The Nagging Sense of Infancy

FREE LIAM MUSIC

2006-08-18T09:38:00.000+01:00

Hello. Apologies for lack of effort with the blog of late but I hope this will allow you all to forgive me. I have managed (with the assistance of Neil from liamfrost.net) to upload some of my oldest Liam demos which are now available FREE to you lovely lovely people. Follow the link below and you will find SEVEN Liam demos to dowload, enjoy and love. You now have:

She Painted Pics (2004)
Road Signs (2004)
Document (2004)
Paperboats (2004)
Into Your Arms (2004)
If Tonight (2005)
Try Try Try (2005)

http://liamfrost.net/multimedia/audio/demo/

See you at V!

Chris x

Current Confirmed Dates

2006-06-05T21:17:00.000+01:00

FOPP Manchester 5pm 09/06

Somerset House, London 13/07 (w/Elbow)

SWAP Festival, Manchester 16/07

Summer Sundae 11/08

Electric Picnic 1-3 Sept

Video Stills

2006-06-05T21:12:00.000+01:00

Found this awesome site with amazing pics from the Mourners shoot...check it out!

http://www.peterhill.net/4655/310872.html

High Voltage Interview

2006-05-26T16:53:00.000+01:00

This is the interview I did with Liam for the High Voltage fanzine (http://www.highvoltage.org.uk). Consider this a sneak preview as its not available anywhere else yet. Its from the day before the tour started (when the pics below were taken).

Liam Frost - Are they calling me a dick?

Liam Frost is Manchester’s worst-kept secret. People have been banging on about how great he is for months now. All this and he’s played no more than a handful of gigs outside of his home town and only has an extremely limited edition E.P. to his name. But much is expected of the man and his band as they embark on their first UK tour. What better time for HV to catch up for a chat about sounding like Coldplay, embracing cream trousers and the pressures of being just another singer-songwriter…

Deep in the bowels of a Manchester practice studio Liam Frost settles himself down on a battered old sofa, clears his throat and tugs the microphone a little closer. He seems remarkably relaxed for a man about to spend the next three weeks well and truly outside his comfort zone. So how’s he feeling about the tour?

“Excited about the tour. It’s what you do it for. It’s going to be really good. It’s the first headline dates. It’s more pressure than when we did the Fretwell tour because someone’s putting money behind us now. I’m a commodity. Its just going to be nice to road-test the new songs – I hate it when people say that! Something Blunt would say… I’ll just play new songs and see if people like them.”

Liam’s stock is certainly on the rise. High profile support slots with Stephen Fretwell and Elbow have led to much airplay for ‘She Painted Pictures’ and with it the expected pigeon-holing. As a result the next single ‘Mourners of St Pauls’ finds Liam about as far removed as possible from the folksy, poppy singer-songwriter that you might have been expecting. Was this a deliberate move?

“Straight away yeah. We wanted to point out what kind of songwriter I am. So that people weren’t misguided that it was just a straight-up singer-songwriter thing.”

But are you worried that you might be shooting yourself in the foot?

“It’s not a radio song. Next to Try Try Try it’s probably one of the two most important songs on the album to me because they’re both about big moments and stuff. But the label just thought of it as like a statement of intent single. I think the misconception after ‘She Painted Pictures’ was that I was just a singer-songwriter.”

Liam Frost is a clearly not in favour of following in the footsteps of the torrent of MOR singer-songwriters currently engulfing the music industry. ‘Mourners’ is a case in point. It’s an epic Arcade-Fire-esque tale about his father’s funeral that builds and builds over four minutes to a glorious crescendo. It’s a big sound. This may be a result of their new producer, one Danton Supple. If you don’t know him its worth mentioning that the last album he did was Coldplay’s ‘X&Y’. So what was that like?

“Danton was great. I was really frightened. We were choosing between him and someone else. Not that I don’t like Coldplay I just think that they’ve got a very mainstream sound. Instead of thinking Coldplay, Coldplay, Coldplay, I just listened to the records and sonically they’re just really good. You can hear everything. He’s obviously really good at what he does. And he’s a really nice guy. Mostly it’s down to relationships. If you get on with people – it’s the same with the band – you’re going to make good music together. We’re all really good friends and we’re making really good music.”

