ANDY HEDGECOCK is entertained by a playful novel that embeds a fictional game at its heart
TRANSFORMING a small-scale venue into a mock arena, Liverpool’s Zuzu is a whirling dervish as she fills the tiny space with sonic wonders, bon mots, some great guitar and rocking tunes.
Squeezed centre stage in geeky glasses and backed by a guitarist, bass player and drummer, Zuzu wears her Liverpudlian roots on her sleeve and it shows — there are shades of Liverpool legends like The La’s or The Zutons in her music.
But it’s not just the north that gets a look in — there’s a good dose of Kate Nash-style observation and even some of the quirky commentary of New Zealand’s Princess Chelsea, all while Zuzu’s voice remains constant, loud, proud and Liverpool to the core.
WILL STONE applauds a comprehensive survey of love in its many moods and musical forms
The Bard commutes to work for the first time in 45 years
As Liverpool lifted the title and Everton said goodbye to Goodison, Merseyside’s unity shone through in the face of tragedy, writes JAMES NALTON
MIK SABIERS wallows in a night of political punk and funk that fires both barrels at Trump



