Ibibio Sound Machine | At The Scene

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Band: Ibibio Sound Machine

Venue: District

Ticket Price: £22 (each)

Ibibio Sound Machine:

I couldn't contain my excitement when I heard that Ibibio were coming to my home town. After seeing them at Greenman Festival in a packed-out tent, I was looking forward to seeing how their performance would translate to a much more intimate venue, and they only delivered the most incredible show ever. The energy that Ibibio brings can’t be contained to one room, they radiate absolute joy and keep the room dancing for hours. Funk has never sounded this good, and frontrunner Eno Williams had everybody in that room in a trance with her electric, positive energy and incredible voice. The combination of stunning vocals, mind-blowing guitar solos, a perfectly synchronised brass section and percussion makes Ibibio Sound Machine unique in their sound. Eno emerged onto the stage dressed in a beautiful black and yellow bodysuit, blinged hair and a huge smile; her vibes are contagious and you can’t help but smile too. She was interactive with the audience, teaching them parts of songs to chant along with her in her native tongue, Ibibio, and being an all-round friendly presence. Guitarist Alfred Bannerman delivered stand-out solos that you can tell are the product of years of experience and love for the art. With 5 albums including recently released ‘Pull The Rope’, the variety of music played was astounding and I left the venue feeling like I’d just done a workout. I enjoyed myself thoroughly at this gig and the smaller sized venue made it feel like I was the only one in the room. Ibibio Sound Machine also win the award for the most varied merch table I’ve ever encountered, stocking your usual bags, vinyls, t-shirts but also items like lamps and earrings; I purchased some gorgeous earrings crafted by Williams herself!

This gig had no supporting band, perhaps due to the scale of the venue and stage area.

District:

This was my first visit to District, located within the Baltic Triangle of Liverpool it is one of a few live music venues in that area. It is a small venue holding only 275 people with a small stage, bar area and outdoor space. Bathed in blue light, the dark interior prepares you for an amazing night of music. The merch table was located towards the back of the venue, toilets at the front and access to the outdoor area also towards the back. Within the viewing space there are a few standing tables and a few booths off to the side, offering seated space for guests, I assume they host a range of different types of shows and events here. Wherever you stood in District you felt like you were at the front, and I did actually end up right at the barrier, I’m only small myself. I really like this venue and will definitely be returning for more gigs here.