Liverpool industry figures offer their reflection on 2016
Liverpool music’s movers and shakers offer their thoughts on 2016, giving their top albums, tracks, gigs and tips for the new year.
You can barely move in here for all the elephants in the room. The Bowie thing, the Prince thing. The Brexit situation. Donald fucking Trump. It’s tempting to just not talk about 2016.
We’ve all seen the memes, let’s just never speak of this again. Chalk it up to experience, strike it from the record and move on. But doing that would ignore all the good that it has done us. Keep your eyes firmly fixed on the scenery and 2016 has been as beautiful, as interesting and as rich a year in music as any in memory. Just ignore the fact that the grass is on fire and the trees are on fire and everything is on fire.
It has been an outstanding year for women in music. You’ve only got to cast a glance down Getintothis‘ Top 100 Albums of 2016 to see that, plus stellar albums we didn’t even get around to (like those from Angel Olsen and PJ Harvey to name but a few) and the Knowles sisters stomping around like Mothra vs Godzilla at the top of this year’s Best Of lists. Black lives matter, and black female voices have never been more important.
The music industry machine has been eating itself intriguingly all the while. Vinyl and digital sales are on some sort of grim death march on their way to God-knows-where. Meanwhile Spotify has been flirting with Soundcloud at the bar all year, with Soundcloud proving it’s not that cheap a date. In his last days in power, Obama has tried to legislate against ticket touts. Greater fish and larger frying pans spring to mind, but it was a well-intentioned move, we’re sure.
On a regional level, Liverpool has slid into the UK Festival Awards like a seat-filler at an award show. Even away from those recognised with award nods, the Merseyside festival scene has been fiercely strong, with Psych, Disco and Soul fests all delivering on a national scale. The lumbering beast that is Liverpool Music Week not only saw some amazing gigs, but also brought the house down with a debauched Closing Party the likes of which we seldom see.
The North Dockland setting for LMW’s Closing Party is, looking forward to the future, pegged to pull in major investment from next year. The Ten Streets project is still all talk at this point, but if it goes ahead could see a large part of north Liverpool revitalised for creative purposes.
One thing is definitely for sure, the independent sources of music on Merseyside, be they label heads, promotors, or venue operators, are definitely still our most important port of call for the most vital music. We spoke to some of Liverpool’s movers and shakers on the music scene to gain their two cents on this year. To paraphrase another of 2016’s great losses, we have tried in our way to be free, and we’ll continue to do so as long as there’s fight left in us. – David Hall
Anna Meredith
Christopher Torpey: Bido Lito! Editor
Top 5 Albums of 2016:
David Bowie: Blackstar
“It seems a bit weird that the first album I properly listened to this year is the also the best one I had the pleasure of listening to, but such is life. Or death, I suppose. Bowie’s swan song is still the most complex musical feast I’ve listened to all year, and will probably still be dissected by scholars and fans for a long time to come. It balances emotional heft with some fucking great musicianship, allowing the pained final missives from a timeless artist to be aired in a fitting way.”
Anna Meredith: Varmints
“Anna Meredith blew my little head off when I saw her recently at Trans Musicales festival in Rennes, and it opened up the electro/techno/classical delights of Varmints for me. What a stunning piece of music it is – and it really does need to be heard live to fully appreciate it. And loud. Very loud. Nautilus is a contender for the best opening track of an album, I think, ever.”
Kevin Morby: Singing Saw
“Former Woods man Kevin Morby continued his solitary ascent with another gorgeous brain massage of a record. Definitely my most-listened-to album of the year.“
Fat White Family: Songs For Our Mothers
“Back over in a parallel universe, Fat White Family knocked it out of the park again, dealing with their heroin and Nazi obsessions exceptionally well on Songs For Our Mothers.”
Beach Skulls: Slow Grind
“Locally, Beach Skulls’ debut LP Slow Grind remains the best thing I’ve heard from our crop this year. Pity it wasn’t released just as summer was kicking off cos it would have been massive. I’m well aware that most people won’t agree with me on this, but who cares. I’m sure I’ve missed loads, but I can’t listen to everything, OK?”
