Liverpool to host up and coming music acts: the review

As The Tab reported last week, up and coming acoustic singer songwriter Alex Louise and quirky pop band Unsung Lilly were due to perform at Lomax on the 15 January as part of the ‘Liverpool Music Takeover’.

We therefore thought it would only be polite to come along to see Alex Louise launch her new single ‘Undercover’ while Unsung Lilly promoted their current EP, ‘Time Changes Minds’ as well as unveiling their new single ‘Happy’.

Still very much an unknown quantity among most music lovers, Alex Louise describes herself as combining ‘a raw acoustic sound with catchy pop melodies’, taking her influences from the likes of Carol King, Beverly Craven and Adele.

On 15 January, Alex Louise took part in the ‘Liverpool Music Takeover’, performing during the day at Liverpool ONE, The Bluecoat Café as well as being interviewed by BBC Radio Merseyside. When asked about her time in Liverpool so far… ‘Amazing! Everyone is so friendly! I love how Liverpool combines the old with the new. I’m a big fan of the architecture’

In the evening Alex Louise, along with her guitarist and co-writer Sam Bosanquet, played the intimate Cumberland Street venue of Lomax as part of the promotion for her new single, ‘Undercover’.

As well as performing many of her own songs such as ‘You Don’t See Me’ and ‘Undercover’, Alex Louise also played covers such as the Nancy Sinatra classic, ‘These Boots Are Made for Walkin’’

Alex Louise tells us an EP can be expected very soon while an album is in the pipeline later in the year. The music video for ‘Undercover’ can now be found on and her single is out on iTunes on the 18 February.

Borne out of a small time covers band, Sera, Wayne, Allan & Russ were given their first big break when they were asked to play to 300,000 people in Hyde Park, as part of the Royal Wedding celebrations in 2011. In 2012 the quartet became a five-piece with the recruitment of vocalist and keyboard player Frankie and thus creating Unsung Lilly.

Since then, the band have played the prestigious charity event ‘London Rocks’, a full set on the Second Stage at Guilifest as well as a 25,000 strong crowd at Belfast Pride.

For those who are not yet familiar with Unsung Lilly, they have be described as ‘a modern day Fleetwood Mac’ taking the musicality of Maroon 5, the atmospheric vibe of John Mayer, combined with the quirkiness of Paloma Faith. A lethal concoction I can assure you.

This week Unsung Lilly has come to Liverpool as part of their promotional tour for single, ‘Happy’, having played to audiences in Liverpool ONE, The Bluecoat Café as well as Liverpool’s ‘The Cake Shop’. When asked what they thought of Liverpool… ‘Cold! But good. It’s been fun! Everyone’s so friendly. It’s amazing.’

Later in the evening, Unsung Lilly played at Lomax to an intimate yet enthusiastic crowd as part of the promotion for their forthcoming single, ‘Happy’.

Their set combined songs written by the band such as ‘Everything I Try’, and a fast paced rocky number, ‘Let Us Be’ as well as finishing with a cover of the cult favourite, ‘Roxanne’ by the Police.

Vocals from Sera and Frankie produced powerful and soulful harmonies while still managing to maintain the raw live sound, which the band pride themselves on, producing a truly memorable set.

When talking of their long term plans, ‘Get the album out! Tour and see what happens after that. We’ve got plans to go over to America at some point too where someday we hope to make it!’

Unsung Lilly’s single, ‘Happy’ is out on the 21 January and their EP, ‘Times Change Minds’ can currently be found on iTunes.

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