From funk and soul to orchestral French house, here's the pick of the gigs this month
What with Liverpool being (arguably) the birthplace of rock and pop as we know it, it come as little surprise to find some of the UK's best gigs taking place along the banks of the Mersey. Here's some of the best happening this September...
Daft Punk Orchestra
Invisible Wind Factory, Sat 8th Sep, 7.30pm
It’s something of a trend these days to see classic 90s acts reimagined in the guise of the full orchestra (see also: Ready to Die - An Orchestral Rendition of Biggie on the 22nd September at the O2 Academy) but perhaps most popular of this new breed of events is Daft Punk Orchestra. It's exactly what it sounds like: a sixteen-piece orchestra Give Life Back To Music by reworking the music of the world's best electro-funk act into a sweeping symphonic experience.
Wooden Shjips
Invisible Wind Factory, Fri 14th Sep, 7pm
No, that’s not a typo. Wooden Shjips are a psych-rock act based out of San Francisco whose knack for cultivating a minimalist, drone-like sound have secured them a place amongst the world's most exciting experimental bands. Fans of Suicide, the Velvet Underground and Spacemen 3: this is your home; your freaky-deaky, outer-space, weird-ass home. Don’t worry if it all sounds a tad too out there for you, either – their most recent release, V., included some of their most laid-back and accessible songs to date.
Kansas Smitty’s House Band
Hawarden Estate, Fri 14th-Sun 16th Sep, 7pm
Ask anybody who knows anything about London's jazz scene and one name will always pop up: Kansas Smitty's House Band. Known for their bar and venue of the same name in Hackney, Kansas Smitty's have progressed from their humble roots to become a favourite of the London underground scene and a staple act at practically every UK festival worth attending. Expect a wild, unpredictable set led by an impeccably charismatic group and some of the best jazz jams to come out of this millennium. Kansas Smitty’s are headlining the Good Life Experience at the Hawarden Estate on the weekend of the 14th September.
Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club
Camp and Furnace, Sat 15th Sep, 9pm
6Music stalwart and icon of classic British comedy Craig Charles returns to Camp and Furnace with his legendary Funk and Soul Club. Fans of his radio show will know what to expect - a night's worth of groove courtesy of some of the genres' best acts, helmed by one of the most charismatic DJs currently working. If you’re totally over the thump-thump bass of Liverpool’s more generic club nights, this should be the perfect antidote. Just make sure to dress sparkly.
Pale Waves
O2 Academy, Mon 24th Sep, 7pm
Pale Waves (main image) are an indie goth-pop band founded a few years ago in Manchester. They're basically just what you'd want to see from a contemporary goth-pop act, too: a dreamy, Cocteau-esque wall of sound, heart-breaking melodies and lyrical themes as well as a visual style which brings together the best of the androgyny of the mid-‘80s (hello, Prince; hi, Madonna) and the goth movement of the early ‘00s. Since their debut in 2017, they've gone on to win a slew of listeners' polls - and their debut album My Mind Makes Noises, due for release on the 14th Sep, is just as sure to win hearts and minds across the music world.
The Bluetones
Arts Club, Sat 29th Sep, 6.30pm
Formed in 1993, The Bluetones name may not have quite the same heft as some of their Britpop colleagues, but that's not to say they haven't enjoyed their fair share of success. Thirteen of their songs have entered the Top 40 while three of their albums have charted in the UK Top 10. And while 2018 might not exactly be their heyday (true for any Britpop band, to be fair) their current tour should provide a suitable blast from the past for anyone looking to spend a night reliving one of the best decades in British music history.
Kyle Falconer
EBGBS, Fri 7th Sep, 7pm
Best known as frontman of The View, Kyle Falconer released his debut solo album No Thank You (the reason The View themselves are on hiatus) earlier this summer. Now he's touring his own music around the UK, complete with a stop at EBGBS on Seel Street. Bring your love of indie rock'n'roll and your best Scottish accent.
