Author: Clare Deane

By Radka Hostasova

As we head towards the end of another year we are slowly approaching the time of the year when shopping plays an important role! Hunting Christmas presents can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially in busy supermarkets and crowded high streets dominated by persistent adverts and ‘this year’s must-haves’. 

How about changing the routine this year and instead discover the gems amongst local businesses? Buying from small, independent businesses has a number of advantages.

• By purchasing a gift from a local seller you’ll not only be spreading the joy between your friends and family, you’ll also bring a big smile to the face behind a small business. 
• You’ll be supporting the local creative economy.
• Many independent sellers items are handcrafted, which means that every single piece is original and unique. Additionally, handmade products are often made using sustainable techniques and eco-friendly materials. 
• And finally, shopping local has a much more personal feel. You can get to know the person behind the business and feel even more connected to your local area.

So, if we’ve convinced you to visit local businesses we have listed the most popular shops and events where you can shop independent in Liverpool.

1. Shop at independent gift shops

Liverpool is bursting with lots of talented designers and artists. Popping into an independent store is the best way to see their work and purchase a piece from them. Merseymade is a great place to pick up gifts from a vast array of artists. Located in the heart of Liverpool, Merseymade is divided into a shopping area and a cute café on the ground floor. Moreover, the first floor serves as a studio space for artists to create and engage with customers. 

Ten Streets Market and Red Brick Market are also worth visiting to stock up on gifts. Both markets are in the industrial zones – whereas Ten Streets is located the north of Liverpool, Red Brick can be found in Baltic Triangle. However, both places offer a range of local food, drinks, artworks and fashion.

2. Shop online with Good Liverpool

Online shopping can be more convenient for a lot of us, and the good news is you can still shop locally, online, with Good Liverpool. The platform is filled with positive vibes, celebrating sellers who make a good impact and encouraging buyers to shop with purpose. As their slogan says: ‘Do good. Feel good.’

3. Local Arts & Crafts Markets

Meeting local artists and business owners in person is always a one of a kind experience. For customers who prefer wandering around a number of different stalls, Liverpool has so much to offer.  

Open Culture curates huge, twice-yearly Arts Markets in Liverpool Cathedral. The Arts Markets gather some the best local artists, makers and creators in Liverpool and the North West under one roof for one of the most popular arts market in the region. Tickets for the Winter Arts Markets on Friday 3 & Saturday 4 December are on sale now.

The charming environment of Sefton Park’s Palm House also hosts pop-up markets. Palm House visitors can shop from small businesses, grab a cup of coffee and homemade cake and enjoy live music.

However, the possibilities of local shopping go beyond with the Good Market organised by Good Liverpool. Events are held on monthly basis in Chapters of Us, Dovedale Towers or Pins Social Club on Duke Street. Similarly, MAKE Liverpool invites customers to Summer and Winter Arkade Market located in The Invisible Wind Factory. 

4. Independent record shops

There is no doubt that Liverpool has a rich music heritage and music lovers with a weakness for vinyl have also many options to shop local. 

Probe Records is an independent store at The Bluecoat. Similar treasures can be found in 81 Renshaw, Defend Vinyl on Smithdown Road, Penny Lane Records, or Phase One on Seel Street. For those who don’t mind taking a journey over the water, Rockpoint Records in New Brighton awaits!

5. Independent plant shops

Not just handmade gifts, food and drinks can be sourced locally. Several small businesses in Liverpool focus on selling plants that come from around the world. While shopping in the city centre, you can visit Lisa in her beautiful store Root Houseplants in the Bluecoat. If you prefer hanging around Lark Lane, you shouldn’t miss Freida Mo’s – a colourful, vibrant place selling plants, gifts and vintage fashion.

What’s better than walking through vibrant tapestries of red, gold and brown leaves crunching under your feet? Here’s our pick of the best Autumnal walks around Liverpool.

Sefton Park

Arguably the most popular park in Liverpool, playing host to major annual events such as Africa Oye, Sefton Park is a stunning Grade I listed heritage site, steeped in history and beautiful landscapes. You could easily spend a full day there, with something to do for everyone. Why not grab yourself a hot drink from the Aviary Cafe or Lakeside Cafe before setting off on your walk? Tick off the many statues and monuments as you go, and take in the sights of the caves, ponds and waterfalls, such as the iconic Fairy Glen. Don’t forget to take a stroll over to the Palm House, too, where there will likely be something going on that you can check out. 

Croxteth Park

Situated at the opposite end of the city, Croxteth Park is another of Liverpool’s biggest outdoor spaces, boasting 500 acres of woodland and wildlife. Take your pick of the many paths and trails, where you might stumble upon horses and cattle. You could make this trip several times and each time have a different experience. Make sure you try out the different drinks and catering vendors; a particular highlight is the hot chocolate from Lola-in-the-Courtyard or Nutella-topped donuts outside of Croxteth Hall.

