Lost weekend: Sept 5-8, 2014

The dram busters
NOTHING bad can have happened, otherwise those malt evangelists The Whisky Lounge wouldn't have come back to Liverpool.

But here they are bringing a new sort of spirituality to the Catholic Cathedral crypt this Saturday, their fourth trip, in an unstoppable quest to "Turn Everyone onto Whisky" by ‘Bringing Whisky to the People’.

The Liverpool Whisky Festival 2014 features around 100 whiskies and offers a journey through the whisky landscape, from the traditional and much-loved Scottish single malts, to the innovative and eclectic whiskey producers of the U.S, Japan and India. 

The event promises to be a vibrant and invigorating experience for all those keen to explore and discover why whisky/whiskey truly is “The Water of Life”.

Tickets include access to sample all ‘On the Counter’ drams at no further cost, a Glencairn whisky tasting glass, a festival programme and two, white ‘under the counter dram’ tokens, all for just £30. Half-session tickets are just £20.

Organiser Eddie Ludlow said:  "This is our fourth festival in Liverpool and we are delighted that it has become a 'must-attend’ for the industry and the whisky-drinking public. It is one of our favourite events because of the atmosphere generated by the fantastic people of Liverpool and the good folk of the whisky industry.

Tickets, £20 to the festival are available through www.thewhiskylounge.com

*Liverpool Whisky Festival, Saturday September 6, 2014, Lutyens Crypt, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral,12pm-5pm

GP on call
FANS of Gilles Peterson and/or Brazilian music are in for a treats galore this Saturday. An exclusive screening of a film about both and a Q&A with the man himself, to follow

Musician and producer Peterson recently journeyed to Rio and assembled cast of local musicians - collectively named ‘Sonzeira’ - to put together THE guide to Brazilian music for the discerning music lover. The record ‘Brasil - Bam Bam Bam’ is an incredible journey through the different flavours of authentic Brazilian music culture, from its majestic heritage to its super-dynamic present.

In keeping with the spirit of this unique and daring album, BOSH - the award-winning in-house production arm of ad agency, Mother London - captured Gilles’ trip. Their resident director and Brazilophile Charlie Inman, teamed up with resident Rio De Janeiro film director Ben Holman, of Beija films, to co-direct and cover every element of Gilles trip. It was a wild journey deep into the favelas, through the world of Samba, and even introducing Gilles to some of the new emerging talent in Brazilian music.

Creating a colourful itinerary of people, places and events that passionately represents the real side of Brazilian culture and music: beyond the typical football and Copacabana clichés, the resulting film shows both the music and the cultural journey that Gilles took during his time in Rio.

‘Bam Bam Bam: The Story of Sonzeira’, 2014, 75 mins + Q&A, Picturehouse at FACT, Wood Street, Saturday September 6, 6.30pm. £10.80 inc fees, here