Words: Will Carr, Photos: Adrian Wharton
Summer brings all kinds of things, longer nights, warmer, more disgusting commutes and this year so many heat waves that you’d think God had finally gotten sick of us and wanted us all to burn. But seeing as how this year we’ve been given the opportunity to enjoy more than the seven minutes of summer the government usually allows us, there’s never been a better time to enjoy some live music at the Penny Lane Weekender.
What’s the Penny Lane Weekender? I hear you ask. In case you’ve been hiding under a rock and roll rock, the Weekender is a festival or sorts. And if you’re like me and the word “festival” conjures up images of desperate eighteen year olds fighting over the last can of Stella in a collapsing muddy tent, then fear not. Far from the medieval nightmare of most music festivals, the Penny Lane Weekender takes the more dignified approach and is held at four separate bars in the Penny Lane area of Liverpool.
Created in 2023, it was founded by the punk band, Pleasure Island, hoping to provide an
opportunity for local talent to strut their musical stuff in front of a welcoming, non-threatening, if slightly pissed, audience. Originally intended to be a one-off gig, the idea caught fire and not a city to let a good idea go to waste, the Penny Lane Weekender is going strong in its fourth year.
The event itself is spread over three days, from the 7th to the 9th August, and can be enjoyed at four locations, Leaf, Penny Lane Wine Bar, Fogherty’s and Neon Jamon, each venue showcasing three to five acts each night.
Despite the conviction that the independent spirit that brought the Weekender to life is still going strong, with Liverpool’s reputation as a hub of independent music on the line, I was curious to see how this grassroots festival might have changed over the years and if they were still fighting the good fight and supporting new acts or if the whole thing had drowned in the bland, ever-deepening, cultural mainstream.
As the shadows lengthened outside, I found myself in Fogherty’s, just in time for Mangara to take the stage at the lamentably early time of seven o’clock. This unenviable slot meant that the venue was nearly empty. Mangara, oozing professionalism, took this in their stride and played on. The more intimate atmosphere made the whole thing feel like an informal backstage rehearsal with a band that was cool to chat to.
I couldn’t help but find their enthusiasm contagious. With their uptempo beats, effortless charisma and twangy guitars, at times they sounded not unlike a female-led Dire Straits. But when the singer opened her mouth, that was when Mangara really shone like a collapsing sun. Like a Scouse Shirley Bassey, her rendition of “Why do You Cry?” blew the doors off the building. It was an amazing start to the weekend.
The second act of the night was Colourwash, or as I dubbed them, “The Legion of Hunks.” The three-piece is an alternative rock band, known for their post-punk, shoegaze sound. They were so handsome, I hated them on sight. Glad that I left the Mrs at home, they began their first song and, to my horror, were fantastic. Slamming drums paired with haunting guitars and electronica created an epic, emotional atmosphere. The almost spoken word lyrics were deeply soulful and gave the act a greater depth.
Rarely does a band have the ability to pull you away from the world, so that when the song ends you look around and realise you weren’t in an arena at all but a small pub function room. Colourwash have heaps of flair but their songs were hit and miss with me. However when they hit, they hit hard.
Syder were on next, no doubt named after something they’re not allowed to drink yet. It’s been a while since I’ve felt so ancient. I didn’t check IDs but when they took the stage I couldn’t help feel they looked about nine. However old they are, they’re way too young to have so much talent. The sheer audacity to be half my age and be my favourites of the night, disgraceful. I’ve got things in my fridge older than them!
Taking us by surprise with wailing guitar solos and catchy riffs, this surging punk band were playing like aging pros. It was not only refreshing to see such young talent, but also, after seeing a sea of bands attempting to reinvent the musical wheel this year, it was good to see Syder playing with a raw, no-nonsense, rock-focused style, reminiscent of Catfish and The Bottlemen. It was a shame I couldn’t see the end, but I needed to flee to the next venue. Although, as I rushed off, I doubted this would be the last time I’d hear from them.
Three from Above were my last choice of the night and I wasn’t ready for what they had in store. After hearing they were coming back together after several years apart, I was initially worried that this garage-punk trio, wouldn’t be up to the task. Surely they’d be out of practice, I thought. How wrong I was.
As Tom’s and Harris’ powerful voices tore the small cafe to shreds and took no prisoners, it was obvious that in their time apart they hadn’t missed a beat. Beckoning the audience to come closer, the stage soon became a sweat-drenched platform full of churning guitar riffs and punchy melodies.
Engaging in banter between songs, they made the show look effortless as they switched between drinking, commanding the room with their easy charm and jamming on their instruments with a fiendish glee.
The first night had been splendid, although I suspected that this was just the beginning.
Links:
Mangara: FACEBOOK
Colourwash: INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK
Syder: INSTAGRAM