Question: What do a full English, a questionable development project, and more than a dash of madness have in common?
Hands up those who said a breakfast meeting of Joe Anderson's inner cabinet to discuss Peel Holdings' “vision” for Liverpool’s north docks.
Nice try, but you're miles out. Two hundred and 12 miles, actually.
Set in London, the latest work from Liverpool TV, theatre and radio writer Mark Davies Markham is this week's Saturday Drama on Radio 4.
Starring three members of Madness, above, it shares its title – The Liberty of Norton Folgate – with the band's 2009 album.
Gazi and Sitara have been serving full English breakfasts at the Union Café on London's Norton Folgate for 30 years. But now the council have served a demolition order, and it looks as if their son's girlfriend's father is behind the plan to develop the site.
But no one is going to let the Union go without a fight, and soon Gazi and Sitara find that they have the support of pop royalty in the form of Suggs, Chas Smith and Mike Barson from Madness.
If you want to avoid the footy, The Liberty of Norton Folgate is on for an hour from 2.30pm on Saturday. Radio 4.
Parlour Flames
Bone to pick
THE new band featuring ex-Oasis guitarist Bonehead is described by its hosts this weekend as “hotly tipped”.
This could be because they are called Parlour Flames, or it could be because they are destined for great things.
You can judge for yourself when Parlour Flames play Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre on Saturday night. The band comprises Bonehead plus Vinny Peculiar, who describes himself on Twitter as a proto-brutalist singer songwriter and poet.
He and Vinny have written and produced the Parlour Flames album – which features Badly Drawn Boy and Samson & Delilah among others – and is due for release this month.
Bonehead says it features “lots of trumpets” and that the lyrics “are genius...”. if he does say so himself.
Doors open 7pm. Tickets: £12.50 Advance, £15.00 on the door. Box Office: 0844 888 4411* or online here
Another blurry night at Mello Mello, yeah....
Carnival time
“Bark out thunder. Roar out lightning. Kick over tombstones. Wake up the Dead.
"Here be a callout for all wildmen, big chiefs, baby dolls, grand marshalls, carnival kings and queens, maskers, zulus, spyboys, maids, horn-blowers, bead-throwers, exposers, soul, jazz, rock and rollers.
The Mello Mello Mardi Gras struts into town in its carnival finery to bring you a night of merriment, mischief, mayhem and make-believe. Come and let the good times roll all night long, they say.
All the money raised is going to the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund, a grassroots charity doing their best to get the working musicians and community bands of N'awlins back on their feet in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
With live music from Edgar Summertyme Jones, the Wizards of Twiddly, Speakeasy Bootleg Brass Band, Harlequin Dynamite Marching Band and special New Orleans DJ Sets from Edgar Jones The Mellodigy, it's a fiver you won't regret parting with.
There will also be Cajun and New Orleans food and cocktails, and the
crowning of the carnival king and queen, so don't go looking like a dickhead, make an effort.
*Mello Mello Big Fat Mardi Gras, Saturday Feb 9, 8am-3am. Tickets, £5 on the bar or from here