Calderstones Park

A visit to Calderstones Park in the autumn is an absolute must. Head over to the lake where you can feed the ducks and geese (if it’s not already frozen over, that is!) or take a walk through the Botanical Gardens featuring almost 4,000 species of plants. Take a break from your stroll and cosy up with a book at the Reader Cafe, where they serve up breakfast, lunch and desserts. 

Allerton Country Walk

If you fancy a lengthy walk, then definitely try out the Allerton Country Walk. It is around 7 miles long, taking around two to three hours to complete. You might want to begin at Calderstones Park, being sure to take in the incredible features of the park, just a few listed above. From there, the next stop is Allerton Towers, following through to Clarke Gardens, Camp Hill and Woolton Woods. Next up is the hidden gem that is Reynolds Park, home to a walled garden and topiary garden that make for amazing photo opportunities. Finally, you will visit Black Woods and Childwall Woods, the latter of which is a Local Nature Reserve. Check out the full route guide and map here.

Freshfield, Formby

This is a route that can be split into two, or joined together for one longer walk. Beginning at Freshfield Station, the first section is 3 miles long and takes you out to the coast following the Sefton Coastal Path. Absorb the views of the Mersey Estuary, Welsh Mountains and Irish Sea, before heading through the pinewoods where you can keep an eye out for Red Squirrels. The second section is 4.25 miles long and takes you through the countryside via inland Formby. Find the full guide and map here.

Hale Village

Take a round trip from Hale Village that follows the Mersey Way along the shore. Take in the sights of Hale Marsh, which is filled with wildlife, and the decommissioned Hale Head Lighthouse. Continue down the path that runs alongside the shore until you find yourself back in the village. 

Festival Gardens

Festival Gardens is arguably the most unique of these spaces, with the addition of oriental gardens and pagodas. It is a tranquil space, set back behind rows and rows of trees. Why not park up in Otterspool and follow the promenade until you find the Festival Gardens.

Georgian Quarter

If the messiness of the countryside isn’t for you, then maybe take a stroll through Liverpool’s Georgian Quarter. Set in the Canning area of the city, on the border of Toxteth and the city centre, the Georgian Quarter is perfect if you’re a lover of 18th Century architecture. The beautiful townhouses that were once home to the city’s wealthiest residents now house some perfect little spots to eat and drink. Just on Hope Street alone, you will find iconic venues such as the Everyman Theatre and the Philharmonic Hall, bookended by The Anglican and Metropolitan Cathedrals. Some hidden gems can also be found if you take the cobbled back streets off Hope Street and Faulkner Street.

Botanic Gardens

Another piece of history lies in the Botanic Gardens in Wavertree, that once played an important role in the recreational and cultural life of Liverpool Residents before World War II, when the great glasshouses were destroyed. There’s still plenty to admire here with the walled garden, the ornamental carpet bedding and the ornamental fountain, summerhouse, fishpond and aviary.

As the spooky season returns we take a look at the Halloween events happening in Liverpool from crafty classes to family days out.

Otterspool Adventure’s Ottersghoul 

Otterspool Adventure will be hosting their Ottersghoul event this Halloween, featuring Pumpkins Passage Maze, Monster Motel – A live action Scare Maze for the whole family, a full live production spooky show, Halloween Parade, Pumpkin Patch, breath-taking illusions, fire and spooky songs, plus more.

Saturday 23 – Sunday 31 October
Price: Children £15, 12 to 23 months £6, adults £7, concession £6. Buy tickets here.

Drag Halloween

Enjoy cabaret, bingo, popcorn and fizz with FunnyBoyz Liverpool who present Drag Halloween (ages 14+) at Blundell Supper Club.

Saturday 30 October
Price: From £21.79. Book your tickets here.

Wing It

‘Wing It’ theatre company is telling six original horror stories with live music in the intimate setting of The Bunker, located deep below the Liverpool Arts Bar based on Hope Street.

Friday 29 October
Price: £10. Book tickets

Little Shop Of Horrors Film Screening

Whether you’ve never seen this classic spooky film from 1986 or if it’s your firm favourite, the British Music Experience screening is a must for film fans. 

Little Shop Of Horrors is about orphan Seymour Krelborn (Rick Moranis) who works at Mushnik’s, a flower shop in urban Skid Row. When he finds a mysterious unidentified plant, he calls it Audrey II after his co-worker who he has a crush on. It’s not long before Seymour realises the odd plant has a craving for blood, and so he feeds it Audrey’s boyfriend.

Thursday 28 October, 7pm
Price: £8 adults, £6 child/concession. Buy tickets here.

 

Paint and Sip – Halloween Starry Night

Join Liverpool Arts Bar for a creative afternoon of drinking and painting in the heart of Liverpool. You don’t need any previous painting experience as this two hour step-by-step painting session is led by their experienced artist and assistants. All painting materials will be provided and you’ll get to go home with your completed masterpiece.

