Issue 99 / May 2019

PREVIEWS
GIG
Kikagaku Moyo
District – 24/05
Kikagaku Moyo
Japan’s pre-eminent psych rock juggernaut KIKAGAKU
MOYO return to the city for the first time since their star
turn at PZYK two years ago. A jewel in the crown of
Amsterdam-based, Asian underground-focused label
Guruguru Brain, the quintet innovatively meld folk rock,
krautrock and Eastern influences to create a compulsive
strain of modern psychedelia. While their fourth album
House In The Tall Grass is a masterpiece of the psych
diaspora, their latest LP Massana Temples further
enhanced the band’s reputation upon its warmly received
drop last year. The date of this gig should be tattooed on
the back of the hand of any self-respecting psych fan.
GIG
Kojaque
Arts Club – 03/05
Dublin rap sensation KOJAQUE makes his debut appearance in
Liverpool as part of his spring UK and Ireland tour. The fast-rising
Irish rapper has recently been nominated for a Choice Music Prize
in Ireland for his Deli Daydreams mixtape, a highly celebrated
project based around a week in the life of a deli worker. No
wonder Kojaque made it onto NME’s list of essential artists for
2019; with his bold new track Flu Shot the young artist shows us
the breadth of his talents as he explores the genres of both pop
and hip hop as well as co-directing its surreal music video.
Kojaque
THEATRE
Heart Of Darkness
The Playhouse – 01-04/05
Reimagined for contemporary audiences via Francis Ford Coppola’s
cinematic classic Apocalypse Now, Joseph Conrad’s turn-of-thecentury
tale bears revisiting. While Coppola transposed the action to
war-torn Vietnam, the Kurtz of this Andrew Quick and Pete Brooks
production is found in modern day Europe. The story of lies and greed
emanating from a dark heart that can be found in anyone is timely in
the current climate and is treated to a multi-layered production at the
Playhouse this month. Part animated graphic novel, part live action;
the Imitating The Dog production will be a visual feast as well as a
thought-provoking ode to our times.
CONVERSATION
Matthew Syed
St. George’s Hall – 22/05
Journalist and broadcaster MATTHEW SYED is one of the world’s leading
thinkers in the field of high performance and cultural change. Across
three best-selling books on the science of high performance, the former
English table tennis number one has developed an impressive set of
theories and arguments that look at the inside story of how success
really happens – and how we cannot grow unless we are prepared to
learn from our mistakes. Syed’s talk is part of a series of events held
throughout 2019 by the St George’s Hall Charitable Trust, whose aim is
to protect the Grade I listed building for generations to come. Tickets for
this event are available through TicketQuarter.
Viagra Boys
GIG
Viagra Boys
Shipping Forecast – 22/05
After the successful release of Swedish punk band VIAGRA BOYS’ first studio
album Street Worms last year, the six-piece received praise from critics all across
the globe. Their one-of-a-kind sound has been appreciated by a wide range of
music scenes from punk to hip hop, experimental electronic music and even jazz.
Frontman Sebastian “Sebbe” Murphy has even been compared to the likes of
Iggy Pop due to his wild and energetic stage presence and fearsome lyrics, which
have seen stages packed from their sold-out London dates to Reading and Leeds
Festivals. With support from Brighton newcomers SQUID, an unapologetically
manic night out is guaranteed.
FESTIVAL
Nina Kraviz @ Baltic Weekender
Hinterlands – 31/05
Siberian techno titan NINA KRAVIZ’s starring role in the opening concert for this year’s Baltic
Weekender is a sign of things to come for the fast rising event. Fresh from unveiling a jawdropping
new AV set at Coachella, Kraviz touches down at Hinterlands to cut the ribbon on
what will be pulsating two days down in the Baltic, the latest stop in the Russian producer’s
whirlwind tour of global dancefloor dominance (Kraviz performed at 35 festivals in 2018,
more than any other artist). Elsewhere across the Weekender’s two nights of partying,
GEORGE FITZGERALD, MARIBOU STATE (both DJ sets), JIMOTHY LACOSTE, SKINNY
PELEMBE, IMOGEN and dozens more will ensure that the dancefloors remain permanently
populated. Constellations, New Bird Street Warehouse, Hangar34, District and Brick Street
are the other venues sharing in the wildness – you’d be wild to miss it.
Nina Kraviz
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