So all this time isn’t causing massive tensions in the band yet?

“Has anyone killed anyone yet? Not really. I know there were a couple of fraught moments when we were recording. Its not even things that people do… it’s more like just common courtesy. People forget when someone wakes everyone up at 3am being pissed and stupid and because I’m at the head of it all I’ve gotta just like…sort it out.”

So you see yourself as a father figure?

“No. More like a….Hitler. Dictator. Liam Frost and the Hired Hands. Not at all. We’re all friends but at the same time you’re their boss. But it feels like a band now.”

The band have certainly been spending a lot of time together. After recording the album it was on to another first – shooting the video for ‘Mourners’. It’s a very British video shot in what appears to be a shabby church hall. The ‘plot’ as it stands involves the band setting up for a wake. So what’s it all about?

“I got given five different treatments for it. And this was the best one that I saw. The topic of the song is obviously personal to me and the last thing we wanted to do was like that My Chemical Romance video with me at a funeral. We just wanted it to be bright. I don’t really understand what it’s about. I think the idea is of celebration rather than just grief.”

The celebration results in Liam leading the assembled masses in full ringmaster regalia. Did you choose the outfit?

“I didn’t feel too good about wearing cream trousers. I didn’t mind wearing the cream waistcoat but the cream trousers were something that I didn’t really grasp at first. I’ve embraced it.”

So what lies ahead for Liam and the band?

“Then the next single’s out after that and the album’s out in September-ish. Then a tour in September then another single. Then maybe a Christmas tour and another single. That’s quite far ahead. We could be platinum by Christmas or we could have sold four copies. Please buy the single so it goes into the Top 40 and I can go on Top of the Pops and molest Fearne Cotton.”

So the fame is kicking in now?

“I find it really difficult to grasp. I’m not pestered – just people looking and stuff. It’s that early paranoia. What are they saying? Are they calling me a dick?”

Next single ‘Mourners of St Pauls’ is released on 5th June.

http://www.liamfrost.co.uk

Practice Pics

2006-05-19T09:11:00.000+01:00

I was lucky enough to join the band for their final practice session before the start of the UK tour. They even let me take some pictures...but I wasn't allowed to look directly at them.

Summer Sundae

2006-05-18T11:58:00.000+01:00

Liam's first festival appearance can now be confirmed...

http://www.efestivals.co.uk/news/060518a.shtml

So there.

Sorry I wandered off...

2006-05-15T17:40:00.000+01:00

Apolgies for no updates of late but I've been without the old net for the best part of three weeks and am doing this from elsewhere. However, I do have exciting stuff happening soon on here. So, coming soon, we have:

Exclusive pre-tour practice sessions pictures.
Full interview with the Frosticle.
Review of Secret 'Milf Roast' pre-tour show at Star & Garter.

So look out.

Your Slowdown Family Needs You!

2006-04-13T17:52:00.000+01:00

I am spreading the word about getting helpers/street teamers for the Liam UK tour dates...

You get 2 guestlist places for the show in return for collecting email addresses and spreading postcards around the venues.

Also they're looking for helpers in Manchester and London to help with the great balloon display!! Much like the Water Rats valentines day show... if you were there. I wasn't. :(

If you want to get involved then e-mail one of the following:

naggingsense@hotmail.co.uk (me)

liam-frost@hotmail.com (not me)

Mourners of St Pauls

2006-04-12T14:25:00.000+01:00

The song is now available on the newly fixed and operational official website....just find your way to the 'music' section.

http://www.liamfrost.co.uk

News from the studio...

2006-04-06T23:37:00.000+01:00

Various bits of interesting news from a source 'close to the band'. I can tell you the following. The recording is going great and will finish tomorrow (7th April). Then two weeks of mixing. It is apparently sounding 'so big'. The album will have ten tracks (listings to follow shortly). It has no title yet and will be available for purchase in September.

The next single (and this is an exciting exclusive) will be Mourners of St Pauls and will be released on May 22nd. It will be backed by B-sides 'Into Your Arms' and 'A Fever and the Shifting'.

SXSW

2006-03-13T18:03:00.000Z

Calling any Americans who happen to read this and happen to live somewhere near Austin, Texas? And for everyone else who's interested?

