Issue 95 / Dec18/Jan19

The Kazimier Winter Ball: New Rituals
GIG
Kazimier Winter Ball:
New Rituals
Invisible Wind Factory – 14/12
It will have been three years, come New Year, since the flaming K
resting atop The Kazimier was snuffed out. Burning only in memory,
the suffocation of redevelopment across the Wolstenholme Square
complex didn’t dim all creative lights within the city. In mind and
spirit, the former venue now curates its elaborate live theatre and
music from within the cavernous Invisible Wind Factory. The venue has
hosted a range of gigs and performances in its fledgling life, but this
Christmas, the venue will breathe life into a new annual concept: The
Kazimier Winter Ball.
As to be expected from The Kazimier, this won’t be your standard
black tie and bubbly upon arrival type ball. This Winter Ball is as
much a social experiment as it is a combination of club night and live
performance. Titled New Rituals, the night has been curated with the
senses in mind, and available means in which they can be stimulated.
An amalgamation of imagination and emotive provocation will see
the Invisible Wind Factory reach into the ether in attempt to draw out
a new kind of ceremonial happening. If previous exploration of the
cerebral cavities led by The Kaz are anything to go by, astronomical
attire may be necessary – although the evening’s dress code does state:
Iridescent.
Music on the night will be provided by two sets of familiar faces
with STEALING SHEEP and DOGSHOW on hand to soundtrack this
festive journey into the unknown. Both collections of resident artists
will perform conceptual live shows, and break beyond the mould of
regimented live performances. Stealing Sheep reprise their Wow
Machine show for the night, a theatrical-musical-dance-art spectacular
in tribute to the electronic music pioneer Delia Derbyshire. The last
time Dogshow played IWF, they were hoisted 30 feet into the air on a
revolving stage. Who knows what’s going to happen this time.
To ensure of full transcendence to the ritualised landscape hidden
in the Kazimier’s mind, a smattering of DJs sets will carry the festivities
right through to the early hours. Attendees will be asked to “Write your
Ritual, Create your Custom, Make your Myth.” Sounds better than the
office party you’ve got lined up, right?
thekazimier.co.uk
The Orielles
GIGS
Merseyside Music
Advent Calendar
Various venues – 01/12-15/12
If all you want for Christmas is a run of shows from amazing local
musicians to save you from having to think about office parties and
too many sprouts, then you can thank the city’s promoters for solving
all your problems. December is a full-on feast.
PIZZAGIRL gets things started on 1st December, with a headline
show down in Sound’s basement. PG has spent the past few months
wowing audiences across the country, and his retro, synth-pop start
is in the ascendancy. THE ORIELLES have also been making plenty of
waves outside of Liverpool, primarily off the back of their disco-surf opus
Silver Dollar Moment, released earlier this year. Catch the squad – now
a quartet – at Invisible Wind Factory on 7th December, as they return to
their spiritual home.
QUEEN ZEE give us a taste of what’s to come on their muchanticipated
debut LP with a premiere of the whole damn thing at 24
Kitchen Street on 13th December. It’s been a year of gigging and catching
the eye of Iggy Pop for the punk quartet, but next year will surely see
them assume complete domination as the whole world gets to hear them
in neat and tidy album format. Another of the city’s rising talents, THE
MYSTERINES, look to set to cap off an exciting breakthrough year as they
play their second headline show in 12 months. The Zanzibar hosts the
proto-garage rock trio on 15th December – it will be a lock-out, so don’t be
a wally left outside without a ticket and act quickly. THE FERNWEH also
celebrate the full release of their debut album in December (14th), with
Arts Club the place to catch them (and other Skeleton Key acolytes) as
they unfurl the thumping majesty of their gorgeous, self-titled record.
Grand Central Hall has the pleasure of playing host to two of the
region’s best songwriters within the space of three days. BILL RYDER-
JONES (13th) has been riding a wave of adulation since the release
of his latest sumptuous LP, Yawn – and rightly so. If Bill represents an
era-defining voice, then so too does MICK HEAD. Mick will always be
remembered for his peak career work with Shack and Pale Fountains, but
his latter-day renaissance (with The Red Elastic Band) has been just as
impressive. Catch him in the impressive surroundings of Grand Central
on 15th December – and thank yourself that we’re blessed with such an
abundant amount of high-class talent in these here parts. Something in
the water you say?
PREVIEWS 35