Ciaran's Threshold 2013 Diary//Saturday at the Festival.

Having been otherwise occupied on Friday my first experience of Threshold Festival came early on Saturday afternoon. With Camp and Furnace already getting busy early on, the festival quickly kicked into life as plenty of artists took to their various stages.

My day started with being the solitary audience member for Make Your Mark, a combination of art and dance. The level of grace and creativity shown be the five artists was very impressive and it was easy to relax and enjoy the individualist styles of the participants.

Following this I made a trip to Elevator, via the Unit 51 cafe, to catch up with some of the acoustic acts. I arrived just in time to catch some of Ronan Boyle’s set, his dulcet tones echoing around the room of smiling faces. He was swiftly followed by the immensely talented Caroline England who’s charming personality endeared her immediately to the crowd. A relaxing acoustic sound combined with a powerful voice could only be bettered with the addition of a mouth trumpet solo in a song proclaiming Caroline’s pride in being ginger. After Caroline, Gary Edward Jones took to the stage and also managed to impress the crowd with his mouth trumpet. A talented singer and guitarist, Gary had a strong presence surrounding him on stage and his upbeat demeanour made it very easy for everyone to get into the atmosphere.

To go and get a sense of the other acts offered by the festival I got down to The Picket for a couple of hours to experience a very different side of the festival compared to that on show at Elevator. I walked in to hear the passionate, local poetry of Gerry Potter. The raw emotion dripped from Gerry’s lips as he talked about the city that he loved, contemplating stereotypes and all aspects of Liverpool culture. Following Gerry was the brilliantly entertaining and off-the-wall T.E.Yates. After laying out his army of worker hamsters, Yates took to the stage accompanied by a trumpet and accordion to tell poetic stories with his very unique brand of humour and art thrown in between. The smile was a permanent fixture across his face as he presented various drawings to the crowd, including a series of dog faces followed by the punchline drawing of a catfish. I didn’t get it either but the attitude of Yates still made me laugh out loud.

Now I wasn’t sure what to expect when I heard that the next act would be a burlesque dancer but Mimi Amore had a wonderful rapport with the crowd as she slowly revealed more of herself. Certainly not one for the younger audience but the humorous way in which Mimi presented herself was very entertaining for all those present. To come across as sexy and hilarious at the same time is a real challenge, one that seemed much easier for Mimi than it would for most. She was followed on the stage by one of the appearances of Impropriety, the improv pairing that would present many of the acts throughout the day. With their abstract humour, as well as the odd groan-able pun, the guys came across really well and made the very most of their environment, utilising audience member’s heads during a fight between one of T.E.Yates’ worker hamsters and a 'pegfish’ (a peg...).

By the time this bit of improv came to an end, Felix Hagan and The Family were ready to take to the stage. Felix is a natural performer and his stage presence and glowing grin made it easy for all who were in the increasingly busy Picket to get into the lively music provided. With a solid band, including two members who had stepped in a handful of days earlier, there was almost a storytelling element to the performance as Felix’s style came across like that of a true musical theatre veteran. Cameos from Louis Barabbas and Mimi Amore helped show the friendly and enjoyable nature of the set, Louis really making himself at home on the stage.

I took a brief trip back through the Camp and Furnace to see what was going on, and to get some sustenance, before heading over to Siren to catch a bit of the Fringe Festival. The act I got to see was Sally Pepper, a University of Liverpool student who performs with a gritty punk attitude on an acoustic guitar. Sally had a good amount of patter with the minimal yet attentive crowd and her powerful voice flooded the room and captured the imagination of all involved. 

My final trip of the day took me to see Mashemon (above) in the Gold Room at Camp and Furnace for their audio-visual spectacular. As the music started so too did the screen behind them that accompanied the music, a live four piece band with an additional soundtrack. Lead singer Ronny had some playful banter with a particular individual who seemed very ‘merry’ and was really getting into the music. The sheer volume and power of the band was enough to impress the crowd and the intricacies of the sound added to the aura of the group.

Not a bad way to get my first taste of the festival, already very much looking forward to everything Sunday has to offer! The atmosphere surrounding the festival is so positive and the friendly and helpful nature of everyone involved made the whole day so much more enjoyable. Here’s hoping for more of the same!