Saturday 30 October
Price: £30.81 Book tickets

Make North Docks Crafty Classes

Make have a variety of half term Halloween themed classes that kids will love, including Decorate Your Own Pumpkin Piñata, Make A Golden Snitch, Make A Magic Wand. All children must be accompanied by an adult at these classes.

Various dates
Price: £16.76 (1 ticket= 1x child and accompanied adult).

Halloween Flower School Class

Join Booker Flowers for an evening of Autumnal flower arranging. This flower arranging evening class will cover a selection of different floral techniques and you will create your own Halloween-themed floral arrangement, which you can take home to enjoy.

Wednesday 27 October from 6pm till 8pm
Price: £45 which includes all materials to make your bespoke arrangement with fresh flowers. Book tickets.
Booker Flowers and Gifts, Booker Avenue, Liverpool, L18 4QY

 

Katumba Halloween Parade

Every Halloween, Katumba transforms Liverpool City Centre into a playground of imagination, inspiring and engaging audiences with big, bold, visual outdoor shows and performances; an immersive spectacle of drums, fire, lights, dance, theatre and more.

Traffic free Croxteth Park Family Halloween Bike Ride

This is a traffic free 2 mile cycle ride within Croxteth Hall & Country Park. Get dressed up in your best Halloween costumes and there will be a treat for all children who participate. For more info visit their Facebook event page.

Halloween At The Florrie Community Cinema

After the success of their summer movie screenings The Florrie Community Cinema is re-opening for a spooktacular day of Halloween films.

Join them in their Grand Hall to watch some Halloween classics on their huge 20ft screen. There will be three screenings; two family friendly films (The Addams Family 2019 & Hocus Pocus 1993) and a 15+ screening in the evening (The Rocky Horror Picture Show 1975). All children must be accompanied by an adult. Fancy dress is encouraged.

Sunday 31 October
Price: Tickets are just £1 for children & £5 for adults & are available in person from The Florrie or online here. 

FACT Halloween Film Screenings

FACT will be showing Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical, The Rocky Horror Show on the big screen this Halloween, along with a Kids Club screening of Hocus Pocus and a special 25th Anniversary screening of Scream.

 

Check out our What’s On section for all the latest arts and cultural events.

Find out more about the eclectic calendar of events taking place in Liverpool to celebrate Black History Month.

Black to the Future: Saturday 16 October 2021

 

Black to The Future is an exciting two part event will focus on a debut Documentary facilitated by Go Off Sis, Elev8 and Julian Gilly focussing on L8 and their impactful work deriving straight from the local Black community.

7pm-10pm
24 Kitchen Street, Liverpool
Entry/Tickets: Free

Routes & Roots-Festival of the African Diaspora: Saturday 16 – 30 October 2021

Routes & Roots Festival Opening
Saturday 16 October 2021, 12 noon – 5pm
St Luke’s Bombed Out Church, Leece Street, Liverpool, L1 2TR

A day of workshops for all ages, introducing the public to different art forms and activities including African and Brazilian dance, drumming, capoeira, slavery tours on bikes and more.

Community Workshops
Sunday 17 – Saturday 30 October 2021, Various Times
Kuumba Imani Millennium Centre, 4 Princes Road, Liverpool, L8 1TH
Caribbean Centre, Merseyside Caribbean Centre, 1 Amberley Street, Liverpool, L8 1YJ
Pal Multicultural Centre, 68A Mulgrave Street, Liverpool, L8 2TF
Katumba Culture Hub, #1 John Archer Hall, 68 Upper Hill Street, Liverpool, L8 1YR
Asylum Link Merseyside, St Anne’s Centre, 7 Overbury Street, Liverpool, L7 3HJ

A range of workshops that will give participants the chance to learn skills and build props they can showcase at the Katumba Halloween Carnival performances on Sunday 31 October.

This will also include online workshops with international guest artists as well as a creative exchange day with all facilitators to inform and bring together the collaborative aspect of the 31 October activities.

Saturday 16 – Sunday 31 October, Various Times
Various Locations
Entry/Tickets: Free

BlackFest Hip-Hop Dance For All: Tuesday 19 October 2021

BlackFest’s Borderline Funk group are proud to present a verbatim piece of Theatre for Social Change based on the theme of ‘Protest’. BlackFest are passionate about people having a voice, the right to use that voice, be heard and listened to in a peaceful way. Everyone has the right to express themselves and be respected. We’ve all experienced times in our life when it has been hard to have our voices heard. The arts are a powerful medium for expression and here you will be presented with a dynamic, political performance combining multiple art forms to express the passion of this ethos.

By Unity Theatre in partnership with BlackFest
7.30pm
Unity Theatre, 1 Hope Place, Liverpool, L1 9BG
Tickets: £12 per person / £10.50 Concession /£6 Creative Membership / Carers FREE

Roni Size x LTJ Bukem:  Saturday 23 October 2021

Coming together for this headline show are LTJ Bukem and English DJ and record producer Roni Size. An event for the night owls that will keep you moving right through to the earlier hours of the morning.

