On the 9th Dec 2021, Phase One officially re-opens its doors after an almost 8 week refurbishment.
The complex at 40 Seel St will house its now familiar Record Store, the evolution of The Jacaranda’s record store on Slater St, birthplace of The Beatles, with a drinking space behind that focuses on a more mature drinking environment than you might find elsewhere on Seel St. However, this is not a venue to rest on those kinds of laurels. It has bona fide credibility of its own.
In May 2018, Graham Stanley and his team, threw together a little pop up on Seel St that would expand on the much-loved record store above The Jacaranda Bar. It was only supposed to last for 6 months before the real work began, but the world had different plans.
That little pop-up evolved into one of the most talked about grass roots venues in Liverpool, largely due to the skills of Veso Mihaylov, who now runs a booking company We Are Out of Phase along with Graham Stanley, which has recently successfully put on shows by Arlo Parks and Maximo Park.
Phase One hosted Mercury Music prize nominees Black Midi and Georgia, You Me at Six, The Blinders, Unkle, Newton Faulkner, Tim Burgess, Feeder, Fat White Family, Field Music, Gabriel Alpin, Sunset Suns, The Faim, Black Honey, Matt Maltese, helped Pete Doherty and The Puta Madres launch their eponymous album in 2019 and hosted many of Liverpool’s best and brightest including ZuZu, The Red Rum Club, Bill Ryder Jones, Queen Zee, Circa Waves, Spinn, Psycho Comedy, The Heavy North, Bedside Manners, The Hummingbirds, The Peach Fuzz, Nikki and The Waves, Nu Tribe, Paris Youth Foundation, Rats, and Jamie Webster.
The venue also served as home to local jazz institution Parr Jazz, whose finest moment was by far hosting Bokante.
As the pandemic threw a spanner in the live music scene works, Frank Turner came through for the 300-cap venue and played an online fundraiser to help it weather the storm. And it did, but it would never take the same form again.
Forward to April 2021, no one can go inside for a drink and a chat with the friends, and Phase One discovered that it could offer a perfect oasis away from the beautiful chaos that is Seel St, in its beautiful, secluded courtyard. As inside became inbounds again it has hosted some wonderful acoustic sessions from some of Liverpool’s exciting grassroots treasures including Eleanor Nelly, Nocturnal Coast, Fiona Lennon and Martha and Mick from The Hushtones, amongst many others.
Now has come the time for its next transformation.
It has taken the best elements of the things that it has been since May 2018, and is repackaging them into a slightly shinier, permanent, and grown-up exterior. The record store will be making a permanent return under the leadership of Namina Koroma, renowned local DJ. She has been a great ally to the cause of both record store day and ERA since she became part of The Jacaranda Records family 6 years ago.
The record store will greet you from the street, the store is also chart registered, so every purchase of a new release counts toward your favourite artists chart placing. It will be a mix of old technology and new, a lot of the vinyl will be available for a digital listen on our system before you commit to a purchase. The décor with also mix clean lines with a vibrant 70’s aesthetic serving coffees and vibes all through the daytime 7 days a week.
See their website here.