Words by Ciaran Steward. Image by Scattershot Photography. 

Threshold Festival Diary//Emma Cruce's Day One

ESCAPISM was the aim and all at Threshold last night certainly felt they were in another world. In every corner of Camp and Furnace lurked unusual and thought provoking pieces of art, dazzling spectacles, circus folk hanging from the rafters and some amazing tunes.

One of the highlights of the night was the incredible feats performed by Ioisis. Their performers twisted and turned and climbed to the heights using metal hoops and simple hanging loops of ribbon. Many of the gymnastics performed would be worthy of a yoga master on the ground. However Ioisis performers did all that and more just hanging by a thread. As the artists climbed and wrapped the ribbon around their limbs they got higher and higher. Then plummeting dramatically making the crowd gasp, they bowed suspended by just one limb. The last Ioisis performance was a duo who flipped and turned, defying gravity. Careful grasping of each others' hands was the only thing between them and the concrete floor below.

After watching the performers the crowds were ready for some tunes. In Camp and Furnace, ME and Deboe got feet tapping and the Tone Puppets pulled everyone's dancing strings. When Ottersgear appeared with their brand of folk music revelry, the spirit of a ceilidh descended and we all escaped for a magic moment. It makes you wonder what other delights Threshold will deliver today.

Words by Emma Cruces, Photography by Paul Owen Creative

Fire Starters Kick Off Threshold Festival!

Just one more sleep until the Threshold Festival begins in a carnival atmosphere at Camp and Furnace tomorrow night. One of the most exciting dimensions of the festival is the performance element on offer to add colour and spice. One I personally cannot wait to see is Liverpool's own Bring The Fire Project. The choreographed fire show takes theatrics to a whole new level using fire to create swirling patterns against a canvas of darkness. The group use stage craft and even levitation to create unforgettable moments and don't stop until they have taken your breath away. Bring the Fire Project are at Camp and Furnace at the aptly named Circus Camp to a launch a festival with a difference from 7pm!

Interview with Thom Morecroft

I managed to catch up with Thom Morecroft in Leaf to discuss his appearance this weekend at Threshold. He arrived suitably late but made up for his poor time-keeping with a constant smile and brilliant attitude.

Are you looking forward to playing at Threshold?

Oh definitely, it’s going to be wonderful.

Will you be playing with a band?

Yeah, it’s a five-piece band; we’ve got a bass player now, that’s a new thing, he’s a nice man called Adam. There’s a female singer called Elle Schillereff, the percussionist is Chris Cousineau, and a guitarist called James Baxter.

So do you and Elle share the vocals?

Well, kind of, i’d say that we share them so (shrugs).

Are you going to be playing songs from your new album or from other places?

Probably all the stuff of the new album or just new songs. I don’t really play songs of the old album, it was a long time ago, there’s some stuff on it I quite like but I just don’t play anything off it. I might play ‘Oh Rocko’...

Do you feel like you’ve moved on a bit since then?

I don’t know about that, I think we probably just haven’t got around to playing anything off it because I didn’t know [the band] then.

I hear you’ll be keeping busy across the weekend.

Yeah, i’m doing a 25 minute set for my set and then the Paul Du Noyer thing, so i’m on at 16.55 in the Camp and Furnace on the Paper Garden stage and then Paul Du Noyer is having a book session thing, he wrote for Q and NME and was apparently one of the founding co-editors of Mojo magazine. Actually, I don’t know why I said apparently, it’s not like I don’t believe him. He wrote this book about the Liverpool music scene and he has a list of 100 songs and i’m playing 3 of them apparently for that, well I am, there’s nothing apparently about it.

You’re playing some saxophone as well?

I am, for the Terry Gray band who I think are on sometime after half twelve, at half one I think (The stage time is actually half twelve-CS). All on the Sunday.

Are you planning to make the most of the Friday and Saturday while you have the time?

Definitely, i’m going to make a big point of watching Silent Cities, I mean, I won’t bring banners with me or anything. Robert Vincent, Natalie McCool, there are so many people to see, Chris and Kaya are lovely people, the guys who run the festival. I played last year at the Cafe Bar in the Nordic church quite late on the Saturday night as a 2-piece, it was quite fun.

