Culture Diary w/c 08-10-12
Monday – Sleepy Hollow 8.40pm @ FACT
The final film in FACT’s The World of Tim Burton season, Sleepy Hollow is one of the macabre director’s quiet triumphs, sometimes forgotten amidst the likes of Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice. The Washington Irving short story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, was perfect material for a Burton adaptation: set in a Dutch US settlement terrorised by the spectre of the headless horseman, it is left to rational New York police constable Ichabod Crane (played with some aplomb by Johnny Depp), to get to the bottom of things.
Tuesday – Shut Up And Play The Hits 9pm @ The Shipping Forecast £5
After a decade and three albums, LCD soundsystem’s James Murphy decided it was time to call it a day, to go out on top while the respect remained and the songs still stand for themselves. Shut Up and Play the Hits (a direct quote from Arcade Fire’s Win Butler) is a chance for fans to take a ringside seat to the final 48 hours in the band’s life. A great chance to catch a great film if you happened to miss FACT’s short run.
Wednesday – Pins 8pm @ The Shipping Forecast £6
All girl quartet Pins have just signed to Bella Union and are a band on the cusp of greatness. Yes, the double-edged sword of hype has its cross-hairs trained on the next target. On the evidence of new EP LUVU4LYF though, this Manchester foursome have as much to offer as they have little to fear. Supports Bird (who have recently released their own new EP in Shadows) and Wet Mouth are none too shabby, either. Lots of bang for your six bucks here.
Thursday – Statement Haircut 7.30pm @ Studio 2 Parr Street £3 Cancelled
Despite what (we like to think) is a caustic, snarkily pointed name, Statement Haircut are, musically at least, resolutely upbeat. With flashes of tropicalia, synths and more references than you can shake a stick at – it’s nice to have a listen and to try and pick them out – the locally sourced duo exude fun. Support comes in the form of Carousel, Fonetiks and So Sexual.
Friday – Double Denim 11pm @ The Zanzibar £3
In many ways, these are strange times for Liverpool, its club scene in-particular. The past few months have seen the loss of the perennially dependable Le Bateau, but also the rebirth of Magnet, the recent addiction of Hi-Fi and now this Friday sees the launch of Double Denim at The Zanzibar. Declaring themselves to be “tearing up the formula” of a typical indie night, they’re well worth keeping an eye on. As they say “we’re trying to reinvent the indie disco. we hope you join us”. It would be churlish not to.
Saturday – The Invisible 8pm @ Studio 2 Parr Street £7
In a week already boasting a healthy offering of gigs and other music orientated stuff, there’s still room to squeeze in London trio, The Invisible. Mercury nominated in 2009 and signed to indie label of fine repute Ninja Tune, the band’s self-titled debut was critically acclaimed. Latest offering, Rispah found them consolidating their position.
Sunday – The Man Who Knew Too Much 6pm @ FACT
The beauty of the BFI’s The Genius of Hitchcock strand (which comes to an end this month) is not only in the opportunity to reassess some of the auteur’s greatest works but also to reacquaint oneself with earlier, less lauded films. The Man Who Knew Too Much is one such film. Released in 1934 (Hitch would re-shoot it with a new cast in 1956), The Man Who Knew Too Much is a typically tense and atmospheric tale of kidnap and espionage.
Biennial Diary Picks
Saturday and Sunday – Mobile Art School 10am-6pm @ LJMU Copperas Hill Building FREE
How can Art Schools begin to work with students, artists and communities to re-think and produce new ways of making, working and living? LJMU join forces with The Autonomy Project and Liverpool Biennial and invite you to come along, try and find some answers, and even plan for change. Themed as ‘The Future of the Art School in Society’, this event is for anyone with an interest in how art seeps into our lives at every level. Speakers include curator and writer Charles Esche (Director Van Abbemuseum), writer Alistair Hudson (Frieze Art Fair) and Islington Mill Studios (Salford).
