverpool International Music Festival. “Described by the good folk at Getintothis as a “mini marvel” it was a perfect laid back weekend in Sefton Park. Big thanks to the sun for coming too!”
3. Quiet Loner, John Canning Yates, Sparkwood & 21 at Leaf. “Great to see the former Ella Guru man back in action, eloquent Cameron-bashing from Quiet Loner, and Liverpool’s own Sparkwood & 21.”
4. Hot Eight Brass Band at Eric’s. “A top night of brass action from the New Orleans-based outfit.”
5. Silent Sleep at Leaf (Getintothis review) “eight-piece band with amazing arrangements.”
Tip for 2014
All We Are.
Samuel Garlick: everisland
Albums Of The Year
1. Jai Paul: Jai Paul
2. Deafheaven: Sunbather
3. Everything Everything: Arc
4. Shigeto: No Better Time Than Now
5. Typhoon: Hunger and Thirst
Top Tracks of 2013
1. All We Are: Utmost Good
2. Bodhi: Imperfection
3. Lapalux: Guuurl
Top Gigs of 2013
1. Sigur Ros at Jodrell Bank
2. Efterklang at the Kazimier (Getintothis review)
3. Wayne Kest at the Pilgrim
4. Alter Bridge at Cardiff Arena
5. How To Dress Well at Leaf (Getintothis review)
Event of 2013
Samuel said: “The three-staged Fiesta Bombarda at Kazimier Gardens..”
Tip for 2014
Samuel said: “I know it’s bad to choose yourself, but everisland’s 2014 program is going to be a really exciting one!
We’ve chosen to focus our efforts on just four events for the entire year – we’ll be leaving our usual home of The Kazimier to find pastures new in some of Liverpool’s most intriguing spaces, whilst working with a very talented team of set designers and costume creators.
The nights themselves are going to revolve around a theme not touched upon yet in Liverpool and will give us freedom to experiment with some really exciting ideas – all will be revealed soon!”
Mike Bennett: Milk:Presents (Getintothis profiles Milk:Presents)
Albums Of The Year
1. White Denim: Corsicana Lemonade
2. Arcade Fire: Reflektor
3. Kavinsky: OutRun
4. Vampire Weekend: Modern Vampires of the City
5. Buke & Gase: General Dome
Top Tracks of 2013
1. White Denim: Distant Relative Salute
2. Arcade Fire: It’s Never Over
3. Kavinsky: First Blood
Top Gigs of 2013
1. White Denim at Gorilla, Manchester
2. FestEVOL
3. David Byrne at the Roundhouse, London
4. Natalie McCool & Dominic Dunn’s collaboration at the Liverpool Music Awards
Event of 2013
everisland’s Hallows Ritual.
Tip for 2014
Broken Men.
Steve ‘Revo’ Miller: ClubEVOL (Getintothis interviews Revo)
Albums Of The Year
1. Outfit: Performance
2. White Denim: Corsicana Lemonade
3. Suuns: Images Du Futur
4. Local Natives: Hummingbird
5. Parquet Courts: Light Up Gold
Top Tracks of 2013
1. White Denim: Pretty Green
2. Suuns: 2020
3. Iggy Azalea: Work
Top Gigs of 2013
1. Local Natives at the Kazimier (Getintothis review)
2. The Pharcyde at East Village Arts Club (Getintothis review)
3. Thee Oh Sees at the Kazimier
4. The Walkmen at Liverpool Cathedral (Getintothis review)
5. Savages at Liverpool Sound City (Getintothis review)
Tom Lynch: Harvest Sun (Getintothis profiles Harvest Sun)
Albums Of The Year
1. Orval Carlos Sibelius: Super Forma
2. Suuns: Images Du Futur
3. Maston: Shadows
4. Parquet Courts: Light Up Gold
5. Hookworms: Pearl Mystic
Top Tracks of 2013
1. Suuns: Edie’s Dream
2. Almunia: The Magician
3. Begin: Elate EP
4. Joan Biblioni: Pinzells
Top Gigs of 2013
1. Low at Anglican Cathedral (Getintothis review)
2. Daughter at Anglican Cathedral (Getintothis review)
3. Suuns at The Kazimier
4. Parquet Courts/Mazes/Hookworms at Gorilla, Manchester
5. Hookworms/Baltic Fleet at Blade Factory
Event of 2013
Tom said: “Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia, although I didn’t really get out much this year!”
Ben Winbolt-Lewis: Cuckundoo Records
Albums Of The Year
Holden: The Inheritors
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: Push The Sky Away
Pantha Du Prince & The Bell Laboratory: Elements Of Light
Ben said: “That third choice was the hardest as there were loads that I’ve listened to a lot and enjoyed pretty equally (Jon Hopkins, Mariam The Believer, Apparat, Moderat, Hookworms, The Flaming Lips, Heliocentrics) but they were SO GOOD live at Primavera that that has swung it.”
Tip for 2014
Ben said: “Can I tip my brother Douga?! He should have his debut album out. Beyond that, I guess I’m just keen to hear new music by Wildbirds & Peacedrums, Melt Yourself Down, Roll The Dice and Vessels on a self-promoting level. Of course new Caribou should be immense too!”
Ian Cheek: Music PR
Albums Of The Year
1. These New Puritans: Field Of Reeds
2. Mount Kimbie: Cold Spring Fault Less Youth
3. Cloud Control: Dream Cave
Tip for 2014
Ian said “Superfood, Eagulls and the comeback of Embrace.”