11:00pm – 4:00am  Ages 18+
Invisible Wind Factory, 3 Regent Road, Liverpool L3 7DS
Tickets: £10.45

1981 Liverpool 8 Uprisings 40th Anniversary Exhibition: Friday 22 October – Wednesday 22 December 2021

Writing on the Wall and Liverpool Record Office present an original exhibition remembering the 1981 Liverpool 8 Uprisings. ‘The Toxteth Riots’, as they were dubbed by the media were a reaction and response by the L8 community to many years of racists policing, brutality and racism, aimed at the community and individuals. This exhibition displays many of the news material from 1981 and reveals the extensive L8 Law Centre collection.

Time TBC
Liverpool Central Library, William Brown Street, Liverpool L3 8EW
Free. No booking necessary

On Record Merseyside: Saturday 23 October – Sunday 7 November 2021

On Record Merseyside is a curated celebration and exploration of Black music in Liverpool and the role it has played in the city and in communities over the past 70 years.

Following the success of 2020’s On Record: Untold & Retold, the 2021 edition will include:

• A collaborative music making project entitled the Liverpool ONE Project – Take Two, artistically directed by L100’s DJ 2Kind in association with Go Play Studios.
• GRIME > PUNK, in partnership with TATE and University of Liverpool. The day event will reflect how Grime is Punk for this new generation and will include a debate, live performances, workshops and an exhibition of art and fashion
• A Black music on Merseyside seminar at the British Music Experience. The event will include the launch of the Liverpool City Region Music Board’s Black music manifesto, a series of roundtables and a number of guest speakers.
• The premiere of the BEATS OF HEART Black music trail, presented by poet and performer, Curtis Watt.
• A DJ clash club night presented by 24 Kitchen Street featuring an assortment of the best Black music DJs in the region.
• A series of exclusive podcasts including 4 new Untold Stories and a live recording of a special episode of Mellowtone’s Beneath The Merseybeat.

Black Market: Sunday 24 October 2021

Black Market brings together a wide range of locally produced products  – art, film, photography, fashion, food and tunes, plus much more. Interactive workshops will unfold throughout the day at this progressive event. The aim of this market is to champion Black talent and the organisers envision a year-round regular event in the future.

24 Kitchen Street, 24 Kitchen Street, Liverpool
Entry/Tickets: Free

Sessions: Monday 25 October 2021

Sessions is a discussion with Ifeyinwa Frederick, a 30 year old back man who engages his audience in a raw and honest look into the complexities associated with masculinity, depression and therapy. The Esmée Fairburn Foundation and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation are supporting this event.

Unity Theatre, 1 Hope Place, Liverpool L1 9BG
Book Tickets: www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk
Tickets: £10 – £12

Katumba Halloween Carnival: Sunday 31 October

Join the Katumba Halloween Carnival, part of the new ‘Routes & Roots-Festival of the African Diaspora’, which is a partnership with the newly formed Black & Brown Social Traders Network (BlaST).

Be ready to have your senses bewitched with an all-immersive spectacle, a hybrid of visual performance, theatre and music this Halloween. Stay tuned for highlights on the artists taking part and the revealing of the devious characters, as well as how YOU can take part!

5pm – 9pm
St Luke’s Bombed Out Church, Leece Street, Liverpool, L1 2TR
Church Street, Liverpool, L1 3AP
Liverpool ONE, Sugar House Steps, 2 Thomas Steers Way, Liverpool, L1 8LW
Free. No booking necessary

Since the ‘90s Clinic have stood out from the crowd. Never once wanting to follow the conventional path, their ever-evolving, post-punk psychedelia sounds has enraptured fans across the world.

From their debut 2000 album Internal Wrangler, Clinic released stellar albums every two years up until 2012’s Free Reign. Then, after a seven year absence they returned with the stand out Wheeltappers and Shunters, confirming that they’d lost none of their unique quality during that break.

In October, they return with their 9th album, Fantasy Island, so we caught up with frontman Ade Blackburn to find out more about their latest record, the band’s influences, favourite gigs and more.

Uncover Liverpool: You’re back with the new album Fantasy Island on 22nd October, what can you tell us about it?

Ade Blackburn: It’s a fun and exotic sounding album, in keeping with the tropical title. We thought it’d be good to make something colourful at the moment to combat the darker side of things.

Uncover: How did making this album compare with previous ones?

Ade: We went down a more pop and electronic route than before, which really opened things up to fresh ideas. It felt a lot easier and more enjoyable to make.

Uncover Liverpool: Each of your albums has been completely distinct from any of your other releases. Does that come easily to you or do you feel a pressure to make a completely unique record?

Ade: It doesn’t always come easy, we have to work at it. With each record we try and use different and unusual/vintage instruments (whether we can play them or not!), that approach usually means you get a different end result.

Uncover: Is there a favourite/standout track on the new album for you?