Liam is playing at the South by SouthWest music festival this weekend. He is playing as part of an XFM Manchester night at Exodus at 302 E 6th Street at 10pm. And he's amongst Manchester friends. Full bill below:

8pm Polytechinc
9pm LoneLady
10pm Liam Frost
11pm The Longcut
12am Nine Black Alps
1am The Charlatans

Given the current American penchant for British singer-songwriters in America this may be well be a massive opportunity for Liam... As long as fame doesn't turn him into a total Blunt.

Tour update

2006-03-10T16:25:00.000Z

Straight from Liam. This is the full tour.

MAY
13 CARDIFF BARFLY
14 BIRMINGHAM BAR ACADEMY
15 NORWICH ARTS CENTRE
16 NORTHAMPTON SOUNDHAUS
17 NOTTINGHAM SOCIAL
19 BRISTOL LOUISIANA
20 BRIGHTON THE GREAT ESCAPE
21 SOUTHAMPTON JOINERS
22 LONDON SCALA
23 OXFORD ZODIAC
24 LEICESTER THE CHARLOTTE
25 SHEFFIELD FUZZ CLUB
26 LIVERPOOL BARFLY
30 EDINBURGH CABARET VOLTAIRE
31 GLASGOW KING TUTS JUNE
1 LEEDS ROCKET
2 MANCHESTER ACADEMY 2

There you have it. Live long and buy many tickets.

Tour news...

2006-03-10T00:02:00.000Z

I can currently confirm the following tour dates...

19/05/06 Bristol Louisiana
22/05/06 London Scala
24/05/06 Leicester Charlotte
02/06/06 Manchester Academy

I think there are more so watch this space. I have my tickets for Manchester!!

XFM

2006-02-22T16:42:00.000Z

You can listen to Liam's XFM session on their website:

http://www.xfm.co.uk/Article.asp?id=173007

It includes She Painted, If Tonight and Try Try Try.

Listen now before it disappears.

New Noise

2006-02-18T17:57:00.000Z

Interesting article uncovered whilst browsing around and about. Its unclear whether they end up liking Liam or not by the end... Also contains definitive list of Slowdown Family members (something that has been a mystery to me for some time).

Liam Frost By Alex Powles

Liam Frost arrives in the capital on the back of several years gigging around the forefront of Manchester’s music scene; since the age of 15 he’s been playing anywhere that’d let him play. Now at the ripe old age of 22, his name has become synonymous with gigs, playing the likes of Night and Day, The Star & Garter and the Bierkeller including cult nights such as Akoustic Anarky and Friends Of Mine
On the way, he's gained a solid, devoted fanbase and showa the sort of promise that has led other now-established male singer/songwriters to become stalwarts in the album charts, from the likes of David Gray to Badly Drawn Boy.
Garnering such praise as “the most talented young songwriter Manchester has produced for years" (Guy Garvey of Elbow), "the deepest breath of fresh air mixed with burning melancholy, Liam Frost is an unbelievable gem of new talent” (Music Week) and appearing in The Independent’s Recommended section, you could think that he’s already arrived on a wave of hype.
However now signed to Lavolta Records he’s just about to release his first single, ‘She Painted Pictures’, a beautifully upbeat love song using the bread and butter inspiration of reflecting on a break up. This song has the makings of solid chart hit for Frost. You can imagine it receiving the radio backing from the same stations that earlier paved the way for Stephen Fretwell (who he also supported for several shows).
His website offers a selection of four tracks, giving the listener the chance to sample the single before its release and get a feel for what he’s about, but sadly these tracks on their own lack a certain energy and really don’t tell the whole story.
You easily notice the influences ranging from Dylan to Bright Eyes (one track ‘Slow Slowly Slow’ sounding almost identical to BE's ‘First Day Of My Life’) but there’s a softness to them that doesn’t get across the depth of feeling which clearly goes into the lyrics.

