Issue 81 / September 2017

CONTENTS
New Music + Creative Culture
Liverpool
Issue 81 / September 2017
bidolito.co.uk
Second Floor
The Merchant
40-42 Slater Street
Liverpool L1 4BX
Editor
Christopher Torpey - chris@bidolito.co.uk
Editor-In-Chief / Publisher
Craig G Pennington - info@bidolito.co.uk
Media Partnerships and Projects Manager
Sam Turner - sam@bidolito.co.uk
Assistant Editor
Bethany Garrett - editorial@bidolito.co.uk
Reviews Editor
Jonny Winship - live@bidolito.co.uk
Design
Mark McKellier - mark@andmark.co.uk
Branding
Thom Isom - hello@thomisom.com
Interns
Cassie Hyde, Georgia Turnbull
Cover Photography
Robin Clewley - robinclewley.co.uk
Words
Christopher Torpey, Matthew Hogarth, Richard Lewis,
Stuart Miles O’Hara, Cassie Hyde, Tom Bell, Roy
Molloy, Bethany Garrett, Sam Turner, Georgia Turnbull,
Bowie Joseph Pennington, P Lee, John McGovern, Glyn
Akroyd, Kieran Donnachie, Michael Sutton, Frankie
Muslin, Alison McGovern, Bryan Biggs.
Photography, Illustration and Layout
Mark McKellier, Robin Clewley, John Latham, Benfm,
Michael Sheerin, Keith Ainsworth, Tamsin Drury,
Marcelo Krasilcic, Michelle Roberts, Glyn Akroyd,
Andrew AB, Joe Ely, Jody Hartley.
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Merseyside and the North West.
middledistance.org.uk
The views expressed in Bido Lito! are those of the
respective contributors and do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of the magazine, its staff or the
publishers. All rights reserved.
9 / EDITORIAL
Editor Christopher Torpey believes we must also
take more care over our cultural legacy, or we’ll
be doomed to repeats of the Hope And Glory
fiasco.
10 / NEWS
The latest announcements, releases and nonfake
news from around the region.
12 / QUEEN ZEE AND
THE SASSTONES
Bringing together a perfect storm of sass,
glam, punk and drag, QUEEN ZEE AND THE
SASSTONES are the most essential band in
Merseyside.
16 / LIVERPOOL PSYCH
FEST 2017
The annual gathering of the international neopsychedelic
community is as eclectic as ever –
Roy Molloy picks out some of the key threads.
20 / PAUL ROONEY
Listening to PAUL ROONEY is anything but a
Futile Exorcise, as Bryan Biggs finds out.
22 / JO MARY
Merseyside’s premier sleaze ‘n’ roll merchants
prepare to double drop a pair of EPs that will
make you think twice about nudity’s role in live
music.
24 / THE MAGNETIC FIELDS
A motor-flight through life with Stephin Merritt,
the man behind one of the most enlightening
songbooks in New York’s recent musical history.
28 / DIFFERENT TRAINS 1947
Artists from a range of disciplines come
together to commemorate 70 years of Indian
independence, using Steve Reich’s Different
Trains as their starting point.
32 / TOP JOE
It’s conference season, so who better to talk us
through the teachings of the Dalai Lama than
the Liverpool Echo Comedian Of The Year.
34 / TUBULAR BRASS
From global smash hit to 28-piece brass band:
how Tubular Bells went from horror film to
colliery brass band, via a trip to Cassiopeia.
38 / SPOTLIGHT
We take a closer look at some artists who’ve
been impressing us of late: SPQR, Nutribe and
Venusian.
40 / THE JESUS AND
MARY CHAIN
A decade after they reformed, brothers Jim and
William Reid are back making music together.
Laurence Thompson caught up with Jim to find
out how they coped with the tensions of being
back in the studio.
41 / PREVIEWS
Looking ahead to a busy September in
Merseyside’s creative and cultural community.
44 / REVIEWS
Brian Wilson, Regina Spektor, Kendal Calling
and Deer Shed Festival reviewed by our team of
intrepid reporters.
54 / THE FINAL SAY
Labour MP for Wirral South Alison McGovern
muses on the state of equality in local
government, arguing that we can all take
inspiration from events like Pride when it comes
to breaking down the invisible barriers of
tradition.