You’re glad to be asked back then?

Oh yes, i’m so happy they asked me back, I was dancing round the room. The sample of acts that Chris and Kaya have is incredible, they take everything from the up-and-coming alongside people who are more ‘hidden nuggets’, people like Tom George.

Thom Morecroft will be performing on Sunday at Camp and Furnace on the Paper Garden stage from 16.55. He also runs an acoustic night on Tuesdays at Schmooze and can be found at www.facebook.com/thommorecroftmusic and on Twitter: @thommorecroft.

Promoter Focus// The Roost

BILLED as 62 per cent art and 76 per cent music (one per cent miscellaneous),
The Roost add up to an experience not to be missed. The sum of their parts is Michael Stevenson and Josephine Scales. Michael is a musician and founder member of the band Statement Haircut and Josephine is a graphic artist. Together and sometimes with the help of others they create a blend
of both worlds in their stunning events.

Back for the third year at Threshold, they are determined to satisfy this latest
encore with a line up of treats.

Over Friday and Saturday, The Roost will be nested at Camp and Furnace's upstairs Gold Room and filling the whopping 76ft long space with the following line up:

Triphazard
Statement Haircut
So Sexual
Muto Leo
Pixels
Phonetics
Mashemon
beLOey
Orian
M O A T S
Gastric Band
Speed Pets
The Tin Foil Hat Brigade
Antoinette
DJ Karpia

Promoter Focus// Sleep Less Records

Sleep Less Records will be playing at The Picket on New Bird Street on Saturday 9th March. They will bring their unique drum n bass and Dubstep to the Threshold Festival. They have announced an exciting lineup for you to enjoy.

The lineup is as follows:

Kumarchi

Dan Danko

KSO

Erbman

Buddah

William Breakspear

DJ DS

Michael Seary

With MC’s – SAS – Nicky Talent and 2K

Sleep Less Records are a Drum N Bass and Dubstep record Label based in Liverpool. They have been established since 2012 by MC SAS from Viper Records. They bring to the world some of the freshest sounds that the Drum N Bass music scene has to offer. This is surely going to be an amazing night not to be missed.

More on Sleep Less Records can be found on https://www.facebook.com/SleepLessRecordsUK

Threshold 2012 Time Slip// Day Two

Last years festival still holds many memories and as we count down to 2013's extravaganza we take a look back at the second day of 2012's festival:

Upon my arrival at the ever buzzing Camp and Furnace I noticed a multitude of craft stalls filling the lobby and main stage area and in a room as (literally) dotty as it is a craft fair was the perfect addition to a festival as diverse as Threshold. In fact the lobby felt distinctly like a very comfortable birds nest! 

But being caffeine minded my attention was headed towards the Bold Street Coffee Espresso bar and following my nose down the alphabet corridor passing (once again) men on stilts, various musicians and their gear being shifted (the gear, that is!) and a multitude of persons wearing animal hats I soon found myself in the Blade Factory next to the Liverpool Live Stage where coffee was being brewed as Chelcee Grimes prepared for her populous crowd of fans whom she thanked profusely at every moment. This was perhaps the most overt teen idol worship I have seen at Threshold and if we were all like that to our favorite musicians they would be very rich people indeed! 

I caught a portion of her set before heading up to the galleries to admire the work on display at HeadSpace's gallery and on the way I met a group seeking the Baywatch Factor and wondering just what that is I asked them: 'We just wanted to cheer everyone up at Threshold because the weathers been miserable lately so we wanted to brighten up everyone's mood...' said Leanne McGregor of the group. Nice, huh!? With so many people at Threshold seeking to brighten up other lives with cuddles, beach ball, music or what have they it's no wonder there are so many smiling faces here. 

The first floor gallery from HeadSpace also made me smile with some choice work impressing. Highlights include Dr Victor Freakinstyle's 'Scarface', Karen Henley's 'Having Friends For Dinner' Anna Di Scala's 'Nude Drawing 3' and Steve Phillip's 'Fear of Love' to name but a very few.All of these plus the previously mentioned  installation from Robyn Woolston and a fake fire to warm yourself on make for some must see art! 

