New Brighton’s The Dream Machine know their way around a great record – especially when it’s been unearthed from a charity shop crate. For this piece, frontman Zak McDonnell digs through his favourite second-hand vinyl finds, from doo-wop classics to sun-bleached soundtracks, sharing the stories, sounds and small obsessions that make each record special. Welcome to The Dream Machine’s Best Charity Shop Vinyl Finds – proof that some of the best musical treasures are hiding…
A Liverpool husband-and-wife duo have launched a new natural beauty brand, Lip Fix, offering a thoughtfully crafted range of organic and natural lip products designed to nourish, protect and elevate everyday lip care. Matt and Kayleigh, based in Litherland, created Lip Fix in response to the growing demand for clean, ethical make-up and beauty products. Although the idea for the brand was born in 2024, it officially launched in late 2025 following extensive research, formulation…
Merseyside charity Autism Together is partnering with a number of regional attractions to offer relaxed activities for children or teens with autism, or who are on the pathway to receiving a diagnosis, free of charge. The specialist autism charity, based in Bromborough, has launched a twice-monthly series of ‘Family Adventures’, new for 2026. A wide range of family-friendly attractions have already signed up to be part of this new initiative, which will create relaxed and…
Frankie Reed blurs history, divinity, and the body to uncover sweetness in the places we least expect it. There’s a certain charge that runs through Frankie Reed’s work—an electricity that comes from holding history, divinity, and the strange machinery of the human body in the same quiet breath. A Liverpool-born poet and visual artist, Frankie moves easily between mediums, stitching together symbolism, emotion, and physicality with an instinct that feels both scholarly and instinctively visceral. Their background in…
OH ME OH MY is bringing the sparkle to tea time in 2026 with the return of its feel-good Disco Afternoon Tea – a high-energy twist on a much-loved British tradition. Set inside the venue’s stunning downstairs space at West Africa House, overlooking the Three Graces and just moments from the River Mersey, OH ME OH MY has long been known for its twinkly, tucked-away atmosphere. Now, the team are combining that magic with disco…
Dear Somebody, Word on the street is that £100,000 taken from criminals under the Proceeds Of Crime Act (POCA) is now available for projects that strengthen our communities and prevent hate crime. Over the past three years, more than £300,000 cash and assets stripped from criminals has been reinvested back into good causes in communities across Merseyside through the Community Cashback Fund, supporting grassroots initiatives that make our region safer and stronger. Around 20 grants…
Ken O’Hare – A Retrospective of Calm in a City of Movement For Kenneth O’Hare, the city was never simply a place of movement and noise. It was a site of contemplation — a space where silence could be found in steel, glass and light. A Gentle Man: A Retrospective of the work of Kenneth O’Hare, presented at Bridewell Studios & Gallery, offers the first comprehensive overview of an artist whose quiet, meditative vision of…
LOOK Climate Lab returns in 2026 with a major biennial programme exploring how photography can be used as a powerful and relevant medium for engaging with the climate crisis. Taking place from 23 January to 29 March 2026, LOOK Climate Lab 2026 will see Open Eye Gallery transformed into an experimental “lab” space, bringing together artists, researchers and activists to test ideas, share knowledge and spark discussion around the systemic changes needed to address climate…
Big Brother’s Grace Adams-Short has recently opened what’s set to be the one of the top content creation studios in Liverpool – OSO Content Studio. This new studio based in L9, offers a space for products, brands and artists to create engaging, on brand content. Oso also offers creative direction to help support clients to get the best from their shoot, enabling them to stand out in a crowded digital landscape. Founded by Grace Adams-Short…
From packed-out living rooms and campus shutdowns to funk-fuelled grooves that demand you move, Roscoe Street are carving out their own lane with a fearless DIY spirit and a sound built for sweaty, joyful chaos. Blending funk, soul and blues with the energy of today’s forward-thinking acts, the six-piece have quickly built a reputation for turning any space into a dancefloor. We caught up with the band to talk musical influences, cracked ceilings, songwriting as…