With the web has been such a useful springboard for so many bands of the moment, you feel that this could hinder his development and exposure if his talent isn't translating to the masses at this early stage. But fear not; where Frost really comes to life is onstage, playing his tracks live with his band, The Slowdown Family.
The band have drifted together from various different bands around Manchester; the line-up is pretty new with Pete Marshall (mandolin), Sadie Baker (keyboards), Andrew Raven (guitar), Ben Perry (drums) and John Baines (bass) joining Frost. They combine to give a much more powerful accompaniment to Frost's clearly natural skill, giving the audience a dose of the angst that is burnt into his lyrics.
A stand-out track for this is ‘If Tonight We Could Only Sleep’, where Frost and Baker’s vocals give a sinister edge to this waltzing love song. His way with the audience is both wry and self-deprecating, establishing an instant rapport as he initiates the whole room into the Family with ease.
The single ‘She Painted Pictures’ is the obvious highlight from his set of songs but the slow-burning ‘If Tonight We Could Only Sleep’ and ‘The City Is At Standstill’ capture the audience through emotions instead of using the catchy love songs to scale the charts like another James Blunt. Frost certainly has a place in the current folk-rock mix, but let’s just hope he keeps up the live shows to really showcase his geniune talent.

http://www.new-noise.net

More photos...

2006-02-17T16:52:00.000Z

More from last night. Think I have a future in gig photography?

Night and Day 16/02/06

2006-02-17T16:27:00.000Z

OK. Needless to say - Liam was amazing again. Setlist (below) and plenty of photos above:

The City Is At Standstill
Is This Love?
Paperboats
If Tonight We Could Only Sleep
Try Try Try
I Woke Up From The Strangest Dream
---
Shall We Dance?
She Painted Pictures
The Mourners of St Pauls

Liam in NME

2006-02-16T16:03:00.000Z

Liam's second (!!) review in the NME:

Liam Frost and the Slowdown Family

Water Rats, London. Tuesday January 24th.

Lonely nights, sad songs, bad whiskey - being a somger-songwriter isn't exactly a party. Perhaps that's why Mancunian guitar-plucker Liam Frost has roped in a full band to help him through his month-long London residency. Like Arcade Fire escaping from a travelling circus and in posession of banjos and a drummer who looks bizarrely like Johnny Borrell, they certainly succeed in shaking stuff up. Tonight's set highlight 'Try Try Try' is an uplifting, harmonica-led anthem, while the bluegrass- inspired stomp of 'She Painted Pictures' could almost be Bright Eyes rolling around in a kaleidescope. And despite the dedication of 'I Woke Up From A Strange Dream' to a recently lost friend, the song is much more of a hoe-down than a wake.

Young, fun and riotously talented, Liam Frost and The Slowdown Family are a free-wheeling 21st century folk carnival. And, like a good whiskey, a very rare thing indeed.

Cat Goodwin

True sign of fame?

2006-02-04T14:55:00.000Z

Liam makes debut on ebay...

http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.co.uk%2Fws%2F&fkr=1&from=R8&satitle=liam+frost&category0=

Fancy that...

Night and Day 26/01/06

2006-01-27T17:33:00.000Z

Right. Finally getting round to writing something about Liam’s amazing, sweaty, touching, rocking, SELL-OUT gig at the Night and Day last night. I was also able to take some original pics for the first time and they’re included here. Enjoy them, copy them, lick them for all I care.

First to the support acts. Wandering onto stage came wannabe Top Man model Damon Valentine with a haircut so styled he could easily be in McFly. His music, however, was not a patch on the teenage pop phenomena. Nice voice, bad rhymes but ten points for emoting his way through his sub-Stain’d power ballads. Definitely NOT one to watch.

Which, by a convenient coincidence, is absolutely NOT something that can be said about six-piece Lisa Brown. Equal parts Arcade Fire, Elbow, Hope of the States and Sigur Ros they absolutely blew my metaphorical socks off. Which is quite a feat. I love it when bands are clearly LOVING what they are doing and their enthusiasm definitely was rubbing off on the (rapidly) warming-up crowd. Big sound. Big smiles. Big future.

To the main event. The Night and Day is already looking like a stage to small to contain the Slowdown Family (in more ways than one). I think the decision to push Play-Everything Pete to the back was a mistake. Especially considering he plays such a big part in creating the band’s sound. I am also unclear as to what the new guitarist actually does – other than pretending to be Albert Hammond Jr.

