The jazz resort
The Southport International Jazz Festival boasts to be renowned for bringing some of the world’s best musicians to the town, bringing Southport to life with some of the great music of international standard.
Southport Jazz Festival By day, head to the Town Hall Gardens where you’ll find a whole host of free music, after this you can cross to Wayfarers Arcade for a spot of shopping whilst once again enjoying free music, or take a coffee break or a light lunch at one of our many cafes and restaurants in the town hosting a massive programme of artists day-by-day.
And when the night draws in the entertainment does not stop…. dim the lights and head to one of the many venues; enjoy a meal while soaking up the music, dance into the early hours at the late night jazz club. Either way you will find it hard to go home, and not just because you had one too many drinks at the venue.
Southport Jazz Festival, All Weekend, Lord Street and various venues, Southport, free day event. See the line-up here
Name That Tune with Elvis Costello
Costello the crooner
Elvis Costello is back with his Revolver Tour which arrives in Liverpool this Sunday following an acclaimed run of U.S. dates during the Spring and Summer of 2011.
Rolling Stone said the show combined, 'The kitsch of a game show and lounge act:....when he wasn't singing or slamming at his guitars, Costello worked the stage like a burlesque-club MC, cracking wise at a mile a minute and spinning a dandy's walking stick.'
A far cry from his Eric's Days with the Attractions – as is the ticket price.
Indeed: 'Given the gig’s by-pant-seat, chimerical format (whatever that is) Costello’s consummate ability to entertain, his like-wine-aged croon and the band’s master musicianship in meeting him at every step, this was by far one of the most engaging and outright fun shows…' – Nashville Scene
The Imposters are Steve Nieve (keyboards), Pete Thomas (drums) Davey Faragher (bass)
*Elvis Costello and The Imposters, Liverpool Empire, Sunday May 13, 7.30pm. Tickets from £43. Telephone Booking: 0844 871 3017.
Frost in May - hope not
It might be heading to be the coldest May for 100 years, but the wisterias and night scented stocks are manfully struggling on.
As the annual Secret Gardens of Oxton 2012 illustrates this on Sunday.
Another exciting day is planned, with 25 splendid gardens to visit, art, entertainment, children's activities, food and drink, plant stalls and much more. The charities who will be working with the society this year to stage the event and to share in the proceeds are: The Viking Centre and Youth Club, the Birkenhead Woodcraft Folk and the Tam O'Shanter Urban Farm Trust.
Tickets (including a detailed programme of the event) are now available. They cost £6 in advance and £8 on the day (under-18s free) and can be purchased from the following locations: In advance and on the day: from shops in Oxton Village - The Drawing Room, Christchurch Road; The Quandary Dress Agency, Rose Mount; Oxton Village Books, Christchurch Roadand only in advance at: Lingham’s, 248 Telegraph Road, Heswall, CH60 7SG and Dobbies Garden World Liverpool, Speke Hall Avenue, Speke, L24 1UX
*Secret Gardens of Oxton 2012, Sunday May 13, from 10.00am to 5.00pm.
