Culture Diary Liverpool: Christmas & New Year 2015
What’s hot this holiday season? Our pick of the best December and January listings (traditional and alternative) that Liverpool has to offer…
Monday 21 Dec — Now Open: The Whitechapel Centre’s Flagship Store @ 28 Allerton Road, Liverpool
Designed by art collective QUAD and in a great shopping area, Whitechapel’s first foray into retail, Open Door, means you can buy your stocking fillers from a charity dedicated to helping the homeless. And what’s more important at this time of year?
Christmas Double Bill: Home Alone (1990) And Elf (2003) 6-10.15pm @ Camp and Furnace, Liverpool – FREE
Let the familiar antics of Macaulay Culkin and Will Ferrell lull you into your Christmass wekk — free screenings with optional add-ons of turkey pizza, mince pies, hot choc and rum spiked Cider.
Tuesday 22 Dec – Hard To Be A God (Trudno byt bogom) (2013) 6pm @ FACT, Liverpool — £10.50-7.50
Descried as a ‘A monumental work from a monumental talent’ by Little White Lies, this is the last, multi-award-winning film from legendary Russian auteur Aleksei German — released by his wife and son soon after his death, and one which was 15 years in the making. Following a group of scientists who discover an alien society trapped in a medieval era, who unwittingly become gods in the face of their observations.
Wednesday 23 Dec – Happy Brassmas Brass Quintet @ Liverpool Philharmonic Hall — £8
Sing-a-long alert! Starring musicians from the brass section of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, expect carols, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.
Thursday 24 Dec – It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) @ Picturehouse Cinemas Nationwide
Officially part of our Christmas ritual now, watching Frank Capra’s “genuine American classic” (Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian) is guaranteed to make you laugh, weep and at times, tense as hell. It’s Christmas, the snow is falling, and James Stewart’s protagonist is considering suicide; an unflinchingly portrayal of a man destroyed by a cruel, capitalist world, transformed by Capra’s message of friendship mattering more than material gain.
Saturday 26 Dec– Craig Charles’ Funk And Soul Club Boxing Day Blow Out 8pm-2am @ Camp and Furnace, Liverpool — £20 OTD (Limited)
Sharing a passion for rare and supper popular soul and funk, actor, BBC 6 Music DJ and record collector extraordinaire Craig Charles returns to Liverpool for what is expected to be a corker of a night out.
PICK OF THE HOLIDAY: Thursday 31 Dec — Escape to Planet Kronos @ The Kazimier, Liverpool — £47.50
The final party from The Kazimier before it departs Wolstenholme Square forever… needless to say, we’ll miss one of Liverpool’s best music and performance venues. No doubt we’ll see more of the team with their hotly-anticipated, touring Invisible Wind Factory show in 2016 (exciting); but for now, say goodbye in true surreal, extraterrestrial Kaz fashion.
NYE Meal & Party 6pm Til Late @ Buyers Club, Liverpool
One of 2015′s loveliest new venues, choose to spend your NYE in their restaurant with a six course meal; in the bar, with food served until 8pm; or at their free party in the Upstairs Club for all guests.
Friday 1 Jan 2016 — Area 10 NYD Party 10pm-4am @ Arts Club, Liverpool — £20
Presented by Circus, expect deep house and dance from Catz ‘N Dogz, producer and DJ Shadow Child (aka Simon Neale), North-West success story Bontan (usually seen supported by Pete Tong, Annie Mac and Carl Cox, no less) and more.
Saturday 2 Jan 2016 — Poppies Workshops With Artist Laura Pullig 10am-4pm @ Reid Room, St Georges Hall, Liverpool
Loved the Weeping Window installation at St George’s Hall? Make your own — more tech advanced — sculptures with Metal Culture artist-in-residence Laura Pullig. You’ll make illuminated flowers with e-textiles, which can be made to respond to touch, wind or other stimuli — no experience necessary.
Laura Robertson