Top 3 Tracks:
Howard Marks: Do Not Go Gentle In That Good Night
“Is there anything more perfect than Howard Marks reading the work of Dylan Thomas to a droney kraut-jazz beat? No, thought not.”
Leonard Cohen: You Want It Darker
“My second-favourite album of the year was Leonard Cohen’s sign-off, but I’ve just picked the lead track from it to give space to some more stuff. You Want It Darker still sends shivers down my spine when I listen to it. And is there anything more perfect than Howard Marks reading the work of Dylan Thomas to a droney kraut-jazz beat? No, thought not.”
Anonhi: Four Degrees
“Who’d have thought that Anohni Hegarty, Hudson Mohawke and Oneohtrix Point Never would make for a winning dancefloor-doom combination? Certainly not me, until I heard Four Degrees from this year’s Hopelessness. Class.”
Top 5 Gigs of 2016:
From Liverpool With Love with Johnny Echols at LIMF
“I think I watched this whole set with a massive smile on my face. Not just a massive box ticked to welcome a living Love legend to Liverpool, but also a joy to see so many Love fans come together, in Sefton Park, in the midst of a massive festival atmosphere.” (Getintothis review)
Sleaford Mods at Mountford Hall
“I don’t think I’ve had many live gigs make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, but this was deffo one. And I’ve seen them twice before too. We should put Jason Williamson in charge of the House Of Commons as the Speaker to shake things up. We need to hear more of this type of stuff in pop music. It’s fucking primal.” (Getintothis review)
Floating Points at Liverpool Sound City
“I was a bit sceptical about the Baltic Warehouse being used for Freeze’s danceathon for Sound City this year, only because of the daylight not being that conducive to getting down and techno. But Floating Points’ set reset my opinion. Techno met jazz instrumentation and I loved it – and so did everyone else losing their shit in there too.” (Getintothis review)
Goat at Albert Hall, Manchester
“This may have been the last time we get to see Goat on these here shores, and they left absolutely nothing in the tank. Everything that marked them out and thrust them to the forefront of what can, at times, be quite a repetitive and un-audience-friendly genre, was amplified. The tribal drums were deeper; the yelps more pained; the acid-fried guitar solos more taut; the jumps and leaps more frenzied. It might also have been the best point to put the whole concept to bed, and allow the musicians to cast off their masks and costumes and be recognised in their own right – but what they’ve told us about our own psyche and relationship with nature and spirituality has been vital. What a way to say goodbye.” (Getintothis review)
Jean-Michel Jarre at Bluedot Festival, Jodrell Bank
“A brilliant festival in a stunning setting, where Dr Octopus capped things off after AIR had weaved some dreams from the rarefied Jodrell Bank air. What geek dreams are made of.” (Getintothis review)
Event of 2016:
“Beyoncé outshining Coldplay at the Superbowl half-time show with her Formation routine was the one for me. I normally nod off two hours in to the mammoth Superbowl extravaganza, but this was a real jolt in the arm. Fiery, political, angry – it was almost a premonition of how the country was going to feel 10 months on when they face the prospect of a nation divided along so many lines. They should just do this every year for the HT show.”
Music Tip for 2017:
“Azusena – an artist with exactly the right style, voice and team to succeed. I reckon Azusena could break into the pop mainstream in 2017, and it would be justly deserved. Love the new tune Crosby, such a massive step up in production from Clever Gains. Excitement. Plus The Mysterines are gonna kill it, but I think we all know that now.”
