Folk Fever Charms Liverpool

Liverpool’s first ever Folk and Roots Festival plays host to a magical and innovative evening in the atmospheric surroundings of Sefton Park’s beautiful Palm House.

Festival curators The Random Family have been bringing folk music back to the Liverpool consciousness via their Family Folk-Up nights at St. Brides Church and they feel that the music has great importance to the city. Member Paul Riley said: “We consider folk music to be ‘Music of the People’; music that concerns itself with real people’s lives, loves, triumphs and tragedies. It is music that tells the story of our collective past.”

The evening was aptly dubbed as a Twilight Garden Party. A night of song, story telling, spoken word and live art all came together to provide what was a musical and visual feast. Folk evenings always tend to be very charming and ambient affairs however Sefton Park’s Palm House took this to new heights. The event organisers, Almanac Folk, provided a Midas touch with their exquisite attention to detail creating a fantastic rustic atmosphere. On entering the building you are first drawn to the huge greenery of the tropical palm and fern tress surrounding the red velvet clothed, candle-lit tables adorned with peacock feathers.

The picturesque décor was matched by the music as the packed Palm House was treated to a beautiful showcase of traditional and alternative folk music. Often it is the case that on folk evenings you tend to hear some of the most soothing and captivating of instruments and the opening act provided just that.

Nula Mathers took to the stage and performed some enchanting adaptations on her harp. Notably her elegant and graceful rendition of ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ had the audience fixated on her.

The Almanac Folk girls played themselves with Lizzie Nunnery, accompanied by Lindsey Rodden on backing vocals, performed her songs ‘The Company of Ghosts’ and ‘England Loves a Poor Boy’. The latter of which was inspired by a man called Ernest Mark who was a famous homeless war hero living in Liverpool. Lizzie took the opportunity to say a few words about the evening: “We have been planning this for six months, in theory, and its great to be stood here looking out at a packed room, it’s very, very special.”

Seven piece Eastern Celtic Folk collective Temple Fire then somehow managed to squeeze themselves and their instruments on stage. With members originating from Ireland, India, Germany, Faroe Islands and Wales they fused together all their native influences to create a unique, alternative folk sound. The vocals of which were particularly special.

Singer-songwriter Andy Hickie then added his distinct folk sound to proceedings. His music, very reminiscent of Bob Dylan blended with a touch of Irish folk legend Christy Moore, had the audience captivated. His song ‘Smile’ was a very upbeat, optimistic story recalling on all the good things in life that bring you happiness. Andy himself was overcome by the venue saying: “This is probably the most beautiful place I have ever played. It’s incredible to have so many people sitting in such silence, paying so much attention.”

The evening was brought to a close by Northern Ireland’s very own Atlantic Massey. Formerly known as The Prelude, they are a well-known act in Liverpool which was evident by the numerous cheers from the audience. This five-piece ended the night with their buoyant and catchy sound which had the audience up and dancing the Irish jig. Their energetic folk rock music brought the (green) house down and it was a wonderful finale to a fantastic spectacle of an evening.