SofarSounds
Kowloons et al: Another Fab Sofar Sounds
20/08/24 07:55
On Wednesday I went to another Liverpool Sofar Sounds gig. This week it was at a nice cool venue, near London Road, called Fabric on the ground floor of the building which also houses Slate. Saw Heavy North play their Sofar gig there in September 2022–jeez, almost two years back.
This was another sold out evening but there were plenty of seats for everyone. The backdrop was large and bright white—it’s a photographic studio—which made for an interesting look. There were three acts on, as ever. First up was a country singer with a decidedly US twang to his singing voice; and was wearing a Stetson to boot. Jake O’Neill though isn’t so much as from due west of here, but just a few miles north in Burscough. Nice songs and mighty fine guitar work from the Lancashire Frontier.
Second guys and gals up were a duo, from the folk band Kafasān with some fine flute playing from Savannah Donohoe and guitar too. Mostly they played their own stuff, but there were a couple of trad tunes and a Richard Thompson song too. Unfortunately here was no time to fit in any Jethro Tull.
Lastly it was time for a full band of four young locals called Kowloons (as in Hong Kong). They’d posted a picture up on Instagram earlier showing their gear at the event so I was able to get to listen to a few of their songs whilst I was on the bus into town. Nice short snappy songs. I was sat next to Chris Griffiths from the Real People who were the masters of the two and half minute pop songs. I reminisced with him about seeing them play the Krazy House in the early 1990s and then getting him to play at Liverpool CAMRA beer festival
It was Chris’s first Sofar gig (attending or playing) and he was there because his son was actually playing bass in the Kowloons. Wonder if they can get the Real People to play Sofar sometime too? Maybe a double header with the Kowloons.
All three acts are out there with songs to play and stories to tell, so get yourself out there and support them. Or at least don some headphones and listen to some of their songs on Spotify (or wherever else you can find their music).
____________________________________________________
Some links below:
Jake O'Neill - Spotify
Kafasān - Spotify - Instagram
Kowloons - Spotify - Instagram
This was another sold out evening but there were plenty of seats for everyone. The backdrop was large and bright white—it’s a photographic studio—which made for an interesting look. There were three acts on, as ever. First up was a country singer with a decidedly US twang to his singing voice; and was wearing a Stetson to boot. Jake O’Neill though isn’t so much as from due west of here, but just a few miles north in Burscough. Nice songs and mighty fine guitar work from the Lancashire Frontier.
Second guys and gals up were a duo, from the folk band Kafasān with some fine flute playing from Savannah Donohoe and guitar too. Mostly they played their own stuff, but there were a couple of trad tunes and a Richard Thompson song too. Unfortunately here was no time to fit in any Jethro Tull.
Lastly it was time for a full band of four young locals called Kowloons (as in Hong Kong). They’d posted a picture up on Instagram earlier showing their gear at the event so I was able to get to listen to a few of their songs whilst I was on the bus into town. Nice short snappy songs. I was sat next to Chris Griffiths from the Real People who were the masters of the two and half minute pop songs. I reminisced with him about seeing them play the Krazy House in the early 1990s and then getting him to play at Liverpool CAMRA beer festival
It was Chris’s first Sofar gig (attending or playing) and he was there because his son was actually playing bass in the Kowloons. Wonder if they can get the Real People to play Sofar sometime too? Maybe a double header with the Kowloons.
All three acts are out there with songs to play and stories to tell, so get yourself out there and support them. Or at least don some headphones and listen to some of their songs on Spotify (or wherever else you can find their music).
____________________________________________________
Some links below:
Jake O'Neill - Spotify
Kafasān - Spotify - Instagram
Kowloons - Spotify - Instagram
Comments
Sofar So Good
17/12/22 13:19
On Wednesday in the frozen north west it was time for the last Sofar Sounds of the year. Rail strikes and the weather had put paid to the original plans of the Sofar crew but despite this it proved a busy night and with three great acts (if not those originally planned at a venue not originally planned either).
The email announcing the venue had come 36 hours earlier telling us it was at The Slaughterhouse, where we had seen The Sway/Blue Velvet/Amber Wilding Stone back in June. This time the venue was downstairs, as they were showing the World Cup Semi Final upstairs. The venue downstairs is better in any case. I dare say if England had beaten France on Saturday then there may have been a few more empty seats at the gig. I'd finished work a little late so struggled to get to the venue on time (i.e. I didn't), but I didn't miss any of the acts in any case.
Francesca Louise
Brandon Tew
First up was Francesca Louise on acoustic guitar, followed by Brandon Tew on keyboards, and finally Naila a three piece act including acoustic guitars and five string bass. The latter band were so tight and such consummate musicians. All three acts were great to see and I'd encourage you to have a wee listen to them to see what you think. I'll defo be keeping my out for them on the circuit. Good luck to them all.
Naila
Naila
Thanks to Sofar Sounds for organising the event and dealing with the whims of the Transportation and Weather Gods. And great to see so many people get down there for it. It was freezing out there and it'd have been easy (and totally understandable) to hide under the duvet at home.
______________________
LINKS:
Francesca Louise: Linktree francescalouise Insta @francesca.louise.music Spotify Francesca Louise
Brandon Tew: Linktree brandontew Insta @brandontewmusic Spotify Brandon Tew
Naila: Linktree Nailamusic Insta @nailamusic_ Spotify Naila
Sofar Sounds: web: sofarsounds.com Twitter @SofarLiverpool Insta: sofarsoundsliverpool
The email announcing the venue had come 36 hours earlier telling us it was at The Slaughterhouse, where we had seen The Sway/Blue Velvet/Amber Wilding Stone back in June. This time the venue was downstairs, as they were showing the World Cup Semi Final upstairs. The venue downstairs is better in any case. I dare say if England had beaten France on Saturday then there may have been a few more empty seats at the gig. I'd finished work a little late so struggled to get to the venue on time (i.e. I didn't), but I didn't miss any of the acts in any case.
Francesca Louise
Brandon Tew
First up was Francesca Louise on acoustic guitar, followed by Brandon Tew on keyboards, and finally Naila a three piece act including acoustic guitars and five string bass. The latter band were so tight and such consummate musicians. All three acts were great to see and I'd encourage you to have a wee listen to them to see what you think. I'll defo be keeping my out for them on the circuit. Good luck to them all.
Naila
Naila
Thanks to Sofar Sounds for organising the event and dealing with the whims of the Transportation and Weather Gods. And great to see so many people get down there for it. It was freezing out there and it'd have been easy (and totally understandable) to hide under the duvet at home.
______________________
LINKS:
Francesca Louise: Linktree francescalouise Insta @francesca.louise.music Spotify Francesca Louise
Brandon Tew: Linktree brandontew Insta @brandontewmusic Spotify Brandon Tew
Naila: Linktree Nailamusic Insta @nailamusic_ Spotify Naila
Sofar Sounds: web: sofarsounds.com Twitter @SofarLiverpool Insta: sofarsoundsliverpool