Ade: My favourite is ‘Refractions (in the rain) it’s our semi-serious take on eurodisco and quite a demented dancefloor number. It’s probably the most out-there song on the Lp.

Uncover: You’ve had to postpone your planned gigs for now, but are you excited about playing live again?

Ade: Unfortunately we had to postpone due to illness but hopefully we’ll be playing live soon. It has felt a really long time. 

Uncover: It feels like your on stage look will actually feel very relevant in the current climate, with the pandemic making masks commonplace! Can we still expect to see you in masks and surgical scrubs?

Ade: Yes such a strange turn of events, I never thought we’d see that. We’ll be back with masks and scrubs but with a different twist based around the totally tropical theme.

Uncover: Favourite gig/s you’ve ever played?

Ade: My favourite was playing a London gig for the DJ John Peel. I’d always been a regular listener so it was nice to be asked. He was very supportive of the band and I think everyone still misses him and the programme even now. 

Uncover: Favourite song/s to perform live?

Ade: I’d say Ferryboat of the Mind, a nice merseybeat instrumental and Shopping Bag, a full on demented punk song. It’s good to have a mixture of things live. 

Uncover: Is there somewhere in the world you’d really like to play that you haven’t yet?

Ade: I’d like to play in South America, I’ve never been, the audiences seem passionately into music and dancing, which would suit us down to the ground.

Uncover: What’s the music writing and production process like for Clinic?

Ade: We record everything ourselves so it’s fairly self-contained and DIY. With the writing, the songs are based around rhythms and then we let the ideas develop from there.

Uncover: Do you have any particular goals or ideals that you want to push forward with the music and have those changed over the years?

Ade: I think it’s essential that less mainstream music is still heard. Our ideals and goals are all wrapped up in that, to keep an alternative going. Not just with ourselves but other bands and artists.

Uncover: Who are your main influences, and have your influences changed over the years?

Ade: The influences have changed over the years, the new songs have quite an 80s pop influence, from things like Fun Boy Three and Kid Creole and The Coconuts. The main underlying influences though would be early rock ‘n’ roll and The Velvet Underground.

Uncover: Favourite review or feature someone’s ever written about you?

Ade: We were featured in Vanity Fair as an example of eccentric Liverpudlians, which I was quite chuffed about.

Uncover: Favourite current Liverpool bands?

Ade: I like Eyesore and The Jinx and also Prison Behaviour, they’ve both got a really good sense of humour to their music and visuals.

Uncover: What’s next for Clinic? Will there be another album on the way after Fantasy Island?

Ade: Yes all things being well, we’ll be back with more mayhem and eccentricity!

 

Clinic’s new album Fantasy Island, is out on 22nd October and you can pre-order the Limited Edition Colour Vinyl now via https://www.dominomusic.com/artists/clinic

If you’re looking for some lesser known places to explore in Liverpool, what about the UK’s last video shop, an electic museum or National Trust property you might not know of?

1. VideOdyssey

‘The UK’s last video shop’ is right here in Liverpool. VideOdyssey on Windsor Street, Toxteth will transport you back to the days of VHS. Not only does VideOdyssey have thousands of VHS tapes lined up in their 8 foot high video walls but you can also catch screenings of some classic films in their cinema room.  And as if that wasn’t enough there’s also an arcade room with 12 vintage games including Street Fighter, Space Invaders and Pac Man. The whole place is a thing of beauty.

2. Arts Hub 47

Arts Hub 47 is a community cooperative for artists, designers, makers and crafters. This open hub on Aigburth Road is a place for like minded people to come together and share skills and is a unique way to support local artists.

3. Hardman’s House

The Georgian Quarter is full of history and if you take a walk down to 59 Rodney Street you can get a real taste of the the 1950’s at the Hardman’s House. The National Trust property gives visitors the chance to explore the home and photography studio of Edward and Margaret Hardman.

4. Victoria Gallery

The University of Liverpool’s Victoria Gallery aims is to amaze and amuse their visitors with an incredible collection of curiosities from their 127 year history. A unique museum, in that where else would you find the world’s most important display of false teeth under the same roof as an exhibition of fine art?

5. Sudley House

The historic Sudley House was built in 1824 and is now a museum and art gallery, containing the collection of George Holt, a shipping-line owner and former resident. Since 1990 National Museums Liverpool have been gradually returning the downstairs rooms to the style in which they were decorated and furnished when the Holts lived in the house.

Positive Vibration Festival of Reggae makes a welcome return this year, on 10 & 11 September, after the pandemic made it impossible for the event to go ahead last year. And they’re back with an incredible festival lineup.

Since the Reggae festival’s inception in 2016, Positive Vibration has become one of the country’s most exciting and eclectic festivals. It’s played host to internationally renowned bands, legendary sound systems & selectors, and some of the best up and coming talent.

The festival is a stand out on the Liverpool scene due to the programme of events they host during the festival weekend. Not only is the music schedule packed, but there’s also the annual Art of Reggae exhibition, family activities and workshops, as well as the Jamdown food, drink and crafts market.

