Radar: Liverpool Fringe Festival

So there is life away from our TV sets, eh? But what to do with it? Well, the Mathew Street ‘Music’ Festival is just weeks away, and Liverpool is preparing to welcome an estimated 200,000 people for a weekend full of music, dancing, drinking and Beatles.

Organisers are claiming that this year’s festival will be the biggest and greatest yet with a whole day dedicated to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the four local lads who just won ‘Outstanding Contribution to Tourism’ at the Merseyside Tourist Awards. They were unable to collect their trophy.

With the organisers of Mathew Street opting for the familiar ‘long live the tribute band’ theme, here at SevenStreets our attention is being drawn - yet again - to the festival’s much more exciting fringes…

Tucked away from the crowds of Mathew Street, Liverpool Fringe Festival seeks to showcase the best unsigned and original talent from across Liverpool and beyond. Taking place in some of Liverpool’s leading independent music venues, Fringe Festival promises to be an explosive array of original musicians and performers. And, crucially, material.

Parr St studios is hosting for the first time an acoustic night featuring the cool and mellow folk sounds of The Loose Moose String Band. Meanwhile Krazyhouse will play host to the best of original rock with bands such as The Thespians, The Buffalo Riot and The Romleys taking to the stage over the course of this messy weekend.

Another event no be missed (if last year’s is anything to go by) is NewPath’s alternative music nights held at Mello Mello on August 25th and 26th. The organisers of NewPath have united with Fringe and Edils recordings to bring to Liverpool a collection of new music including post-rock, math-rock, ambient, electronic and everything in-between (including Muto Leo, pic). Also, always worth checking out, Dirtblonde are at Baa Baa on the 27th. Full listings here.

Fringe organiser Chris Carney comments: “We wanted to put a new spin on the Fringe Fest, give it a new lease of life and show Liverpool and beyond that the music industry is flourishing here.”

So if you’d prefer to spend your bank holiday weekend experiencing the best original talent, head to one of the Fringe Festival venues and breathe a sigh of relief, as you’re very, very unlikely to hear Hey Jude, again.

Liverpool Fringe Festival,
Various Venues, 24th-27th August.

April Scarlett