Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Penny Lane is a place with very obvious links to Liverpool music and as The Dovedale Social celebrates its first birthday, that bond is being kept alive and well.
The band chosen to headline the night, Liverpool’s own Married to the Sea, were a perfect choice for the event. Their brand of radio friendly, indie-pop fits nicely into the relaxed environment The Dovedale emanates. Whilst they may not necessarily be the “rowdy” act which they describe themselves as, what they do they do very well. The members swap instruments at various points throughout the set, front-man Sam cracks jokes and all in all a very relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere filters from the stage down into the audience, who tonight are very decent in number.
It is this laidback, welcoming atmosphere on which the night has made its name. Opened exactly one year ago by local heavyweights The Tea Street Band, the Dovedale Social has subsequently played host to many different emerging local talents (Sankofa, Sugarmen and Basement Tapes to name but a few).
Married to the Sea had been preceded by Silent Sleep, another Liverpool act primarily consisting of one man, Christopher McIntosh. McIntosh, who regularly invites other musicians to perform with him would go onto perform with Married to the Sea himself, was joined rather fittingly by event organiser, John Gibbons; to whom enormous credit must go. Much like Married to the Sea, McIntosh performs a highly engaging set. The influence of Billy Bragg is clearly significant on McIntosh and with Gibbons, whose trumpet adds an unusual but very welcome element, the pair performs a set very worthy of the protest singer-songwriter.
First up had been David Jaggs of The Raggamuffins. Jaggs strummed his way through a highly charismatic, lively solo set. A special mention must go to one particular track, which Jaggs describes as being about a “recently deceased former prime minister.”
The night would be a very fitting tribute to The Dovedale Social and its organiser. The work John Gibbons has done for local acts is really commendable; even giving their demos airtime on a Friday evening football show he features on for CityTalk. The diverse nature of the local acts given headline slots, no matter of how small or large their following may be, is again something that the Social should really be given credit for. With growing attention from local media and a batch of regular custom, one hopes and suspects that this will not be the only birthday The Dovedale Social will celebrate.
Will McIntosh