Brass Dancing

With two albums and a clutch of awards, in particular for their live work, the sold out Bellowhead arrived at the Pacific Rd Arts Centre in Birkenhead. An 11 piece band on stage playing a plethora of instruments with a sometimes frenetic pace. It is impossible not to be tapping your feet or jigging away fairly quickly.

Not knowing their repertoire apart from a couple of songs was no bar to having a thoroughly entertaining time. Their on stage confidence allows them to swap and change instruments and singers throughout without it falling into a shambolic mess.

I can't imagine being bored ever at one of their gigs. Funny, interesting, rhythm/beats aplenty and great sounds its an invigorating mix. Highlights for the Pieman were Jordan, New York Girls, Sloe Gin, Whiskey, Rochdale Coconut Dance, Fire Marengo, London Town, Frogs Legs, Dragons Teeth and a dancing Brass section! I look forward to the opportunity of seeing them again soon.

Support was provided by label mates AHAB. Only caught the last 3/4 songs of their set and would love to hear more. Love their version of My Father's Eyes check it out on You Tube. Sort of alt country with four part harmonies and well worth a listen.

Toumani Diabate/Revere/ St Georges Hall

Mr and Mrs Pieman went to see Toumani Diabate at the St Georges Concert Hall in Liverpool. What a delight, a beautiful setting to hear some beautiful music from Grammy award winning Toumani Diabate from Mali. He plays a 21 stringed bridged harp instrument called a Kora and is sometimes described as the Malian Jimi Hendrix.

The sound he produces is amazing. He plays a bass line, a melody and improvises over the top of that, all at the same time using only the thumb and index finger of each hand.

A couple of tunes we knew but the rest was new and fascinating. The delightful St Georges Concert Hall was the perfect backdrop with its chandeliers, statues, ornate carving and gold paint. Supporting him were an excellent band called Revere who played an acoustic set (3 Strings and one guitar mixed with a Harp, keyboard etc ...) with four of them instead of the usual electric version of the band which has 7 members normally.

Described by the Sunday Times as being able to "Genuinely take your breath away" in a live setting I was intrigued to hear them play. They were very very good and we would love to hear more certainly in an acoustic setting. I was instantly taken by the captivating They Always Knock Twice with it's haunting twisting melody.

The Fire Still Burns

Deep joy for the the Pieman and Student Pie who were able to venture out to the wilds of Wythenshawe to hear the fantastic After The Fire in concert for the first time since 1980/81?

Supported by the punky and interesting Bill Mason Band with Hannah Atkins. Although not the full original line up Mr Banks, Mr Russell and friends are brilliant ripping through 1980-F, High Fashion, Time Too Think, You, One Rule, Der Kommisar, Billy Billy (Brilliant Guitar solo Mr Russell - forgot how good he is) , Laser Love, Life In The City, Starflight.......

Time for some reason ran out and the scheduled encore Joy and Carry Me Home (Big Disappointment) were missed out. Still they raised monies for various Dalit related charities and we really enjoyed listening to ATF!!! I Hope we get the chance again.

Tate & Rene

Mr and Mrs Pieman on a rare free day, to ourselves went to Liverpool for recreation and ended up at the Tate Gallery at Albert Docks to see the Rene Magritte exhibition before its run ended. Interesting as ever the Tate for the most part is free and well worth a visit. On this occasion the surrealist Magritte was great and funny as well in places.

As ever walking around Liverpool was fascinating and rewarding including bumping into some friends and finding the colourful graffiti below on Cropper Street.

House of The Green Onion

What an excellent evening at the Pacific Road Arts Centre in Birkenhead. The Pieman & Biscuitman came to hear the Animals & Friends with the wonderfully fantastic Mr Steve Cropper of Booker T & The MG's, Stax, Blues Brothers, Sitting on the Dock of the Bay .......

The main room was laid out with tables rather than as advertised raked seating. No matter as our seats were right at the front and dead centre, brilliant. The Animal & Friends lead off with a meander through their back catalogue including a Pieman favourite "Please don't let Me Be Understood".

After a break Mr Cropper came on and he was brilliant working his way through Time Is Tight, Midnight Hour, Spell On You, 6345789, Hip Hug Her, Dock of the Bay, Justify, Water, Soul Man .......

We Will Rock You

Off to Liverpool to Queen musical "We Will Rock You" at a packed Empire. An excellent choice and we can thoroughly recommend it to you. The journey home via Merseyrail was a bit crowded, extremely funny and very very windy !!

Dukes Drivin

In mid-September Mrs Pieman and Mother In Pie accepted a ladies day challenge to drive various vehicles to raise money for various charities in conjunction with Chester Lions.

So on a cool Sunday morning we headed to the airfield on the dukes estate. Forming an orderly queue during the next few hours we would see them drive an articulated lorry (twice), fire engine, ambulance, Police Road Traffic car, a Huge Tractor and a Quad Bike.

An excellent time was had with many laughs, a lot of speed and some knee fondling. Between the two of them they raised over £150.00, so thank you to all sponsors.