poppedmusic

Threshold

28-30th March, The Baltic Triangle Liverpool

Threshold Festival is Liverpool’s true grass roots music and arts festival and it was my first year here. Not just that but my first foray into the wonderful world that is The Baltic Triangle – a place that by name at least, didn’t exist last time I lived here. In four years this area has seen some great creative industries move into the area and bring with them some great eateries and venues – which provided the set and the scene for this year’s Threshold Fest.

I confess I didn’t make it for the whole weekend but what I did see I enjoyed so much I want it to happen every weekend. I think the nicest thing I saw all weekend, well over heard, was one of the organisers talking to someone excitedly “people came to our festival!” he exclaimed. Didn’t they just. Every venue I went into was busy. We couldn’t even get into The Bakehouse, where outside we met a worried drummer perplexed about how he was going to fit his kit inside in 3 hours time but excited to know the venue would be thriving.

Elsewhere you couldn’t get a seat to sit and eat for love nor money but it didn’t matter the show must go on and so it did. Having seen the brilliant Alex Hulme delight with an acoustic set in The Baltic Social we soon headed off to catch the wonderfully crazy sounds of The Harlequin Dynamite Marching Band – truly wonderfully brilliant and a must see if you want to party.

It’s not often you come across a band with two lead singers, neither of whom are playing any instruments. Little Grace could be found doing this with their soul inspired sounds in Unit 51. Marrying indie rock with soul and a sprinkling of swag. Not something I would have thought I would like but they sounded really on point and so I did enjoy!  Later that evening The Mono LPs thrilled a busy Baltic Social with their full on set until their drummers pedal fell apart, even then they managed a raucous finale.

Sunday was more of a chilled out affair and a bit quieter what with it being Mothers Day. Still people tuned out and checked out what was going on in all of the 6 venues. I chilled out and enjoyed the humorous yet brilliantly sung set by Matthew Breen and then fell for the acoustic charms of  Me and Deboe (who played one of the best covers of Seven Nation Army I’ve ever heard).

The sun was also out this weekend and bales of hay could be found outside Unit 51, adorned with people clutching beers and laughing at children running around setting off fake explosions (as you do). It really couldn’t have gone any better. I know the organisers were pleased but so were the bands, the artists and the visitors. Bring on the next one.