Liam seemed enormously up for it though and took to his set with usual gusto. The set covered all the bases. Old stuff like Road Signs and Red Lights and Unititled (now called – Is this Love?) sounded great in with newies like the Springsteen-esque Mourners of St Pauls. Then, in a set already sounded like a best of, he rattled through Paperboats, I Woke Up, She Painted Pictures and If Tonight I Could Only Sleep. One word – special. They’ll talk about these gigs in the annals of pop history. You just see if they don’t. Roll on next Thurday!

Keepin' it real...

2006-01-25T21:18:00.000Z

Liam's interview with his local free rag:

Record label gives Liam credit

MUSICIAN Liam Frost, from Prestwich, has been described as the most talented young songwriter Manchester has produced for years.

A BORING life manning the phones for a credit card company is a thing of the past for a Prestwich singer ready to hit the big time.

Liam Frost, is being touted as the next big thing to come out of Manchester following the signing of a record deal with a subsidiary of Sony Records. The 22-year-old from Carr Clough says he couldn’t be happier to wave goodbye to mundane call centre jobs to realise his dream as a rock ‘n’ roll star. The former Prestwich High School pupil has already played on the same bill as stars including The Kinks’ Ray Davies, Badly Drawn Boy and he recently supported music’s current hot act, Stephen Fretwell.

He has come a long way from picking up a toy guitar while a pupil at Butterstile Primary School.
He said: "I’ve always been into music and remember mum and dad getting me the little guitar and it just went from there. I started to learn properly when I was 14 but my teacher broke his back so I had to teach myself. It worked out for the best because I then just started writing songs. Because I was so young I had to lie about my age to get gigs and into the bars in Manchester. But it stood me in good stead and after playing in bands I went solo at 20 and haven’t looked back since."

Fellow Bury rocker Guy Garvey from the band Elbow describes Liam as ‘the most talented young songwriter Manchester has produced for years’. Liam is set to release his debut EP She Painted Pictures along with his backing band The Slowdown Family. He has also secured a residency at the Night and Day venue on Oldham Street, Manchester - ironically where he used to sneak in to watch bands.

Liam said: "It’s great to get regular gigs at the Night and Day because I’ve always come here.
"I’m just glad to be given the chance to do what I love and I’m enjoying spending my advance from the record company at the moment. I hope to be able to support myself through my music and never go back to working a nine to five in an office."

Prizes!

2006-01-25T17:39:00.000Z

Something I forgot. I asked about the mystery 'prizes' section on the new website. Apparently when you recieve your copy of the CD it will have a special 'voucher' inside that contains a code. This code will allow you access to an exclusive download on the website. Which is somewhat exciting!

From the horse's mouth...

2006-01-25T16:57:00.000Z

Not sure in what order to put this. But here goes.

Liam was very pleased with the first night of the residency at Water Rats where he played to a very busy room including indie luminaries like Bernard Butler and NME journos.

Support bands (Manchester). Liam was somewhat unsure about which date these bands were joining him but I can confirm that tomorrow night (26th) he will be joined by Damon Valentine and Lisa Brown. On the 2nd Feb he will be joined by Former Bullies. On the 9th guests will be The Maple State and Lazybones. The end of show party on Feb 16th will be graced by Fear of Music and next big Manchester thing Cherry Ghost. Then at some point the supremely talented Katherine Edwards will be playing (though Liam was unclear when - he sounded tired).

Support Bands London. Even more unclear but at some point Liam will be joined by a band called Hot Pants Romance. Who are, according to Liam - "three girls who do shouty punk, in hot pants, who are hot." Worth a look.

ALBUM NEWS: Liam and the band will be going into record the album after the Elbow tour and it is 90% confirmed that it will be presided over by X&Y producer Danton Supple (who has also worked with Starsailor, The Devlins, Kylie Minogue, Oceansize, Electric Soft Parade, and The Doves).

It turns out I have some early Liam recordings that even he doesn't have. I will endeavour to get them back to him first and then onto here (once I work out how).

Arse or Elbow?

2006-01-23T20:39:00.000Z

Just to clarify. The February dates listed below are in support of Elbow. Should be an amazing platform...

Big Audio Stuff

2006-01-22T15:47:00.000Z

From the man that brought you a much more time consuming fansite than mine there is some lovely streaming audio and MP3 goodness:

http://www.liamfrost.net/multi.html

Away from the big smoke

2006-01-22T15:44:00.000Z

New gigs announced for you folks out in the sticks...

