Barry Briercliffe at Studio 2. Picture by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 5th 2012.

In the area where some of the great albums of the last decade or so have been recorded, argued over, intense discussions over what musical note goes where, it’s always a relative oasis of calm when a night of music goes on, surrounded by the wooden panelling, pictures and awards and the sense of history.

Barry Briercliffe and Studio 2 sounds like a marriage made in heaven, add in the likes of the excellent Jo Bywater, Jessicas Ghost, Rae Clarke and Eddie Cooney, and that marriage is as close to a night of acoustic musical heaven as is near possible to experience.

The night was planned and organised by Barry Briercliffe and was one of the rare nights out where you knew the money was going, every single penny raised, to Cancer Research. It is a charity that is very close to Barry’s heart and as the musician was heard to say towards the end of the evening “that it is a disease that touches everyone.”

All the acts that Mr. Briercliffe that were asked to attend and play a few tracks in their own special and brilliant way, made the evening very special and it was a privilege for all that attended the gig were left in no doubt that music is very much alive in Liverpool but also no matter what, the people of Merseyside are some of the most generous when giving their time and hard earned money, especially when it comes to some of the most inspiring charities.

Yorkshire born but very much part of the Liverpool scene after her years at Paul McCartney’s LIPA, Jo Bywater, kick started the evening off with a couple of tracks that have seen her encouraged to go on many radio shows and show off her burgeoning talent to as many people as possible. It’s no accident that Jo is so highly rated as her voice is somewhere between incredible and sensational. Her guitar playing leaves hearts broken and as she proved during renditions of Scratch the Surface, The Wave and Disclaimer. The audience that had parted happily with their five pound notes were left in no doubt that Jo is a major star in the making.

One of the surprises on the night was the appearance of Jessicas Ghost. This is a band that has made a lot of the right noises in Liverpool and beyond and for many in the area this was their first glimpse of the band. By the end of the night the name was flashing across the ether as those that attended remarked in e-mails, social networks sites and by good old fashioned phone calls on what they had witnessed. To be fair also to the band, they were a person down but they played as if they were in front of thousands at the nearby Echo Arena. The band opened their part of the night with the song He Said/She Said. This phenomenal song resonated all through Studio 2.

It should be said, it’s impossible to witness every band that comes along, especially in a city that prides itself of being the most musical in the U.K., however there are some bands that need to be enjoyed, savoured and talked about with much pride. As the band played their set, which had a fantastic version of Chasing Rainbows within it, it was suddenly easy to see that Jessicas Ghost should be one of these bands.

Other bands, singers, musicians came and went, each receiving the applause and cheers for more that they thoroughly deserved. Rae Clarke was as impressive as he was musically imposing, Eddie Cooney was a revelation and his hauntingly beautiful  I think I’ll Fly South (Kerri’s Song) moved many to tears in the studio.

The final part of the evening was reserved for Barry and his good friend from Genoa in Italy, Adraino Arena, to play some tracks of their own choosing and send the audience in a fairly packed Studio home incredibly happy but also with the knowledge of what the night was all in aid of. The pair, who had been playing a mini-tour around the area over the preceding few days, kicked off with a Coldplay track before going into one of Barry’s own compositions, the incredible Home. It is always a pleasure to hear Barry’s vocal and in Adriano stunning guitar work, his voice reached new heights of accessibility and if it was possible, enjoyment. The pair worked well together on the Bee-Gee’s Stayin’ Alive and the audience were near silenced into memory of what was with a faithful and touching homage to George Harrison with the track Here Comes the Sun.

This was a night that will be remembered for all the right reasons. It is always a pleasure to see the city give something back and on nights like this, it’s more than just important, this is what Liverpool is all about.

Ian D. Hall