A right rollicking good Friday night out was enjoyed in the company of the friendliest, most enthusiastic crowd you could wish to spend an evening with, at The Casa on Hope Street..
With a superb line – up of local talent, this was a memorable occasion.
Unavoidably delayed, we arrived just as The Strutts were taking their thunderous final applause, showing just what a good thing we’d sadly missed. Really sorry not to have seen them, but there’s always next time.
Fortunately, we were in time for the next act on, the brilliant Lapis, who put on a great high energy acoustic set, featuring superb stripped down versions of many of their well known songs, much to the delight of the audience.
It was a real treat to see such versatility, with a really noisy rock band having the necessarily impressive musicianship to play in a very different style from their usual, and still wow the crowd, as they did.
Next on was the great Alun Parry, one of those performers who was born to be on stage, he is completely comfortable there, and turns an audience of strangers into friends in a matter of moments. The Alun Parry Band played a storming set that had the audience singing and clapping along and enjoying every minute, with the rich vibrant sound perfectly complementing Alun’s beautifully crafted songs. | Particularly affecting was Alun’s moving anti-slavery song, ‘Under Neptune’s Hand, ’ which contrasted beautifully with his more lighthearted songs. A classic Liverpuddlian performer, Alun Parry is a man who blends a social conscience with a warm and witty sense of humour.
Final act on was Thomas Joseph and Murphy, whose lovely finger picking guitar style sent waves of pure pleasure rippling from the stage, as their perfectly blending voices held the audience spellbound. The sheer quality of their interwoven harmonies was just thrilling as they got into the zone and sang their beautiful songs in a way that was simply enchanting.
How can it be possible to see four brilliant acts appear on the same bill, for only £4, when the likes of Madonna get to charge £100 per seat? It’s a crazy mixed up world alright! Luckily, we can choose to go out in Liverpool any night of the week and see fantastic acts like these, for next to nothing. So what are you waiting for? Summer’s finally here, and the city is alive to the sound of really wonderful music!
Reviewed by Rikki Wright, 27.07.07