Box office: theatkinson.co.uk 01704 533 333 (Booking fees apply) The Atkinson Lord Street Southport PR8 1DB Free Entry The Triumph of Art 10 October – 12 December 2020 Image: The Triumph of Art, Nicolas Pierre Loir (1624–1679). Atkinson Art Gallery Collection. Celebrating the restoration of a painting given to The Atkinson in the late 19th century and featuring highlights from our fine art collection.
New Music + Creative Culture Liverpool <strong>Issue</strong> <strong>111</strong> / <strong>November</strong> 2020 bidolito.co.uk Second Floor The Merchant 40-42 Slater Street Liverpool L1 4BX Founding Editor Craig G Pennington - info@bidolito.co.uk Founding Editor Christopher Torpey - chris@bidolito.co.uk Executive Publisher Sam Turner - sam@bidolito.co.uk Editor Elliot Ryder - elliot@bidolito.co.uk Editorial Assistant Olivia Yoxall - olivia@bidolito.co.uk Design Mark McKellier - mark@andmark.co.uk Branding Thom Isom - hello@thomisom.com Proofreader Nathaniel Cramp Cover Photography Marieke Macklon Words Elliot Ryder, Olivia Yoxall, Sam Turner, Mary Olive, Lily Blakeney-Edwards, Adam Noor, Emma Varley, Alice Langan, Orla Foster, Will Whitby, Sophie Shields, Richard Lewis, Anthony Wilde, Matthew Berks, Cath Holland, Leah Binns, Jennie Macaulay, Stuart Miles O’Hara, Dan Cullinan. Photography, Illustration and Layout Mark McKellier, Marieke Macklon, Esmée Finlay, Michael Kirkham, Nicholas Daly, Callum Mills, Anthony Wilde, Mark Lycett, Broadie, John Johnson, Robin Clewley, Hannah Blackman-Kurz. EDITORIAL When society opened back up in early July, the door to freedom was only ever left ajar. It was much closer to swinging back shut than it was ever wide open. Not all of us were able to squeeze through the gap and sample a taste of the before times. For those who it was safe enough to do so, the life that greeted us on the other side was familiar. However, there were glaring omissions that added to its temporary feel. No live music, sport spectators, theatre. A weariness of being around older family members and members of the public persisted. For all the thrill of being back out, seeing people, places being open, there was always a niggling doubt in the back of the mind. In March, it took a matter of weeks to transition from blasé, ‹keep calm and carry on’ to being one of the worst affected nations of a raging global pandemic. By July, it certainly didn’t feel like the fires were fully stamped out as we opened up. It only takes an ember to ignite the fire. Two months into our new future of mask wearing, signing in and sanitising, the door was already creaking shut. Moving into tier three of new lockdown restrictions was met with a mixture of preparedness and fear. I’d done the three-and-ahalf-month stretch of lockdown already. Reluctantly, I told myself, you know what to expect. But there was a greater fear than the first time. In March, the blanket closure nationwide came with a partial safety net. It would keep the majority ticking over. Plans were then shifted until Autumn. Budgets reshuffled. We waited. The autumn months were where we’d turn a new leaf in a year deprived of so much. That new leaf didn’t have time to turn. Too quickly it was subjected to winter. It withered. Subjected to FEATURES “Time to put on our masks and be heroes of our own” increased social distance, the safety net all but gone. Budgets decimated. All plans cancelled. So much of what so many have worked for hangs in the balance. It was fitting that, as Liverpool City Region ventured alone into lockdown, a caped crusader would appear. Liverpool was in need of a hero. Someone to look to, to turn the tide, to make the people believe in good triumphing over evil. The stunt double of Bruce Wayne straddling the Liver Birds wasn’t who we needed. But it at least set off this train of thought. The first wave was defined by its heroes. We rightly stood up and took notice of Liverpool’s essential workers. They’re just as important now. And yes, they include our musicians, artists, community facilitators. We now have a greater understanding of what is an essential worker and the plaudits they deserve. Being out on our own is less lonesome in a city full of heroes. Those who don’t glow under the Hollywood spotlight, but are no less deserving. History will note how we’ve been here before. The stagnation of the 1980s, the decline of Liverpool as a port. Once again, we’re out on our own. Those triumphs in the past, the city reinventing itself in the face of decimation, didn’t happen overnight. It took the city taking ownership of the situation and doing it its own way. We will need more help. Our politicians/representatives and community leaders will fight for this so livelihoods aren’t destroyed. We’ll be together, as close as we can be, but there’s no doubting the winter will be hard. Time to put on our masks and be heroes of our own. ! Elliot Ryder / @elliot_ryder Editor Gotham? (Liam Jones / @liamjonesphotie) Distribution Our magazine is distributed as far as possible through pedal power, courtesy of our Bido Bikes. If you would like to find out more, please email sam@bidolito.co.uk. Advertise If you are interested in adverting in Bido Lito!, or finding out about how we can work together, please email sam@bidolito.co.uk. Bido Lito! is a living wage employer. All our staff are paid at least the living wage. All contributions to Bido Lito! come from our city’s amazing creative community. If you would like to join the fold visit bidolito.co.uk/contribute. We are contributing one per cent of our advertising revenue to WeForest.org to fund afforestation projects around the world. This more than offsets our carbon footprint and ensures there is less CO2 in the atmosphere as a result of our existence. 11 / COURTING Nobody knows what’s going on, but Courting are here to help you make sense of the madness. 16 / PLAYING IN In our third report with University Of Liverpool, we look at responses relating to releasing music and self-promotion during the months of lockdown. 18 / TABITHA JADE Orla Foster finds the singer-songwriter doing things her own way as she looks to leave her mark on contemporary RnB and Afrobeat. 20 / RED RUM CLUB Following the release of their second album, Sophie Shields braces the heights of the Sefton Sierra with its hometown heroes. REGULARS 22 / PAST PRESENT FUTURE The Real Thing and MiC LOWRY sit down to discuss their experiences of black representation in Liverpool music. . 26 / CHAMPION ONE, CHAMPION ALL Ahead of a new exhibition opening in <strong>November</strong>, Anthony Wilde sheds light on his ability to capture moments of change and transition. 30 / FOX FISHER Homotopia’s artists in residence for 2020 provides an insight to their personal and artistic journey, along with what to expect at this year’s festival. 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. 8 / NEWS 10 / HOT PINK! 26 / SPOTLIGHT 30 / PREVIEWS 32 / REVIEWS 38 / ARTISTIC LICENCE 39 / FINAL SAY
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