Barry Briercliffe at the Lomax. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. July 16th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ****

The Lomax is the stuff of legends in Liverpool, an old iconic venue that has hosted within its old walls some great gigs and some splendid musicians. When Barry Briercliffe steps on the stage, the venue which is steeped in history, is able to add yet another fine musician to the ranks, another Liverpool son who knows his stuff and isn’t afraid to dress for the occasion.

Barry is without doubt one of the good guys of Liverpool, not just a decent musician but someone who gave his time to help a favoured charity early this year with a night of music. It is easy to see why he gets nods of approval when he comes on stage, no matter where.

It may have been a short set by Mr. Briercliffe, but it was most certainly sweet and well regarded by those who watched him perform as part of a Sunday night of music at the Lomax.

Barry played half a dozen songs and was more than ably assisted by the tremendous Bryn Williams on bass, every step of the way. With songs of his own such as the Keep My Dreams Alive and one of the best songs of the last ten years by a Liverpool performer in Alive mixed with a very good version of Stevie Wonder’s Signed, Sealed and Delivered gave the crowd reasons to smile and tap their feet for the entire duration of the set.

Acknowledging that his last song of the evening possibly would split the crowd, Barry went headlong into a version of Robbie Williams’ Let Me Entertain You. Looking round the crowd that was more on the side of anything but that side of the pop debate, it was impossible to see anyone making even the merest hint of disaffection or even a grumble of complaint against the song. Even for the old rockers in the corner it looked as though the spin Barry put on the song had won them over.

Never dull, always good for a night of music and a genial guy, Barry rarely puts a foot wrong on stage and once again proved his point of being one of the top musicians of his own generation in Liverpool.

Ian D. Hall