Goat at The Albert Hall, Manchester
Steve ‘Revo’ Miller: Evol
Top 5 Albums of 2016:
A Tribe Called Quest: We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
Thee Oh Sees: Live in San Francisco
Thee Oh Sees: A Weird Exits/An Odd Entrances
The Brian Jonestown Massacre: Third World Pyramid
Parquet Courts: Human Performance
Top 3 Tracks of 2016:
Cabbage: Uber Capitalist Death Trade
The Vryll Society: A Perfect Rhythm
Strange Collective: Super Touchy
Top 5 Gigs of 2016:
Peaches at Invisible Wind Factory, Liverpool
Silver Apples at Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia
Parquet Courts at Invisible Wind Factory, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
Hot Chip at Festival No. 6, Portmeirion
Crystal Fighters at O2 Academy, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
Event of 2016:
Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia
Music Tip for 2017:
Cabbage
Parquet Courts
Jules Bennett: EBGBS
Top Albums of 2016:
Parquet Courts: Human Performance
Radiohead: A Moon Shaped Pool
A Tribe Called Quest: We Got It From Here
Bon Iver: 22, A Million
Hooton Tennis Club: Big Box Of Chocolates
Top Tracks of 2016:
Whitney: No Woman
Jules says: “It’s quite unusual for my track of the year to not be a dancefloor tune, but this is 4 minutes of perfection. Whitney feature big on our Freaks, Geeks and Cliques soundtrack for the 2nd room of Liquidation every Saturday in EBGBS Lone Wolf bar”
Radiohead: Burn The Witch
Parquet Courts: Dust
Top Gigs of 2016:
Peaches at Invisible Wind Factory, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
“Booking of the year. Gig of the year. Liquidation and all the cool clubs have been big fans of hers since day one, and I know Evol have been trying to book her for 13 years or something. I‘d seen her at a festival a decade or so ago and she was great, but the stage get up wasn’t much more than a bit of carefully positioned gaffer tape.
“She’s risen and is as important an artist now as she has ever been. Happy birthday Peaches! I was grinning from ear to ear from the moment I started queuing in the rain for an hour til the end. A great multi act line up just added icing to the birthday cake. The only gig that’s ever come close for me in a blend of music, art, sensuality and sexuality was Fischerspooner under London Bridge in 2002, so it’s even more empowering that this was on our own home turf.”
U-Roy at The Dixie Queen, London
“He’s “a rebel, rebel in the morning, rebel in the evening” and now, a rebel in the afternoon on the Queen Dixie paddle steamer going under Tower Bridge with 500 ska fans dancing along.”
Radiohead at Nos Alive, Lisbon
“Just life affirming and liberating. A band at the top of their game. Spine-tinglingly beautiful.”
Lady Leshur at Glastonbury
“Probably the only person that gets away with using the word “banter” non-ironically. “I’mma keep it short, paragraph.” ”
Mr Motivator at Boomtown
“Not a gig as such but a highlight of my first Boomtown. So much good music at this festival but having to put down my morning can of Scrumpy Jack to join in with the lunges will last in the memory for a long time.”
Event of the Year:
David Bowie’s death/Boomtown. “I think among my peers, only the death of John Peel had a comparable impact to that which we all felt in January because he’d been part of our musical lives in various ways and was a true creative. Many words have been written, and I’m sure many more will come from people better able to convey the loss we felt and still feel. Painfully missed.
“At the other extreme, the joy of being a newbie at a great festival and the sense of togetherness that comes from spending days and nights with great bands and happy people under the elements is one of life’s ultimate pleasures. It’s not often Glastonbury gets knocked off its perch as my weekend of the year, but this year Boomtown just pipped it for me.”
Music Tip for 2017:
“Haarm, Ok, they’re my mates. Chris has been a co-pilot on the decks of Liquidation for a while, and if it goes well for Haarm I’ll be looking for someone to fill that position tout suite! They played Liverpool Music Week and I fell in love. I can picture huge crowds singing their harmonies, whether they are the ones that sound like New Order, or the ones that sound like Queen, or the ones that sound like the future is here right now. Get on board.”
Peaches live at Liverpool’s Invisible Wind Factory
Michael Edward: Wrong Festival
Top Albums of 2016:
David Bowie: Blackstar
The Drones: Feelin’ Kinda Free
Danny Brown: Atrocity Exhibition
Ty Segall: Emotional Mugger
Death Grips: Bottomless Pit
Top Tracks of 2016:
The Drones: To Think I Once Loved You
David Bowie: Lazarus
Danny Brown: Ain’t it Funny
Top Gigs of 2016:
Dirty Bernard at EBGBs, Liverpool
Father John Misty at Albert Hall, Manchester
SPQR at The Magnet, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
The Hyena Kill at The Deaf Institute, Manchester
Mums at Islington Mill, Salford
Event of the Year:
Bowie’s death.
Music Tip for 2017:
Michael says – “Probably has to be False Advertising“.