Positive Vibration Festival of Reggae Music Lineup

Legendary reggae artist, Dawn Penn, will grace the stage at this year’s festival, joining an already stellar line-up, which includes Asian Dub Foundation, Mad Professor, Hollie Cook, Twinkle Brothers, Gentleman’s Dub Club, Zion Train, General Levy, Congo Natty, Mungo’s Hi Fi, Neville Staple, Jah Wobble, Tippa Irie and Benjamin Zephaniah.

One of the original queens of reggae music, Penn released her first single “When I’m Gonna Be Free” in 1966. “You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No)” has become one of reggae’s most iconic songs.

With six stages to choose from, audiences will be spoiled for choice by a wide range of reggae acts around every corner.

The full music line-up includes:

Asian Dub Foundation // The Twinkle Brothers // Mad Professor // Gentleman’s Dub Club // Dawn Penn & The Maticians // Hollie Cook // Zion Train // Tippa Irie // Congo Natty // General Levy & Joe Ariwa // Don Letts //  Channel One // Horseman & The Upper Cut Band // Mungo’s Hi Fi // Benjamin Zephaniah & The Revolutionary Minds //  Ruts DC // Kiko Bun // From The Specials – Neville Staple Band // Krafty Kuts Ft. Dynamite MC // Jah Wobble & The Invaders of The Heart // Iration Steppas Ft. Murray Man // The Nextmen Ft. Gardna // DJ Vadim Ft. Jman // O.B.F Ft. Sr. Wilson // Charlie P // Sister Aisha // Congo Dubz & Iron Dread // Sinai Sound System // Kioko // Aleighcia Scott // FutureDub Orchestra // Oxman // Adam Prescott //  Dub Link Up Ft. Mc Mad-X // Count Skylarkin’ // Kingston Express // Levi Tafari // Rubber Dub // One A Penny // DJ Fadda B // Buddha // Keith Marley // The Liquidator V Ska-Lette Fever

Positive Vibration 2021 Timetable

Additional Festival Events

The Art of Reggae exhibition, a collaboration between Positive Vibration and the international Reggae Poster Contest, will once again showcase a series of reggae-inspired posters designed by illustrators & artists from across the globe.

Additionally, there’s an action-packed weekend of family activities and workshops, including dub poetry, drumming & movement, dance, capoeira, arts & crafts and screen-printing.

The activities and workshops will be hosted by Levi Tafari, Katumba, Capoeira For All, Movema, Square Pegs, The Paper Moon and Curtis Watt. There will also be a special live performance from festival favourites, Staged Kaos.

Children and young people are welcome to the festival on both days, with free entry for kids under 12. However, please note, anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian and there’s a curfew of 9pm on both days.

Also at this year’s festival DJ, filmmaker & broadcaster, Don Letts will be bringing his ‘There and Back Again’ book tour to this year’s Positive Vibration Festival. There will be a book reading, signing and Q&A hosted by award-winning music journalist and friend of the festival, John Robb.

 

And if you’re still after more, then the Jamdown Market will be on hand with a host of traders offering a diverse selection of food, drink, records, clothes, arts & crafts, jewellery, health and well-being.

Positive Vibration Festival founder Rory Taylor said:

“The past 18 months has been a long hard slog and extremely challenging at times, but we can see the light, and couldn’t be happier that Positive Vibration Festival is returning to the Baltic Triangle next month.

We’ve got an incredible line-up of bands, artists, sound systems, DJs & selectors, celebrating the best in reggae, roots, dub, dancehall, 2tone, punk, jungle, drum n bass, rub a dub and steppas. We’ll also be hosting the Liverpool leg of Don Letts’ There and Black Again Book Tour, as well the Art of Reggae Exhibition and loads of fantastic workshops & activities, including dub poetry, dance, capoeira, drumming, beatboxing, screen-printing, and arts & crafts.

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s smiling faces, catching up with old friends and meeting new people. I also can’t wait to feel the heavyweight bass. I’ve missed it!”

Tickets are still available for Positive Vibration Festival here.

A number of new art installations and activations are popping up across Liverpool city centre this summer.

The Very Public Art campaign will see art commissions showcasing local artists and creators, giving them the platform to tell stories through their work. Earlier this month, the first of these installations was on display in the gardens of St Nicholas Parish Church. And These Birds Can Sing was a magical sound, art and nature trail of birdhouses is a celebration of women’s voices, encouraging visitors to reflect, remember and be inspired.

And These Birds Can Sing provided a taste of what’s to come this summer and here we’re taking a closer look at each installation you’ll be able to see over the next few months.

Holiday Home

6 August 2021 – 5 September 2021.

Richard Woods’ vibrant installation Holiday Home is on display in Custom House Place, Liverpool ONE.