Il Forno, the much-loved Italian that has served authentic dishes on Duke Street for over two decades, has revealed exciting plans as it marks a new chapter in Liverpool. This February, the venue will open its doors as Botanico following a transformation to evolve into the all day eatery. Marking the next phase of the Cillo family’s proud culinary heritage, this transition will allow the venue to broaden its offering with a fresh concept and vibrant venue…
How Sober Scribbles Is Reimagining Community, Care and Creativity at the Unity… On Wednesday 21 January, Unity Theatre hosts Sober Scribbles, a scratch night offering something quietly radical in a city where theatre bars and post-show drinks are often taken for granted: a deliberately alcohol-free space for writers, performers and audiences to come together around new work. At its heart, Sober Scribbles is about community. “It’s a space for anyone interested in writing in an…
The British Music Experience is set to revisit one of the most defining visual moments in modern British music with Don’t Believe the Hype… Uncovering the Artwork of Arctic Monkeys’ Debut Album, a new temporary exhibition opening in Liverpool this January. Launching exactly 20 years to the day since the release of Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, the exhibition takes a deep dive into the creation and cultural legacy of one…
With Valentine’s Day just under a month away, beloved Liverpool jewellery brand Say It With has unveiled its brand new Valentine’s collection in true cinematic style. Last night’s invite-only launch took place at Hope Street Hotel’s private cinema, where the Say It With team treated guests to an exclusive first look at the collection. Familiar faces including Lucy Quinn, Kate Hayes and other local tastemakers enjoyed popcorn, prosecco and pizza before settling in to watch…
Digital advertising costs continue to rise and consumer attention spans continue to shrink; brands are constantly looking for new ways to connect with customers in memorable, impactful ways. One strategy that has surged in popularity over the last decade is the pop-up event. At first glance, pop-ups might seem like a trend that only fashion brands or small retailers use for short-term hype. In reality, they have become a powerful tool across industries. From food…
Angela Cheveau – Where brick becomes wing and mourning becomes melody, “Liverpool Angels” finds the city’s soul in its women… Every so often, a poem arrives that feels unmistakably shaped by the city it comes from —its accent, its attitude, its stubborn refusal to look away. Liverpool Angels, a work from Liverpool poet Angela Cheveau, is exactly that kind of piece: tender, tough, and deeply rooted in the lived experience of working-class women whose strength often goes unspoken. Cheveau…
Kittel – Doktor Faustus of The Third Reich : Guilt, Regret and the Theatre of Moral Collapse… Gerhard Kittel is not an easy man to spend an evening with. He isn’t meant to be. Kittel: Dr Faustus of the Third Reich, playing a tightly focused two-night run, is the kind of theatre that leans into unease rather than smoothing it over. It asks its audience to stay in the room with contradiction, to resist the temptation of moral shortcuts,…
Everton in the Community (EitC) has announced that registration is now open for supporters to take part in the 10th edition of its annual Sleepout at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Taking place on Friday 2 October, this year’s ‘Stadium Sleepout’ promises to be a landmark occasion, commemorating a decade of Blues coming together to raise vital funds and awareness for the charity’s ‘Home Is Where The Heart Is’ (HIWTHI) programme. Supporters will have the chance to…
Liverpool is set to welcome the UK’s largest annual celebration of Japanese cinema this March, as the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2026 (JFTFP26) arrives at Picturehouse at FACT. Running from 1–31 March 2026, the festival brings an ambitious programme of films spanning classics, contemporary hits and UK premieres — including the UK premiere of a brand-new film by legendary director Takashi Miike. Exploring identity through Japanese cinema This year’s programme is curated around the…
This Blue Monday (19 January), often labelled as one of the gloomiest days of the year, Royal Albert Dock Liverpool is banishing the blues by inviting visitors to come to the dock and search for £1,000-worth of vouchers, redeemable across a selection of popular dockside venues. With 10 x £100 vouchers available, the giveaway offers visitors the chance to treat themselves, whether that’s enjoying a meal, experiencing an immersive attraction or indulging in a spot…