False Advertising
Samuel Garlick: Fiesta Bombarda/Skiddle/Bam! Bam! Bam!
Top Albums of 2016:
Machinedrum: Human Energy
Anderson .Paak: Malibu
James Vincent McMorrow: We Move
Romare: Love Songs Part 2
Kaytranada: 99.9%>
Top Tracks of 2016:
Moderat: Reminder
Danny Brown: Aint it Funny
Folded like fabric: Falling and You Caught Me
Top Gigs of 2016:
Jamie Woon at Tramshed, Cardiff
Moodymann at Invisible Wind Factory, Liverpool
Sufjan Stevens at Manchester Apollo
Loyle Carner at 24 Kitchen Street (Getintothis review)
Moderat at Albert Hall, Manchester
Event of the Year:
Gottwood – Samuel says “As good as the line up was, the location and organisation was the most outstanding element here – to keep it still so intimate despite the huge demand is what makes it so special.”
Loyle Carner at 24 Kitchen St
Dave McTague: Mellowtone
Top Albums and Top Tracks of 2016:
Dave says: “I never have a top three LPs, songs etc … but the live stuff below”
Top Gigs of 2016:
Saul Williams at 24 Kitchen Street, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
“Powerful stuff. And to top it off, he managed to silence a Saturday night Kitchen St crowd with acapella words. Stunning.”
Nick Ellis at Leaf, Liverpool / Scandinavian Church, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
“I couldn’t decide between Nick‘s EP and LP launches. So will have to say both – two very different but truly magical evenings.”
Steve Mason at Arts Club, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
“An amazing performance from Mr Mason, a good few Beta Band tracks, … and a beautiful rendition of Boys Outside.”
Channel One Soundsystem at 24 Kitchen Street, Liverpool
“Heavy.”
Event of the Year:
Day One at Africa Oyé. Dave says: “Old, young, rich, poor, black, white and everything in between. Once again a wonderful atmosphere, and Oyé‘s busiest ever single day.”
Music Tip for 2017
Dave says: “Biased I know. But Nick Ellis is going from strength to strength. Following from strong local supports and his LP launch, Whispering Bob has just picked up on him, and he’s playing an in store at Rough Trade West this December. His star is in the ascendancy.”
Nick Ellis at the Scandinavian Church
Top Albums of 2016:
Charles Bradley: Changes
DJ Vadim: Dubcatcher 2 (Wicked My Yout)
Soul Jazz Records: Nigeria Freedom Sounds (Popular Music and The Birth Of Independent Nigeria 1960-63)
Radiohead: A Moon Shaped Pool
Vaudou Game: Kidayu
Top Tracks of 2016:
Michael Kiwanuka: Love & Hate
DJ Vadim feat. Demolition Man: Fussin n Fighting
Vaudou Game: La vie c’est bon
Top Gigs of 2016:
Anoushka Shankar at Glastonbury Festival
Amadou and Mariam at The Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
BKO Quintet at 24 Kitchen Street, Liverpool
Quantic at Constellations, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
Awesome Tapes From Africa at 24 Kitchen Street, Liverpool
Event of the Year:
Rory says: “Very selfish, but I’m going to say The Voodoo Ball and Wake the Dead Halloween Parade (part of the same event). It was our first year at The Invisible Wind Factory (since the closure of the Kaz). With it being a new venue out in the sticks, plus the fact that there were loads of other amazing events going on in the city, I was unsure on how it would turn out.
“However, the Voodoo ‘eads didn’t let me down, they never do. It’s always overwhelming how much people embrace the event – the dressing up, the partying, joining the parade, the mad trek to the venue.“
Music Tip for 2017:
Positive Vibration – Festival of Reggae. “We won ‘Best New Festival’ at the UK Festival Awards, and have big plans for next year’s festival.“
Trojan Sound System at Positive Vibration
Top Albums of 2016:
BADBADNOTGOOD: IV
Chris says: “Accessed this through the Sam Herring track and now I’m a huge fan. Love discovering an act seemingly from nowhere.”