15/2/2006 - Nottingham Rock City, Nottingham
18/2/2006 - Liverpool Academy, Liverpool
19/2/2006 - Norwich UEA, Norwich
20/2/2006 - Southampton Guild Hall, Southampton

Its nearly time...

2006-01-22T15:36:00.000Z

Remember the EP is out on Feb 6th but you can already pre-order it online at:

http://www.hmv.co.uk

http://www.amazon.co.uk

Its cheaper at HMV though and has free delivery. Order both as the 7" is bound to become a collectors item.

New website...I think.

2006-01-19T16:34:00.000Z

I'm hoping someone else can confirm this as I'm beginning to think I had a very 'special' moment the other day. Liam's new website defintely appeared for a short while on Tuesday. I'm sure it will return soon...maybe it was just a trial. It is very cool though - and just to prove I'm not making it up it has a huge merry go-round as its centrepiece. Anway, keep your eyes peeled:

http://www.liam-frost.co.uk

Liam on 2005

2006-01-09T21:37:00.000Z

Liam on BBC Manchester speaks of 2005 and the upcoming N&D gigs:

Frost descends on Oldham Street

Liam Frost, the man Guy Garvey called "The most talented young songwriter Manchester has produced for years", is set to celebrate his debut single, She Painted Pictures, with a four date residency at Night and Day in January and February.

Having started 2005 as an unknown, Frost has risen to prominence, thanks to a string of support slots (with the likes of Nine Black Alps, Willy Mason, Badly Drawn Boy and Kinks legend Ray Davies) and small headline shows, along with a couple of killer performances at In The City. Looking back at the year, he says he’s understandably pleased with his progress.

"It’s been a lovely time for me," he grins. "This time last year I working in a credit card call centre and I’ve ended the year by supporting Stephen Fretwell on his UK tour, signed a record deal and release my debut single in February, which is all pretty good for a scumbag from Prestwich!"

2006 looks set to be even better, not least because of Night and Day shows. Frost thinks the gigs will be, quite simply, "brilliant."

"I’m going to get a whole lot of great bands from Manchester to play over the four dates, who are going to make me look a whole lot cooler than I actually am. It’ll be great to play four nights on Oldham Street; I first played at Night and Day when I was 15 – it was my second gig ever – my first one was at Akoustik Anarkhy. I think it’s the greatest venue in Manchester."

one good interview deserves another...

2005-12-02T16:58:00.000Z

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/entertainment/music/indieandrock/s/158/158460_touch_of_frost.html

The man speaks...

2005-11-28T22:15:00.000Z

Extremely interesting interview with Liam on the Blowout website. Check it out...

http://www.blowout.org.uk/interviews/liam%20frost.htm

The nation's favourite...

2005-11-28T22:04:00.000Z

Liam got what I believe was his Radio 1 debut tonight on Zane Lowe. Which I thought was quite exciting. I did feel the James Blunt comparisons were somewhat misguided though. Actually strike that...totally misguided.

and just so Manchester doesn't feel left out...

2005-11-28T22:03:00.000Z

Some Manchester dates too...in support of the single.

MANCHESTER Night & Day - Thu 26 January
MANCHESTER Night & Day - Thu 2 February
MANCHESTER Night & Day - Thu 9 February
MANCHESTER Night & Day - Thu 16 February

many opportunities for Frost-style action.

London Calling...

2005-11-27T15:51:00.000Z

Just received news of some gigs Liam is playing in London next year...

On sale Saturday 26 November 9am

LONDON Water Rats - Tue 24 January
LONDON Water Rats - Tue 31 January
LONDON Water Rats - Tue 7 February
LONDON Water Rats - Tue 14 February

Exclusive Single News...

2005-11-13T15:46:00.000Z

Having been along to Liam's fantastic gig at the Bierkeller on Friday night I can reveal some 95% reliable news on the first official release. Liam tells me that the first (limited edition) single will be out on February 6th 2006. The tracklisting will be as follows:

1. She Painted Pictures
2. If Tonight We Could Only Sleep
3. Try Try Try

He told me some other things too but I'm sworn to secrecy... Damn my morals.

