Editorials
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A New Chapter For The Tusks: ‘When It Ends’
Formed in Liverpool, The Tusks have been strong contenders on the North West’s emerging artists scene for some time, and their new single, When It Ends, looks set to propel them even further. Drawing on influences such as Arctic Monkeys and Catfish and the Bottlemen, their sound blends gritty guitar riffs with thought-provoking lyricism, and When It Ends is a perfect showcase of this balance. Despite a gentle introduction, the track quickly takes a heavier…
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Naomi Campbell’s ‘The Cottage’ Is A Hauntingly Beautiful Folk Ballad
Liverpool-based Irish singer-songwriter Naomi Campbell continues her steady rise with her latest single The Cottage. Serving as the lead track from her upcoming debut EP, The Cottage showcases Campbell’s evolving sound, which has gradually expanded from her folk and Americana roots into something more expansive, drawing subtle influence from soul and R&B. The result is a track that feels both intimate and cinematic, anchored by her dynamic and evocative vocal performance. Recorded at Whitewood Studio…
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Review: So Long, Good Friday
Kicking off the 2026 UK festival season was So Long, Good Friday, a highly anticipated showcase of genre-bending music located in Liverpool’s own Baltic Triangle. With headliners such as Fat Dog and Brigitte Calls Me Baby, the newcomer festival was sure to be one to remember. Sprawled across multiple venue spaces (Camp and Furnace, District, Hangar 34 and Lost Art), So Long, Good Friday gave voice to upcoming artists predominantly from the Northwest. Faced with a decline in grassroots venues, artists from the North especially need opportunities like So Long, Good Friday…
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Dealer’s Choice Release Bold New Single ‘Apex’
Liverpool-based duo Dealer’s Choice continue to build momentum with the release of their second single Apex, a confident follow-up to their debut track Some Kind of Way, which generated early buzz across the Merseyside music scene earlier this year. Comprised of Irish cousins Joe McHugh and Barry Mullaney, Dealer’s Choice occupy an exciting space between alternative and electronic music, blending dancefloor-ready grooves with thoughtful, introspective undertones. With Apex, the pair lean further into their high-energy…
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Live Review: Gorillaz at M&S Bank Arena
Fresh from the release of their ninth studio album, The Mountain, Gorillaz put on a dazzling show, worthy of the 15 year wait since their last Liverpool performance in 2001. Jampacked with household classics and soon-to-be hits, the native, so-called ‘virtual band’ filled out the iconic M&S Bank Arena with fans young and old- proving the universality of their brand and music. Set during the peak of the newly released album, The Mountain, the tour with the aptly same name, celebrated…
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Mike Ryan and the Salty Oranges Reflect on Connection in ‘Talking Like an Elephant’
Wirral-based singer-songwriter Mike Ryan and the Salty Oranges return with Talking Like an Elephant, a quietly affecting single rooted in emotional honesty and understated storytelling. The release also marks the official naming of his band, The Salty Oranges – a playful detail that signals a new and more defined chapter, as the project evolves into a fuller band sound. A firm favourite in the local music scene, Ryan has gone from strength to strength in…
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KingFast Returns With Introspective New Single ‘Chains’
Liverpool artist KingFast returns with Chains, a soulful R&B release that leans into introspection while showcasing the warmth and depth of Paul Walker’s unmistakable vocal style. Built around a smooth, emotive groove, Chains explores the quiet realisation that the barriers we blame on circumstance are often the ones we create ourselves. The track feels both personal and universal, capturing the internal dialogue that many listeners will recognise. As Walker explains: “I have just noticed that…
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Live Review: Richard Ashcroft at M&S Bank Arena
Riding the wave of the public’s rekindled appetite for Britpop and everything that went along with the era, Richard Ashcroft took to the arena with the confidence of a man whose popularity has risen fivefold. Since his days in The Verve, Ashcroft has been recognised as one of the 1990s’ great exports – Urban Hymns is renowned as an indubitable masterpiece – but his profile as a songwriter hasn’t always matched his draw on the…
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GONDOLAS Unleash New Single ‘You Know That’
GONDOLAS are the fiery five-piece band from Liverpool delivering “dirty distorted rock straight to your face“. Belfast-born brothers Ben and Chris are joined by South Carolinian cousin Nick and Liverpudlian long-time friend Tim and Luke. The band combine influences of classic punk energy, naughties garage-rock grit and modern post-punk moodiness, creating a sound both fresh and nostalgic. You Know That is the band’s second studio single, released with Ameritz Music on 20th February. Inspired by the…
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Visions of Albion Return With Cinematic New Single ‘Avenues’
Liverpool’s ever-evolving music scene continues to produce artists who draw confidently from the past while carving out something distinctly their own, and Visions of Albion are a perfect example. Their new single Avenues, released today (13 March), is a beautifully layered track that leans into cinematic atmosphere while remaining rooted in classic songwriting craft. From the opening moments, Avenues establishes a sense of space and mood. There’s an unmistakable nod to the baroque pop sophistication…