Michael Kiwanuka: Love & Hate
“A massive album, I hear something new every time I listen, he’s created a masterpiece here. The strings alone. Just listen to the strings.“
Radiohead: A Moon Shaped Pool
“Lived up to its hype with absolute grace. A total grower though, at first I struggled to put it all together, but now it’s up there with In Rainbows for me.”
A Tribe Called Quest: We Got It From Here…Thank You 4 Your Service
“Late contender for me, only listened twice. Out the park, so f*ckin fresh.“
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: Skeleton Tree
“A devastating album, it just blew me away. Knowing the back story and the catharsis this album serves. Unreal.”
Top Tracks of 2016:
Lindstrøm: Closing Shot
“Big festival tune for me, played this out every time I played this year. And now I’ve booked him for a festival next year, can’t wait to see the whole live show.”
Michael Kiwanuka: Black Man In a White World
“Standout track on one of my top albums of year. A very poignant song.”
Nils Bech: Waiting
“This guy is one to watch, recently signed to DFA, we saw him play a secret gig in Oslo in the summer and well, he’ll be coming to Liverpool pretty soon.”
Top Gigs of 2016:
Science of The Lamps at Threshold Festival, Liverpool
“I know, could this look more nepotistic? But this was a brilliant moment for Kaya and for us at Threshold. Every year we convene for the Lamps gig and this was my favourite moment of the whole festival.”
LCD Soundsystem at Glastonbury Festival
“I’d been initially dubious about their comeback, being essentially an uber fanboy. Though, of the 5 times I’ve seen them, this was their best by a very long way. The atmosphere in the crowd was phenomenal too. Long live LCD.”
Massive Attack at Øyafestivalen, Norway
“Big tick off my list here and they didn’t disappoint. Massive Attack’s live show is something that needs to be seen. The juxtaposition of their classic cuts with overtly up to date political visuals brought fresh relevance to the sounds and lyrics. Unfinished Sympathy as an encore… I think I had a bit of dust in my eye.”
Blick Bassi at Liverpool Sound City
“I didn’t get to catch him at Bramley Moore but saw his mini-set at Constellations the night before. When an artist grabs your attention with that kind of unreal talent, eclectic performance and absolute humility, it’s a real cynicism killer. There are wonderful musicians out there just waiting to be discovered.”
Wrangler & John Grant at Barbican Centre, London (Rough Trade 40)
“Now in a very privileged position to be working with both of these acts, it was great to see them share a stage for this. Some fans were disappointed that they didn’t get to hear John play the hits. I was blown away to see them roll out a set (for the first time ever) of specially created techno, electronica and weirdness. It may never be repeated, so that’s a good a reason as any to make it one of my top five.”
Event of the Year:
Voodoo Ball
Music Tip for 2017:
Mersey Wylie LIMF 2016
Top Albums of 2016:
Frank Ocean: Blond
Solange: A Seat at the Table
Omar-S: The Best
Kanye West: Life of Pablo
Leon Vynehall: Rojus
Top Tracks of 2016:
Midland: Final Credits
Traumprinz: 2 Da Sky
Frank Ocean: Self Control
Top Gigs of 2016:
Yussef Kamaal at 24 Kitchen Street, Liverpool
Soichi Terada at Invisible Wind Factory, Liverpool
Kruanghbin at Tisno, Croatia
Hunee & Joy Orbison at Camp and Furnace, Liverpool
Larry Heard at Pula, Croatia
Event of the Year:
Dimensions Festival, Croatia
Music Tip for 2017 :
Or:La
Danny Brown: Atrocity Exhibition
Bon Iver: 22, A Million
David Bowie: Blackstar
Sweet Deals on Surgery: The Snake and the Snoozer
Kanye West: Ultralightbeam
SPQR: Plink