My Space

2005-11-08T10:46:00.000Z

Liam news is also available on the website where all is good and pure and splendid - My Space. You can even leave Liam a special little message if you like. But only if you want to.

http://www.myspace.com/liamfrostandtheslowdownfamily

Catchy isn't it?

Pictures Galore!

2005-11-04T15:40:00.000Z

Found this excellent site with loads of pics of manchester bands on. No idea who runs it but there's some really interesting stuff. The reason I mention it is there's loads of Liam from 3 separate gigs. Links below:

http://www.camera1.free-online.co.uk/frost1.htm

http://www.camera1.free-online.co.uk/frost2.htm

http://www.camera1.free-online.co.uk/frost3.htm

More gushing...ITC style

2005-10-28T08:58:00.000+01:00

ITC: Liam Frost @ Night & Day

AFTER one scene veteran christened him "the most talented young songwriter Manchester has produced for years" and "Britain's answer to Bright Eyes", I was keen to put Elbow’s Guy Garvey’s heady claim under the microscope.
The Prestwich-raised singer certainly had his work cut out last night too.
Fighting against the decibel-soaked tide of the chattering delegate masses, Frost emerged from the shadows like the last man standing at a wedding reception - all stubble, tired eyes and loosely slung collar and tie.

Appearances though, as everyone knows, can be deceptive and his batch of sharp, lovelorn and contemplative yarns - unleashed with a powerful yet controlled delivery - had me enthralled.
From the melancholic wonderings of The City Is At A Standstill to the antidote for hectic modern life - Slowly, Slowly, Slowly – his years of striving to find an identity appear to have born fruit.
His backing band, The Slowdown Family, were absent for this performance, but the addition of mouth organ on set closer, Try, Try, Try, beefed up the song, which for me, stole the show.

manchesteronline

Liam Frost (3.30pm, Pitcher and Piano) In the City

The unabashed honesty of Mr Frost wooed a packed crowd this afternoon, much to my joy. Tear-jerking and fist-clenching in one breath, Frost is a living breathing beacon of rehumanising hope, with a mammoth voice, cracked with fragility one moment, roaring with hope and futility the next. Liam Frost is one of the most immediate, flawlessly brilliant singer songwriters I have ever had the pleasure of hearing and my pinkies are crossed that someone in the position to further his career was in attendance today. (CH)

bbc.co.uk

And some more...

2005-10-28T08:55:00.000+01:00

Though in the top one he looks freakishly like James Walsh from Starsailor. Which is unusual.

some more pics what i found like...

2005-10-26T16:03:00.000+01:00

Music Box

2005-10-25T11:00:00.000+01:00

Hot of the press... Liam also playing at the Music Box on the 9th November. Rumours also currently circulating that the single should be out in January. No news on what it might be yet but I'll keep you posted.

Bierkeller Gig

2005-10-24T23:18:00.000+01:00

Liam is playing Blowout at the Bierkeller (off Piccadilly) on the 11th November. Be there or be...not there I suppose.

More reviews...

2005-10-14T09:53:00.000+01:00

A couple of reviews of Liam on the Fretwell tour. Looks like he stole the show...

Hitting the road for this nationwide tour, Liam Frost’s stock is now well and truly on the rise. Having played every den in Manchester on his way to wider recognition, he appears to be taking to bigger crowds with enthusiastic ease.
The banter between Frost and the crowd barely subsides during his set and between giggles he trades words with hecklers and fans at the front.
Regardless of being instantly loveable, his songs do enough talking for everybody to take notice and on the occasions that he lets rip with a soaring chorus, he leaves behind comparisons of I Am Kloot or Badly Drawn Boy to become an altogether more robust proposition.
Whether it was his local charm, laughing at small mistakes or most likely his uncompromising performance, the final round of applause as he left the stage was as loud as that which greeted tonight’s headliner.

manchesteronline

You would have excused the Mancunian songster; Liam Frost if he made a Bet Lynch styled attempt to hide his roots given last seasons football honours. However, such is his pride and enthusiasm that he even imbued the confidence of a small section of the crowd to yelp out when the question as to whether there were any mancunians in the room was raised. A gripping and roving acoustic set was produced as Frost’s vocals initially resembled those of Noel Gallagher. The rousing nautical number ‘Paper Blows’ welded together elements of Leonard Cohen and Jeff Buckley that captured the attention of an eager crowd. ‘Woke Up From The Strangest Trip’ was a poignant Dylan for beginners lesson that was attentively listened to and gave the opening act some bite.