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Live Review: Bleed From Within at O2 Academy Liverpool
Liverpool is known for its music scene. There’s usually a show on somewhere regardless of what night of the week it is. Amongst this there is a strong underground metal/hardcore scene but its not often that the bigger metal bands come through, often favouring Manchester. Tonight that changes as scottish metalcore giants, Bleed from Within, play at the O2 Academy Liverpool as a part of their Dying Sun tour. With them are Danish death metal…
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Ni Maxine’s Debut EP ‘Mother’s Arms’ Feels Effortless and Self-Assured
Ni Maxine’s four-track EP is the perfect introduction to Neo-Jazz. The Liverpool-based artist has created a sound rooted firmly in jazz tradition, with brushed drums, walking bass, and warm piano voicings. The instrumentation feels rich and unhurried, with rhythms that shift dynamically as each track develops. Maxine’s work effortlessly respects jazz tradition, while also pushing the genre’s boundaries. Guided by her vocals, which understand both the power of restraint and the impact of rhythmic innovation,…
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Cael Oak Wears His Heart on His Sleeve With ‘Precious To Me’
Liverpool’s thriving grassroots scene continues to produce artists unafraid of wearing their hearts on their sleeves — and with his new single Precious To Me, Cael Oak steps confidently into that space. The track is one of his most personal to date. Blending pop accessibility with acoustic warmth, subtle rock dynamics and a thread of country-inspired honesty, Precious To Me captures a moment many will recognise but few articulate so openly: falling in love with…
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Review: Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes at Liverpool Empire
A Stage Lit by Obsession, Beauty and Brilliance. There’s a particular electricity when Matthew Bourne arrives at the Liverpool Empire Theatre. Not polite anticipation. Expectation. Bourne doesn’t do decorative ballet; he does storytelling with teeth. And The Red Shoes remains one of his most psychologically loaded works. Inspired by the 1948 Powell and Pressburger classic, Bourne strips away any lingering romantic haze and gets to the bruise beneath the beauty. This isn’t a fairy tale about artistic destiny. It’s about…
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Review: The Spare Rib Galentine’s Burlesque Extravaganza
Something with a little spice. Tonight, I witnessed a very empowering and powerful evening of burlesque. I was warned before the evening starts that once you go to one show you will be hooked and I have to completely agree. I will definitely be going back. The evening was compared by the fun and fantastic Tilly Mint; who is co-producer of The Spare Rib Burlesque & Cabaret. Tilly kept the evening moving and had a…
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Live Review: James Arthur at M&S Arena
A far cry from his X-Factor beginnings, James Arthur packed the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool on Valentine’s Day with a sold-out show full of thousands of adoring fans. The energy from the crowd was consistently high, helped along by the nostalgic tunes and remixes of DJ Imbo – sporting some Arthur merch – with classics such as Call Me Maybe and Timber. There was even a little extra entertainment from some enthusiastic members of…
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Review: Under The Mersey Moon at Floral Pavilion
Under the Mersey Moon is more than just a musical; it’s a celebration of Liverpool’s unique cultural heartbeat, wrapped in the warm embrace of country music’s storytelling tradition. The production’s return to the Floral Pavilion this Valentine’s weekend feels like a homecoming, not just for the cast and crew, but for the audience who find themselves swept up in its infectious charm. The play follows the story of Danny an aspiring country singer trapped in…
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Motel Sundown Share Uplifting New Single ‘Watch Which Way the Wind Blows’
Motel Sundown’s latest single Watch Which Way the Wind Blows arrives as a radiant prelude to their Signs In The Rush of Light EP, due this Spring — and it’s a beautifully assured statement from a band whose songwriting is something genuinely compelling. The track pairs an upbeat tempo with the trio’s flawless harmonies, making for a listening experience that feels both buoyant and emotionally resonant. Lyrically, the song explores themes of loss and resilience,…
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Exploring Sincerity and Vulnerability: Sophie Grace’s ‘i still need you.’
Sophie Grace is an emerging artist on the North West music scene with her upcoming single i still need you. set to be released today (30 January). Based in Liverpool and currently studying at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts’ School of Music, Sophie Grace is at the centre of a city defined by its musical success, which is helping her find her own as a rising Indie Folk artist and producer. Originally from the…
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52 For 26 Poetry Project: Tom McClennan
A tender look at family, ageing, and the gentle freedom found in grandparenthood from one of Liverpool’s community storytellers… Tom McClennan is a Liverpool storyteller in every sense: a retired English teacher, a poet, a playwright, and a fixture in the local theatre scene. As chair of the Board of Trustees at Valley Community Theatre, his commitment to community art is as deep as his love of words. Valley Theatre itself is more than just a stage — it’s…
