Jade's Music Blog

Just a week after last year’s performances Sandi Thom went straight in at number one with I wish I was a Punk Rocker, followed by chart-topping album, Smile it Confuses People.
More recently, another 2006’s ones to watch The Wombats hit the singles charts with Backfire at the Disco, and look set to be one of the hottest bands in the summer of 2007.
Now this year’s festival invites you to come and experience 33 acts over 11 nights, performed by final year musicians and returning graduates. They showcase tomorrow’s sucess stories - this is your chance to see them first.
The showcase season was established last year as a platform for emerging artists from LIPA and further afield to come together to celebrate the musical diversity of Liverpool.
Highlights promise to be sets from Greenwich Resident, Hannah Rei and Kristian Park, as well as special guest artists Multi Chemical Purpose and folk singer and harpist Nancy Elizabeth Cunliffe.
Tonight’s opening show combines three of the cream of the crop from Liverpool’s indie and rock prospects.
Club Pilot are all set to ratchet a classic rock sound into punch the air pop tunes, while We See Foxes perform fresh from their arena support slots for McFly, showing off their no-nonsense approach to classic Brit rock.
Colin Murray has hotly tipped the final act of the night, indie popsters Greenwich Resident as one of the best up and coming acts.
We’re also particularly looking forward to Friday’s all-female Cosmopolitan night, which will show off the talents of Kate Clague, Francesca Bandino and Katherine Elizabeth Clark
LIPA has strong links with Norway, and Saturday’s Vintage Confessions night features some of its finest talent, with jazz pianist Arne Vatnoy, folk songstress Dyveke and Kristian Park – whose catchy and melodic pop, driven by eclectic guitar styling with a host of riveting riffs, has won him the reputation as this festival’s one to watch.
The festival runs until Saturday May 19, and tickets for each event are just £3.50 or £15.00 for a two-week pass.
Tickets are available from the LIPA box office at the venue from 6.30pm prior to every show or from www.ticketline.co.uk. For more information see www.myspace.com/thirddegreefestival, email thirddegree@lipa.ac.uk or call 0871 424 4444.