Contactmusic.com

More gig news...

2005-10-04T11:45:00.000+01:00

Liam is playing at "Manchester Kicks! A Tribute to John Peel" on Thursday 13th October. The bill also includes My Computer, I Am Kloot, Nine Black Alps and Badly Drawn Boy. Tickets from the venue...

2005-09-05T16:08:00.000+01:00

Just to let you know that Liam is currently out on tour with Manchester's own Stephen Fretwell. Get in early and show your support for Liam! Dates left are as follows:

6 Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
7 Brighton Komedia
8Norwich Arts Centre
10 Nottingham Rescue Rooms
11 Sheffield Fez Club
12 Leeds Cockpit
14 Liverpool Academy 3
15 Glasgow King Tuts
16 Edinburgh The Venue
18 Newcastle The Cluny
19 Middlesbrough Georgian Theatre
20 Birmingham Gee Club
22 Wrexham Central Station
23 Leicester Charlotte
25 Manchester Academy 3
26 Bristol Fiddler
27 London Kings College

Random Liam Photo

2005-08-29T09:23:00.000+01:00

Liam's NME Debut!

2005-08-28T21:19:00.000+01:00

On May 29th, at the Night and Day, the NME finally bothered to show up to one of Liam's gigs... Below is their VERY glowing review:

"It's hard to believe that Liam Frost is only in his early 20s. Despite growing up in landlocked Manchester, he's produced a catalogue of experience-weighty songs. 'Paperboats' casts the salty spray of sea air over images of abandonment and on several occasions, he has to lean away from the mic for fear of overpowering his emotionally charged choruses. Everything may be garnished with glockenspiel, mandolin and violin but these are far from twee ditties; Frost's rich Northern tone and escapist lyrics are mesmirising. Bittersweet regret has never seemed so inviting."

Pretty good eh?

Welcome

2005-08-25T02:36:00.000+01:00

I am hoping that this blog will become the best place to find news about Manchester's best singer-songwriter Liam Frost and his brilliant band the Slowdown Family. This blog will include gig listings, reviews and up to the minute latest news. With any luck. Links to Liam's official site are on the right of this page along with a link where you can download 3, yes 3, of Liam's mp3s (absolutely free).

A Few Press Quotes

2005-08-24T18:48:00.000+01:00

"His vocal style fits in with Manchester’s rich recent tradition of softly-spoken frontmen like Guy Garvey, Jimi Goodwin and Damon Gough, and his songs are no less genuine, fully-formed or memorable. In fact as new talent goes, he is close to perfection, and the few early stragglers in Academy 3 seemed to realise it too." MEN 04/07/05

"Looking like and sharing the stage presence of a young Guy Garvey, while fielding songs that Badly Drawn Boy and Stephen Fretwell wouldn’t be unhappy with, is pretty much a sure sign of a golden future. Liam Frost, if the world has any justice, has just that. His only problem might be whether music needs another acoustic singer songwriter. One listen to the unstoppably gorgeous She Painted Pictures and the tender finery of Try Try Try says it does." BBC online

"You can start to think all singer-songwriters (with requisite part time backing band) are much of a muchness, until you see a real talent like Liam Frost. Unassuming looking purveyor of bright folky pop, he stands out from the masses by virtue of nothing other than writing really excellent songs and having a fantastic voice." gigwise.com 15/07/05

Upcoming Gigs

2005-08-24T18:39:00.000+01:00

There are two upcoming gigs that I am currently aware of. Liam is playing what I believe is a headline set at the Night and Day Cafe, Oldham Street, Manchester on Saturday 17th September. Tickets now available from the venue or on gigsandtours.com. Tickets £6. Bargain.

Liam is also playing the IN THE CITY Club Fandango Weekender on Saturday 1st October. This is also at the Night And Day and features Sunshine Underground, Rebbeca, Kill the Young, Vib Gyor and XFM DJ John Kennedy. Tickets only £6 from the venue. For all that... I can't vouch for anyone other than Liam (though I did see Keith supporting Hard-Fi and I wasn't overly impressed).