Liverpool Sound City 2013 is right around the corner, with that in mind, Getintothis cherry picks our selection of the Liverpool acts to watch.
Liverpool Sound City 2013 kicks off a week today.
Hundreds of artists, musicians and music fans will descend on Liverpool keen to catch the world’s hottest emerging acts, explore a landscape buzzing with new music and a clutch of spaces will be transformed into a bedrock euphoric hedonism.
Yet, it’s not just the raft of national and international talent that Sound City triumphs, for it’s the emerging Liverpool artists that provide the spine to this industry showcase – and with The GIT Award hurtling by in a blaze of glory last Friday night both work in tandem at championing the best of what this city has to offer.
Indeed, this year’s line up includes seven of this year’s GIT Award shortlist, with winners Baltic Fleet lining up with Dan Croll, Jetta, By The Sea, Wave Machines, Stealing Sheep and Nadine Carina while 2012 nominees Bill Ryder-Jones, Tea Street Band, Outfit, Esco Williams, Miss Stylie and inaugural winners Loved Ones are also set to feature.
So, while Sound City provides a corking snapshot of what’s new and exciting, don’t miss the opportunity to catch some of Liverpool’s brightest talent on your doorstep.
Getintothis has already waxed lyrical about the Merseyside talent featuring on our stage at Leaf, so here’s our guide to other superb new Liverpool artists playing Liverpool Sound City 2013 that you really should keep an eye on.
Alex Hulme at The Brink, Thursday May 2 11-11:30pm.
A graduate of LIPA, Hulme has already played with and received high praise from big macca. Not content with that, he has provided support for the likes of Willis Earl Beal, Willy Mason and Emmy The Great. Using folk-tinged pop as his core, each of his songs is infused with urgent rhythms, pristine vocals and enough mystery to keep you guessing.
Ady Suleiman at The Zanzibar, Saturday May 4, 8.15-8.45pm.
Hailing from Nottingham and now based in Liverpool, Ady Suleiman is a name for the future. Sharing city space with other prodigious young talents like Tyler Mensah, the confines of Seel Street’s Zanzibar might not be enough to keep out all those rushing to see Suleiman in his element. Piecing together lush, soulful vocals with subtly intricate guitar work, his Sound City appearance could be the one that finally pushes him into the stratosphere.
Clang Boom Steam at Sound Food and Drink, Saturday May 4 1-1:30am.
Blessed with the ability to craft gnarly stompers that focus on the darker side of life, Clang Boom Steam hurtle through the abandoned stations of your mind, threatening to come off the tracks at any minute. Comparable to Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, this four-piece will blow away any cobwebs with an early morning set that might just wake the dead. Hey, zombies gotta have fun too, ya know.
Tear Talk at Sound Food and Drink, Saturday May 4 11-11:30pm.
Mixing elements of pop, shoegaze and a dash of that lovely psychedelic swirl, Tear Talk are rising to prominence at the perfect time. Half of a recent split release with Death Masks, distributed by EDiLS Recordings, Tear Talk might just cement themselves in everybody’s affections this summer.
The Red Suns at The Black-E, Saturday May 4, 9:30-10pm.
Continuing that great tradition of guitar music from the North West that tugs on the heartstrings, The Red Suns are fast becoming a must-see live staple. Their relatively short life-span has seen them support the likes of The Coral, British Sea Power and The View and their rapid ascension looks set to continue on LSC’s final night.
Alpha Male Tea Party at Screenadelica, Friday May 3, 8pm-8:30pm.
The post-rock genre is being represented superbly in Liverpool right now. Groups such as Kusanagi, Wired To Follow and Muto Leo are introducing droves of people to an oft-neglected genre. AMTP are cut from the same cloth and their jagged, heavy sounds will leave you breathless.
The Mono LPs at The Black-E, Thursday May 2 10.30-11pm.
Another group ready to roll off Liverpool’s speedy conveyor belt, The Mono LPs have done enough to catch the eye of former Creation boss Alan Magee. Having inked a deal with Cavern Records, the five-piece will soon belie their name and display more than one facet to their musical nature.
Police Squad at The Krazyhouse, Friday May 3 1.15-1.45am.
Thankfully not as farcical as Frank Drebin‘s band of inept coppers from which they take their name, Police Squad deal a fine line in angular, atmospheric dream-pop. An arresting listen if there ever was one, expect the sirens to blare when these boys hit the stage in the twilight hours.
Mercury 13 at The Black-E, Saturday May 4 10.30-11pm.
Soulful pop? Trumpets? Smooth passages that make you want to wine and dine your beau? It can only be Mercury 13. Blending all of the above and more, these lounge lizards will be forcing their way into your affections post-haste.
Taylor Fowlis at The Garage, Thursday May 2 8-8.30pm.