Other highlights of the day include watching artists rehearse in the cuddle corner; leaving a subtle message of love on the wall (Can you find it? A very special prize to anyone who can...) and counting how many animal hats I came across. And did anyone else notice the elephant in the corner?! But one particular highlight was a visit to the Nordic Church where an acoustic performance from Miles Carrington caught my ears as well as the popular vintage gaming in the Crypt with many gathering to enjoy a quiet moment with their console. But the chapel was home to some theatrical performances including one from local steam punk multimedia performance group Dismembered Empire that had enough tension and hidden meaning to make an enjoyable experience all round. 

After heading back to the warmth of the appropriately named Camp and Furnace I saw various bands on my rounds but those that caught my eye the most were the ever energetic, completely unique Jazz Hands, whose primary aims were obviously to rock us awake with their drum heavy sound mixing with guitar and sax. If any band managed to be louder and brighter than Jazz Hands then they are truly super human. On the opposite end of the sonic scale was Imploding Inevitable Festival's Geoghagen Jackson, with her sumptuous guitar and vocal music keeping the audience firmly were they were to listen to her music. One final highlight was the magical combination of the cello and voice that make Tibi and her Cello a popular live prospect wherever she goes. With some new songs added to her set the battle between the opposite galleries thrash metal rhythms and the bands set was admirably won. 

A lot in one day then but remember that there is still one more day to go... 

Words By Sebastian Gahan.

Originally published via Threshold Blog 2012 and Seba Rashii Culture Zine

Time Slips: Threshold 2012 Day One

Just to get you excited for the marathon of fun that is coming we though we'd show you just how much we enjoyed the first day of last years Threshold Festival. Seriously, it was funky! It was also cool, inspiring, thrilling and any other positive adjective you could choose to use as well...

The festival experience is one that can vary immensely from person to person, site to site or venue to venue but whereas last years festival was the biggest indoor one in Europe - No mean feat - this years is seeking to be an experience like no other for quite a while. (At least until the next one!)

Indeed the unmarked but very identifiable Camp and Furnace served as the buzzing hub. From the decorated lamp posts outside draped with knit ware to the brilliantly hand scrawled ‘Threshold Launch this way’ sign by the easily missed but easily opened door it was a hive of activity that typifies the Threshold values of pushing yourself to the very edge of your abilities. 

If you were looking for something it was probably there and very attainable. You wanted art? It was on the first floor with another thought provoking installation from Liverpool Art Prize nominee Robyn Woolston and HeadSpace’s visual art gallery. You wanted music? It was in every corner, down every corridor and probably in the food and drink too. And if you know the old saying about music food and love then let them play on I say! 

There was much more on offer too with the much recommended Threshold beverage wetting many lips as they passed through crowds illuminated by strobe lights, dancing men on the walls, stilt walkers, some punning porta-loos, impromptu dancing and if you were feeling down for any reason at all you could always visit the cuddle corner for the gift that is said to be ‘like a boomerang’ because you get it back right away. Look out for a short interview with these Happy Hugger’s later as well as reports from the rest of the festival. 

But getting down to the nitty gritty, here are my highlights of the evening. First up the atmosphere in both Camp and Furnace and Elevator Bar was captivating, with the same familiar buzz from last years event present and correct. Music wise there was much to sample from and in between diving down the A to Z corridor (as I have christened it) to meet people or check out the artists I was impressed by a lot of artists but the best were Rumjig, with their reggae and funk inspired acoustic pop and if you didn’t get a copy of the CD they offered during the set you really should kick yourself!

Another impressive prospect on the Under The Influence stage was Science of the Lamps with their almost chamber music sound drawing you under a magic vail of  true class. With a new single out you need to check out the band immediately, but finish reading this first though as there’s more to come…

Moving up the stairs to the first floor we have Robyn Woolston’s impressive installation of plastic forks in a delicately balanced wave-like formation themed around wastage in the world and it is truly an epic installation with all components of the plastic forks packaging from the box to the plastic wrapping finding their way into the display. A truly wonderful piece of art and there will be more to come on all things Threshold very soon…

Sebastian Gahan, Editor. 

Originally published at Seba Rashii Culture Zine and Threshold 2012 Blog.