Holiday Home is modelled on an everyday British bungalow scaled to a third of its size. The size makes it doll-like and intimate, but architectural in feel not like an architectural model. The artist, who usually replicates recognisable objects with vibrant colours and prints, was inspired by his 1970s childhood home interior and interests in home renovation, DIY culture, and notions of taste. The neon colours, and black lines which he is particularly keen on, trademark his cartoon style and it is this cartoon appearance that separates the house from the real world in which it sits.

Mersey Sounds

15 August 2021 – 7 September 2021.

Mersey Sounds is a recreation of Liverpool’s Speaker’s Corner, designed by Liverpool Sculptor Arthur Dooley (1929-94), which was situated on the waterfront from 1973-1990. It was a site for speeches, rallies and demonstrations during Liverpool’s turbulent industrial and political past.

The 12.5-meter structure of steel columns and beams finds at its heart a giant handmade copper megaphone to reflect Liverpool’s tradition as a democratic city and the need to share our voices and stories.

Mersey Sounds is a collaboration between Arts Organisation of the Liverpool Year of Writing, Writing on the Wall and award-winning Architect, Daniel Smith of Liverpool’s Smith Young Architects. The historic connection between the original Speakers Corner and Mersey Sounds is that Daniel Smith’s father was the steel erector who worked with Sculptor Arthur Dooley when he created the original Speakers Corner.

The project is also a collaboration with Liverpool’s communities as it will feature a changing sound scape of speeches and stories gathered from the diverse groups WoW works with, to recognise the democratic traditions of the original design and encourage engagement from both longstanding and new communities who are reshaping Liverpool, an ever-changing city.

Winds of Change

17 September 2021 – 5 October 2021.

Winds of Change was commissioned by St George’s Quarter CIC and designed by Simon Armstrong of Design Laser Play in collaboration with Laura Pullig and with support from DoES Liverpool.

It is a working windmill installation that celebrates the past, present and future of St George’s Quarter, its links to industry and the development of the city of Liverpool as a whole.

The self-sufficient windmill will have moving elements and uses some of the earliest renewable energy technology to produce its own power by harnessing the wind.

This will provide electricity for LED illumination of laser cut imagery all around the structure while also powering the modern day technological devices installed inside. The Windmill will be on display in St George’s Quarter from 17 September to 5 October. As well as the stunning spectacle of the installation, there will be a programme of workshops taking place around St George’s Quarter to celebrate the history of the area.

From Now On

9 August 2021 – 6 October 2021.

From Now On is an artwork consisting of 4 giant letters: H,O,P & E which have been filled with donated items that hold a personal ‘pandemic story’ to people from across the city.

The memories they conjure may be fond or they may be bittersweet. They might make people smile or make them cry. Either way this personal, symbolic, fun and poignant artwork asks us to remember what we have learnt about ourselves over the past few months as well as to embrace the audacity of hope.

Cowheard and the Weaver Girl

14 August 2021 – 28 August 2021.

Cowheard and The Weaver Girl is a site specific installation, created by artist Laura Brownhill, which depicts scenes from the mythological story around which the Chinese festival, Qixi is based. The installation is designed to look like you are stepping into a giant pop up children’s book to immerse you into the story. Qixi falls on 14th August – Chinese Valentines Day – a chance to celebrate love, culture, friendship and community.

Statues Redressed

Statues Redressed, a Sky Arts initiative, also forms part of the Very Public Art campaign.

Sky Arts, Northern Town and Culture Liverpool have taken on the city’s statues, grappling with some of the issues around them. As artists, designers and members of the community, they have given them a whole new look by dressing the statues up, or creating art around them.

Almost 50 statues will be revealed throughout the summer and then the story of the project will be presented in a special broadcast on Sky Arts in October. Find out more about Statues Redressed here.

With summer in full swing, here’s our guide to what’s happening in Liverpool this month.

Bridge

Over three days, Culture Liverpool in partnership with Imagineer are set to host a series of free pop-up events and happenings, where ‘Bridge’ becomes the setting for an extraordinary outdoor performance.

Visit ‘Bridge’  by day and enjoy a series of FREE events and experiences created in collaboration with communities and arts organisations from across County District and the wider city.

Friday and Saturday night will see gravity-defying circus acrobatics, dance, comedy, theatre and live music, inspired by local people’s stories, to create a thrilling and moving montage of the courage, compassion and humour needed to bridge a divide.

FestEVOL All Dayer Music Festival

Legendary music promoter EVOL have produced a stellar line up for their FestEVOL all dayer music festival at the Invisible Wind Factory with Kelly Lee Owens headlining. The full lineup: Working Men’s Club, Stealing Sheep, Tea Street Band, IST IST, The Ninth Wave, Walt Disco, Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard, Odd Morris, PIXEY, White Flowers, SKIA, HAARM, The DSM IV, Eyesore & The Jinx, Silent-K, Psycho Comedy, Honey Motel, Oranj Son.