Blessed with a flawless voice and in command of an industry and multiple DJs standing all over themselves to offer plaudits and promises, Sefton Park’s Taylor Fowlis‘ has many strings to her bow. Known by many for her vocal contribution to TS7’s Heartlight, her soulful acoustic numbers show a heart and mind that belie her tender years. Expect to be dazzled.
Lunar Modular at The Kazimier, Thursday May 2, midnight-12.30am
Doom-laden dystopian soundscapes are the order of the day for Lunar Modular, whose disparate beats are welded to the occasional interruptions of disembodied voices, all held together by a progressive arc that drifts along through each track. Imagine Philip K. Dick working the keyboards for Kraftwerk and you’re on the right path.
Bird at Epstein Theatre, Friday May 3 10.15-10.45pm.
Like a physical manifestation of a tale spun by one of the Bronte sisters, Bird make with ghostly, ethereal tunes that lean heavily on more classical mores. Listening and looking at the female trio will bring easy comparisons to Kate Bush, but dig a little deeper and shades of Leonard Cohen, The Cocteau Twins and Fleetwood Mac make themselves apparent. The Epstein Theatre is the perfect setting for their theatrical and immersive sound.
Death Masks at Art Academy, Saturday May 4 7.05-7.35pm.
Death Masks have got a lot of tongues wagging and with good reason. Initially a one-man project that has swelled into a weighty five-piece, the group are riding the crest of wave; shafts of light between their portents of doom. Fans of the morose classics of Joy Division and The Cure might find some new kindred spirits in Death Masks.
Findlay at Art Academy, Thursday May 10.30-11pm.
We’re cheating here, but Manchester’s Findlay is an artist who confounds expectations. Eschewing pre-conceived notions of what you might expect from a solo female performer, her strong vocals and sharp tongue are backed by a garage rock crunch. Her arrival on the scene may well shake the foundations of the Art Academy.
Killaflaw at Brooklyn Mixer, Thursday May 2 12.30-1am.
This duo are setting themselves up as the new remix masters of Liverpool. Describing themselves as “inhabiting the electronic/rock interzone” (can’t beat a William Burroughs reference, kids), their blend of mashups and original tracks will give you the shot in the arm you need after a long, first day of partying.
Louis Berry at The Cavern Club, Thursday May 2 10.15-11pm
It’s a shitty and gritty world out there. We music lovers continually look to our artists to translate and disseminate it back to us. Louis Berry is one of those bound to pick up many a follower that clings upon his quick-witted epithets and tales of realism, imbued with organic, folk-led instrumentation. Bringing together Scouse truth and the laissez-faire Celtic attitude our city is built on, his words will be ones to hang on to.
Iron Witch at Screenadelica, Thursday May 2 10-10.30pm.
In the year that Black Sabbath release a new album and head out on a world tour, now is the time to remind ourselves of the evolution of the genre they spawned. Disgusting riffs and righteous anger are top of the agenda here, and in a burgeoning local scene that has brought about groups like Black Magician it’s time to let your hair down and break your neck in a headbanging tribute.
Sheepy at Mello Mello, Saturday May 4 12:30-1am.
Earworm pop hooks with a vaguely sinister and cynical lyrical edge, Sheepy are reminiscent of classic guitar groups such as The Replacements, Super Furry Animals and Pixies. Once a solo project now bedecked by a fully-functioning three-piece line up, Sheepy prove themselves impossible to ignore and bounce along to.
The Wild Eyes at Shipping Forecast, Thursday May 2nd 8:00-8:30pm.
This wild and untamed trio took to the stage in the absence of Clinic at the GIT Award and with good reason. Sounding like Liverpool’s updated answer to The Velvet Underground, this frantic trio come replete with layers of noise, desperate vocals and an addictive sound that just won’t leave you alone. They may well be entrusted with taking Liverpool into the future so let’s just roll with the punches.
Further Liverpool Sound City reading on Getintothis
Liverpool Sound City 2013: Alessi’s Ark, All We Are, Natalie McCool and more for Getintothis stage.
Liverpool Sound City 2013: Final wave of bands set for May festival.
Liverpool Sound City 2013: Dexys to play Cathedral as more acts announced.
Liverpool Sound City 2013 announces first wave of bands.
Getintothis top 10 bands of Liverpool Sound City 2012.
Getintothis‘ Liverpool Sound City 2012 Day One round up.
Getintothis‘ Liverpool Sound City 2012 Day Two round up.
Getintothis‘ Liverpool Sound City 2012 Day Three round up.
New York Sound City returns for March British Invasion
Getntothis‘ top 10 bands of Liverpool Sound City 2011.
Liverpool Sound City
Liverpool Sound City runs from May 2-4.
