Pleasure Island are back with a new EP, a suitably outrageous launch show and merch that probably won’t be appearing in your average band shop. Ahead of the release of Now That’s What I Call Sleaze 26, we caught up with Francine – Sean when the day job calls – to talk Penny Lane Weekender, making music about the things you’re not supposed to discuss in polite society, and why a Nier: Automata cosplay is…
A major new touring exhibition exploring stories of journeys, identity and home through photography, art and museum collections will open at Open Eye Gallery in Liverpool this September. New Faces, New Focus: Stories We Share brings together artists, local communities and museums from across the UK, placing personal experiences at the heart of the exhibition. Opening at Open Eye Gallery on 18 September 2026, the exhibition will run until 20 December, with related displays also…
The Power of Performance – why Moon’s poetry truly comes alive when spoken aloud. Project 52 For 26 has always been about voices – singular, striking, often surprising – and this week’s featured poet, Moon, brings all three in abundance. Their chosen piece arrives as an excerpt from a much larger meditation on gender, though it has long since taken on a life of its own. What began as a section within a broader work…
Afloat Theatre has been keeping things relatively quiet of late – but, as anyone involved in the organisation will tell you, quiet does not necessarily mean still. Behind the scenes, Afloat has been busy preparing for what feels like a new chapter, one that expands its already distinctive approach to community, creativity and social change into the world of songwriting and music. Now a Community Interest Company, Afloat has unveiled a programme of forthcoming events…
Following a summer spent celebrating 100 years of radical theatre in Liverpool, Unity Theatre is looking ahead with an Autumn/Winter 2026 season that feels every bit as ambitious. The Hope Place venue has long occupied a distinctive place in Liverpool’s cultural landscape, combining its reputation as one of the city’s most welcoming theatre spaces with a willingness to take risks, platform underrepresented voices and give emerging artists the same stage as nationally acclaimed touring companies.…
For three generations of listeners, the familiar strains of Barwick Green have been an invitation into another world. A world of village fêtes, family feuds, affairs, farming crises, pub gossip and the endlessly complicated lives of the people of Ambridge. Now, as The Archers celebrates its remarkable 75th anniversary, that world is leaving the radio studio and heading for the stage. On Monday 28 September, The Archers: Live at 75 comes to Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, promising a one-off theatrical…
Over the past three decades, family life in the UK has evolved significantly. Although the traditional image of a two-parent household remains common, today’s families are more diverse than ever before. Changing lifestyles and economic pressures have all played a part in reshaping how people live, work and raise children. In Liverpool, a city known for its strong sense of community and family values, these changes are reflected in the many different ways households are…
Future Yard has revealed the first wave of artists set to perform as part of the launch series for its new 600-capacity live music venue in Birkenhead, with Squid, Holly Humberstone, Irvine Welsh, Xzibit, BODEGA and And So I Watch You From Afar among the names announced. The new crowdfunded venue is currently nearing completion at Future Yard’s home on Argyle Street and is expected to open its doors before the end of the year.…
With no formal art training beyond a GCSE at school, Andrea Fagan only recently returned to exploring her creativity. Yet in a relatively short time, she has developed a recognisable style, held exhibitions in Liverpool and London, and had her work selected for the prestigious John Moores Painting Prize. Andrea grew up in London and, after leaving school, worked in several administrative roles before settling into a career in HR. She enjoyed being able to…
Liverpool’s Newsham Scream Park is returning for Halloween 2026 with four new horror experiences and a transformed food and entertainment courtyard created in partnership with The Bus Yard. The popular scare attraction returns to Newsham Park from 9 October, promising its biggest and most immersive Halloween event to date. This year, The Bus Yard will become Newsham Scream Park’s official courtyard partner, bringing its popular street food, drinks and live entertainment to the heart of…
Taskers is set to return to Formby after eight years next week with the opening of a major new 8,000 sq ft home store, and shoppers will be able to celebrate its arrival with an exclusive 10% Bank Holiday discount of every item. Opening its doors on Thursday 27 August, the new Taskers store on Altcar Road will offer a carefully selected range of the retailer’s best-selling furniture, lighting, pictures and mirrors, rugs and home…
Car trouble is frustrating enough without having to worry about finding a garage you can trust. If something has gone wrong with your car in Liverpool, you want to know it’s in good hands and that you’re not going to be hit with work or costs you weren’t expecting. It’s worth looking for a garage with experienced technicians, good customer reviews and the right equipment to find out what’s actually wrong. You may also want…
Dear Somebody, If you love the sound of music, then this is the note for you. Bowring Park is set to host its first ever music festival this weekend, with a packed day of live performances, family activities and local businesses planned. The festival is a free event bringing together performers from across Knowsley and the wider Liverpool City Region. Supported by Better Youth Spaces, the event aims to create more opportunities for young people…
Chloe Jones : Finding Freedom in the Limits of Creativity Creativity often reveals its sharpest edge when it’s hemmed in—when ideas are shaped not by limitless freedom but by the curious discipline of constraint. For Moreton-born writer Chloe Jones, that edge appeared in the form of a playful but demanding exercise at the Spider Project: a list of unrelated words, each contributed by someone in her writing group – Owl. Electricity. Death. Light. Recovery. Cake. Stand. Time. Unicorn.…
Comfort of the Breeze is the latest single from Liverpool-based Irish singer-songwriter Naomi Campbell, following April’s release of track The Cottage. Since her solo debut in March 2024 – alongside her work as part of Americana trio Motel Sundown – Campbell has since gone on to build a name for herself in the scene, supporting touring UK, Ireland and US artists and playing her first UK / Ireland tour. She has received significant support from regional and national radio,…
BBC Introducing LIVE will return to Liverpool this November with a special evening designed to support emerging musicians and music creators in the city. Taking place on Tuesday 10 November, the invite-only event will feature production masterclasses, an industry panel offering advice to new musicians and Q&A sessions hosted by BBC Introducing in Merseyside presenter Dave Monks. The Liverpool event forms part of the legacy of BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend, which was held at…
Quirky Digital, one of the UK’s fastest-growing independent SEO agencies, has been appointed as the official SEO partner for iconic heritage brand Hallmark Cards UK.The partnership will see the Liverpool-based agency lead Hallmark’s national SEO strategy, with a focus on strengthening organic search visibility and supporting the brand’s continued growth across an increasingly competitive online retail landscape. Quirky Digital will provide specialist support across technical SEO, content strategy and Digital PR, helping Hallmark increase its…
More than 1,500 hospitality workers have received life-saving training as part of a series of initiatives designed to make Liverpool city centre safer. The achievement will be among those celebrated at This City Is Ours, a special event bringing together hospitality leaders, local businesses, volunteers and emergency service partners at BOXPARK Liverpool on Wednesday 2 September. Organised by Nightlife CIC and its partners, the event will recognise the people and organisations working behind the scenes…
Liverpool entrepreneur Kate Stewart has raised more than £7,000 to help families struggling with the cost of school uniforms and other essentials. Kate launched her annual school uniform appeal last week, reaching its initial £5,000 target in less than three hours. A further £2,400 has since been donated, bringing the total raised to an incredible £7,400 in under a week. The money will be used to purchase school uniforms, accessories and other essentials for hundreds…
If you’re thinking about buying a home but have missed payments, defaults or a CCJ on your credit history, you might be wondering if getting a mortgage is still possible. Bad credit doesn’t necessarily stop you from getting a mortgage, but it can affect which lenders will consider you, how much deposit you need and the rates available. Your income, existing debts and overall affordability will matter too. If you’re looking to buy in Liverpool,…