FACT Cinema in the City

A new cinematic experience by FACT will bring the best in new, independent film to extraordinary places across Liverpool, starting with the Cotton Exchange rooftop garden. Cinema in the City gives film fans a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience critically-acclaimed and award-winning films against the backdrop of the city’s iconic architecture.

Heathers – The Musical

Following two smash hit record breaking London West End seasons, Heathers – The Musical embarks on its first national tour. This high octane, black comedy rock musical based on the 1988 film of the same name is back with a bang, missing out might just be the death of you.

Florrie Fest

The Florrie Fest Fundraiser returns on August 28th 2021 with a huge line-up of amazing bands & artists. Confirmed artists includeRed Rum Club (Acoustic), Amiee Stevens, Ali Horn, Beyond Average, David Silcock & The Castaways, Hushtones, Jake Gerard Nolan, Jimmy Allen, Katy Alex, Kieo, Mark Manley, Piss Kitti, Rubber Dub, The Sway.

For more events check out our What’s On section.

Future Yard has quickly become one of the most talked about music venues in Merseyside and rightly so. The 350-capacity space at 75 Argyle Street, Birkenhead promises to be much more than just a music venue. Future Yard will also provide live industry training to budding creatives and will become a regional hub for artist development.

With no established music venues in Birkenhead, 2019’s Future Yard, two-day festival provided a taste of what could be over on the Wirral. Gig-goers from across Merseyside were attracted by the strong lineup which included a special, two-man performance by Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark’s Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys. The festival also gave local, emerging musicians the chance to perform alongside acts who were thriving, like Evian Christ and She Drew The Gun.

Following the success of the festival, it was clear there was an appetite for a permanent venue and this year we’ll see Future Yard bring some of the most exciting national and international artists to Wirral, while providing support slots to local up and coming artists and bands.

The venue also boasts a light and airy bar, coffee shop & kitchen, open all day every day, serving vegan and veggie food, with local craft beers and boss coffee. Additionally, their garden area with bleachers has already proved to be a popular hangout during the sunny weather. Future Yard feels just like the bustling creative hub it set out to be.

COVID-19 has obviously had a huge impact on music venues such as Future Yard but they are committed to realising their vision for the new space.

“We believe that Future Yard is needed now, more than ever before,” says Future Yard co-founder Craig Pennington. “True, it is a challenging time, but we believe the experience of lockdown has shown how powerful a community can be and we want to provide a space for our local community to come together. We’ve also seen an explosion in live streaming and digital performance, which has been hugely welcome and is here to stay, but this does not replace live music. People who love live music have acutely realised how important it is to them, how much of a role it plays in their lives. We’re committed to creating a new venue to champion and support new music in Birkenhead.”

This past month Future Yard hosted touring exhibition, Super Cool Drawing Machine. Presented by Yuppies Music, the exhibition is a celebration of the visual art created by a host of internationally acclaimed, touring musicians. The exhibition featured paintings, photography, drawings, ceramics, digital instillations, recycled arts, sculpture and furniture. Hosting Super Cool Drawing Machine added another layer to the venue and one that we are likely to see explored again in the future.

Additionally, Future Yard recently announced PROPELLER, a new, artist-focused music programme. PROPELLER will provide access to quality studio space, personalised mentorship support, expert knowledge from leading industry minds and a vibrant peer to peer community for budding musicians. Their involvement in actively nurturing and supporting local musicians is arguably more important than ever with the challenges the on-going pandemic have had on the arts industry.

The PROPELLER membership programme is run by the Future Yard management team, alongside the mentors and team of supporting professionals, amassing years of relevant music industry experience. Project lead and mentor Cath Hurley said: 

“Having worked with exciting and emerging talent for the past 15 years, it’s easy to spot where the disconnects lie in the pathway for regional talent who deserve to progress on to a world stage. Local scenes can often feel fragmented and disconnected within themselves, even before artists start working nationally and breaking out to international markets. Future Yard is creating a community where information and experience is shared freely and opportunities can be sought out and maximised in order to grow audiences and revenues. 

Enabling talented musicians to build a viable career is at the heart of what we aim to do, whilst creating a safe and inclusive space for musicians to truly be themselves. We want artists to feel empowered, in control and supported in a community that celebrates their individuality and personality. The wider PROPELLER team is packed full of professionals that inspire us and have achieved great results with special artists. I can’t wait to introduce them to our growing community of local talent. Music in our region is so special and I can’t wait to hear so much of it thudding out of our rehearsal rooms and on to our stage.” 

PROPELLER applications close on Monday 2nd August and you can find out more about the programme here.

As for the venue itself the schedule of gigs already lined up in 2021 offers an insight into the diverse lineup you can expect to watch here, with the likes of Orchestral Movements In The Dark, Henge, Tokky Horror and Sam Brookes and many more coming up over the next few months.

With live music making it’s long-awaited come back, Future Yard is set to be a bustling music hub this summer and far beyond.

Check out the Future Yard website for more information and gig listings.