Kadence performing in Bootle, July 2016. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.  

‘Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Bootle rarely gets an alarm call in such an usual manner, the town founded on its proximity to the Mersey, older than Liverpool and in its day, several generations back, one of the most prosperous towns reduced in essence to one that doesn’t get the funding, nor the good vibes, that it so richly deserves. Sandwiched between the cosmopolitan serenity of its neighbours, Liverpool and Southport, the arts in the town doesn’t really get the exposure it needs, and yet like the introduction of a new memory into the world of beige, the first sound of a heavy guitar pounding against the buffeting world of past glories, the town was given its wake up call.

The sound of a guitar clearing its throat, the noise of the swish of a curtain and the stunned silence of the notorious Bootle resident, the gang of seagulls, disturbed enough to fly off and away from their normal vantage point on St. Andrews Church, all this was made possible by the first growl of rock and passionate anger in the band Kadence. As the windows surrounding the Johnson’s Pavilion inched out further, as the noticeable shadow by the visible windows became more apparent, the truth of giving a section of society something to aspire to, or even just to offer them a chance to leave their houses for a short while, was grasped and enjoyed.

Kadence took the crowd on a short journey, but nonetheless an important one, beyond the thud of Saturday traffic and the resonance of the historic docks and powered with grace and drive through a set that consisted of Disintegration, Sold The World, a very intriguing cover of Stevie Wonder’s Superstition and the respectful buoyancy of Catch You Again. It was a set that marked out the aim of the day concerning the Battle of the Bands but one that also suggested with honour that this was no battle, every band was going to win this particular day because the organisers had made Bootle win.

It was a result that started to draw more people in, give the populace a reason to smile and they will come and by the time Kadence had got the day of electric bounty off to a fine start, that smile was evident and full of forgotten pride and joy.

Ian D. Hall