Animal Collective at O2 Academy, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
Three Trapped Tigers, LawoftheLand, Taws at Buyers Club, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
Cleft, Alpha Male Tea Party, Poly-Math at Maguires Pizza Bar, Liverpool
Disastronauts, Possum, Secateurs, Three From Above at Jacaranda, Liverpool
Three Trapped Tigers
Raime: Tooth
Mica Levi & Oliver Coates: Remain Calm
Rachel’s: Systems/Layers (extended re-issue)
Julius Eastman: Feminine
Happy Meals: If You Want Me Now
Gold Panda: In My Car
John Carpenter at Olympia, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
Immix Ensemble & Dialect/ James Canty at Buyers Club, Liverpool
In Atoms & Philip Jeck at Cosmolodge, Kazimier Gardens, Liverpool
Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia
John Carpenter’s ‘The Fog’
Pinegrove: Cardinal
Kanye West: Life of Pablo
Boston Manor: Be Nothing
DIIV: Is the Is Are
Chance The Rapper: Same Drugs
Basement: Blinded Bye
Citizen & Turnover at Winston Kingdom, Amsterdam
Wolf Alice at Arts Club, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
Modern Baseball at Studio 2, Liverpool
Basement at Sefton Park Palmhouse, Liverpool
Wolf Alice – Arts Club
Onoe Caponoe: Spells from the Cyclops
Frank Ocean: Blonde
Abra: Princess
Kaytranada: 99.9%
Banks: Mother Earth
Kanye West: Fade
Ghost Face Killah at Waterfront, Norwich
Dele Somsi at Outlook Festival, Pula, Croatia
Talib Kweli at 24 Kitchen Street (Getintothis review)
Kano at El Dorado Festival, Ledbury
Talib Kweli
Wolf Alice at Arts Club, Liverpool
Sundara Karma at Arts Club, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
Frank Turner at Sefton Park Palmhouse, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
Moose Blood at Arts Club, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
Frank Turner
Tuff City Kids: Adolesscent
Nicolas Jaar: Sirens
The Field: The Follower
Moderat: III
Isaac Tichauer: Higher Level (Bicep Remix)
Max Cooper & Tom Hodge: Trust
Bicep Boat Party at Electric Elephant Festival, Croatia
Ame & Dixon at Albert Hall, Manchester
Cream Classics at Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
Robert Hood at Williamson Tunnels, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
Conducting Classic Cream
Beyonce: Lemonade
Yussef Kamaal: Black Focus
Danny Brown: Atrocity Exhibition
Kamalyah: A Good Night In The Ghetto
Kadjha: The Visitor
Frank Ocean: Nikes
Marta: St Paul’s (Westberg Comprehensive)
Saul Williams at 24 Kitchen Street, Liverpool
Danny Brown at Brixton Academy, London
LCD Soundsystem at Primavera Sound, Barcelona
Skepta at Alexandra Palace, London
Saul Williams
Justice: Woman
Radiohead: A Moon Shaped Pool
Ty Seagall: Emotional Mugger
Allah-Las: Calico Review
Nimmo: My Only Friend
Frank Ocean: Pink and White
Yak at O2 Academy, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
Peaches at Invisible Wind Factory, Liverpool
Nimmo at Kendal Calling
Psychemajik at Festival No. 6, Portmeirion
Brian Jonestown Massacre
Steven Longworth: M62 Records
Top Albums of 2016:
Superior Cornrows: Children of the Cornrows
Alborosie: Freedom & Fyah
Crowbar: Serpent Only Lies
Lucent: Place Burn Down
SirPixalot: Wartime
Top Tracks of 2016:
Sir Spyro: Topper Top feat Teddy Bruckshot, Lady Chann, Killa P
Young H, Notion & Dread MC: Money & Drugz
King Hydra: Get Funky
Top Gigs of 2016:
Russian Circles at Constellations, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
George Clinton at O2 Academy, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
Gentlemans Dub Club at 24 Kitchen Street, Liverpool
The Bendal Interlude at DropTheDumBulls, Liverpool
Peaches at Invisible Wind Factory, Liverpool
Event of the Year:
Madam X & Zed Bias at 24 Kitchen Street
Music Tip for 2017:
Steven says: “Bit of self promotion but I’m already hyped for 2017 with a whole arsenal of tracks ready from M62 Records to mash up the dance. Look out for Hayden Perry, Docka, Tubz and Wolfe just to name a few. “
Russian Circles
Tom Page: Disjointed Reality Records
Top 5 albums 2016:
Tadeo: Chronicles Of The Future
Dany Rodriguez: Galaxies Compared
Saint Cole: Star Child
Avalanches: Wild Flower
A Tribe Called Quest: We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
Top 3 tracks:
Tico Torres: Shes Been Gone So Long
Johannes Heil: By Night (Part Three)
Setaoc Mass: Lost Lakes
Top 5 Gigs:
MORD Showcase featuring Bas Mooy, SHXCXCHCXSH, Sleeparchive, Stanislav Tolkachev, Tripeo, UVB, and Zadig at Mantra Warehouse, Manchester
ARTS Showcase featuring Emmanuel and I Hate Models at Corsica Studios, London
Speedy J, Dave Clarke, and Phil Kieran at Constellations, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
Sunil Sharpe at 24 Kitchen St, Liverpool
Cleric at Buyers Club, Liverpool
Event of 2016:
Solfest 2016
Artist tip for 2017:
Saint Cole
Speedy J – Constellations
Aoife Niblock: Olympia, Liverpool
Top 5 Albums:
Blossoms: Blossoms
Skepta: Konnichiwa
DIIV: Is the Is Are
David Bowie: Blackstar
Walking on Cars: Everything this Way
Top 3 Tracks:
Blossoms: Charlemagne
New Atlas: Young Hearts
Wretch 32: Antwi
Top 5 Gigs:
Primal Scream at Olympia, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros at Islington Assembly Hall, London
Bluetones & Cast at Manchester Academy
The LaFontaines at Arts Club, Liverpool
The Stony Browder Jr Band at Sofar Sounds at Ziferblat, Liverpool
Event of 2016:
Liverpool Music Week
Tip for 2016:
Aoife says: “A band I recommend? New Atlas.”
Primal Scream
Russ George: Bold Street Coffee
Top 5 Albums of 2016:
Eagulls: Ullages
Grind the Line Band: Ride or Die
Discharge: End of Days
Ty Segal: Emotional Mugger
Sheer Attack: EP
Top 3 Tracks:
Rixe: Coup Blessures
Publicist UK: Levitate the Pentagram
Jamie T: Tesco Land
Top 5 Gigs:
Fucked Up at EBGBs, Liverpool
John Carpenter at Olympia, Liverpool
The Shrine at DropTheDumbells, Liverpool
Imarhan at Philharmonic Music Room, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
Lecherous Gaze at Maguire’s Pizza Bar, Liverpool
Event of 2016:
Bold Street Coffee Brew Nights
Defend Vinyl
Mersey Grit Skateboard
Jamie Reid at The Florrie
Acia Bowls
Bold Brew
Music Tip for 2017:
Sheer Attack
Fucked Up
Paddy Quinn: No Fakin
Top 5 Albums of 2016:
A Tribe Called Quest: We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your service
Yussef Kamaal: Black Focus
BadBadNotGood: IV
Frank Ocean: Blonde
NxWorries: Yes Lawd
Top 3 Tracks:
Paddy says: “Too many to single out but I’ve been playing loads of Tall Black Guy and Stro Elliot beats. Oh and DJ Platurn turned in a great edit of Solange‘s Junie.”
Top 5 Gigs:
John Carpenter at Olympia, Liverpool
George Clinton at O2 Academy, Liverpool
Yussef Kamaal at 24 Kitchen Street, Liverpool
Cypress Hill at Brixton Academy, London
Anderson .Paak at Ruby Lounge, Manchester
Event of 2016:
Paddy says: “2016 was one giant traumatic event but with a bloody great soundtrack.”
Tip for 2017:
Lost Art Radio
George Clinton & Parliament – Funkadelic
Yaw Owusu: Liverpool International Music Festival
Top 5 Albums of 2016:
Kanye West: The Life Of Pablo
Frank Ocean: Blonde
Anderson Paak: Malibu
Kaytranada: 99.9%
Kano: Made In The Manor
Top 3 Tracks:
XamVolo: Down
Vic Mensa: 16 Shots
Frank Ocean: Nike
Top 5 Gigs:
Kano: Made In The Manor Tour (Getintothis review)
El Row
Samm Henshaw: Liverpool Sound City
LIMF presents… House Nation, with Circus (Getintothis review)
XamVolo: Ritz, Manchester
Event of 2016:
LIMF 2016
Music Tip for 2017:
SUEDEBROWN
Kano at the Arts Club
[paypal-donation]
