Barbara Dickson is the artist that has played Liverpool Philharmonic Hall the most, first appearing on our stage back in 1977. Last year, she made one final stop here on Hope Street on her farewell tour but since it’s a special occasion, and to celebrate the Music Room’s tradition of welcoming big names for intimate shows, Barbara is back with us tonight for a one-off concert in the Music Room.
In this special semi-acoustic show, Barbara Dickson and her pianist/producer Nick Holland explore her catalogue of songs, letting the words and melodies take centre stage as she performs a wonderful range of material encompassing her folk roots, contemporary greats, and her classic hits too.
Liverpool Philharmonic throws open its doors for a day filled with music! Everyone’s welcome, so drop in, enjoy a packed programme of musical taster sessions and experiences, and discover everything we’ve got on offer…
Whether you’re a regular, or you’ve never been to the Hall before, come along and explore a whole world of musical opportunities right on your doorstep.
This is a free event. Please note, there is no advance booking available for this event and seating is unreserved
A Celebration of Scottish Folk Music Celebrating the Music Room’s rich history of championing folk music – and continuing our tour of incredible traditional music from across the home nations – we’re heading north of the border. Tonight, we’re welcoming back some of Scotland’s finest folk artists – award-winning trad pioneer Anna Massie and the magnificent Breabach, who return to the Music Room for the fifth time.
Celebrating the Music Room’s rich history of championing folk music – and continuing our tour of incredible traditional music from across the home nations – we’re heading north of the border. This afternoon, we’re welcoming back some of Scotland’s finest folk artists – the multi award-winning RURA and, appearing in the Music Room for the fifth time, Siobhan Miller.
In every corner of Britain, there are tales to be told – and great folk artists ready to tell them through song. Here in the Music Room, we have a proud folk music tradition, and so as part of our tenth anniversary celebrations we’re shining a spotlight on folk musicians from across the home nations, celebrating their countries and their music. First up, we welcome three captivating Welsh artists – VRï, Cerys Hafana and 9Bach – back to the Music Room.
Please note that this is a standing event. If you have any access needs, please contact the Box Office on 0151 709 3789.
Over the last decade, we’ve worked closely with cultural groups from across the city to bring a whole world of music to our stage. One of those key partnerships has been with LUMA Creations – an organisation that showcases the vibrancy and spirit of Latin America. Now, LUMA is celebrating 50 years since its founders came to Liverpool as refugees, and of course it’s our tenth anniversary too, so we know they’ll be bringing a real party…
Tonight, LUMA returns to the Music Room with La Feria Festival for the third year running, bringing with them a powerful evening of musical innovation and cultural connection, as the acclaimed Antonio Monasterio Ensamble makes their UK debut.
Legendary musician and broadcaster Tom Robinson has become a bit of a regular in the Music Room over the years, bringing much anticipated shows to our stage every year. So, of course, we had to have him back – now for the fourth time – as part of our anniversary celebrations, and he’s bringing a real treat of an evening.
Tom Robinson presents an evening of songs and stories from fifty years wandering the wilder shores of the record industry. Classic hits such as ‘War Baby’, ‘Up Against The Wall’, and ‘2-4-6-8 Motorway’ rub shoulders with a Radio 1 ban for being ‘Glad To be Gay’, rocking against racism with The Clash, writing songs with Elton John, headlining Glasto with Peter Gabriel, drug smuggling in East Germany, two nervous breakdowns and a year in tabloid hell after falling in love with a woman. Plus fan favourites from his vast back catalogue, spanning Café Society in 1975 to his acclaimed 2015 comeback album, Only The Now.
Ian Prowse’s Monday Club at the Cavern is the stuff of legend, and Ian himself is a legend in the Music Room. So it only makes sense that we combine the two as part of our Music Room 10 celebrations. Ian Prowse – the Music Room’s most frequent performer – joins us to present a curated showcase of some of his favourite artists in a very special edition of the Monday Club.
Liverpool Biennial returns this summer once again showcasing cutting-edge contemporary visual art across the city region. Running alongside it is the Independents Biennial, with 22 newly commissioned works by 64 artists. Independents Biennial sets out to highlight the incredible work of the city’s grassroots artists, an integral part of the backbone of Liverpool’s creative scene.
Independent galleries and Liverpool’s creative networks are placed into the spotlight, as artists are given a chance to make a name for themselves in the UK’s largest and longest-running free festival of art, as well as celebrating Liverpool’s creativity and cultural significance.
What makes the Independents Biennial truly special is its commitment to non-traditional spaces. Art isn’t just confined to galleries – the festival utilises all spaces to showcase its artists work, including Hilbre Island off the coast of the Wirral, Belle Vale shopping centre and empty units in St Helens town centre. It celebrates the versatility of art, and how artists can use any space and turn anything into phenomenal, thought-provoking pieces of art.
Independents Biennial will span each of Liverpool’s six boroughs, with each location offering something unique and inspirational. Sefton, Knowsley, Wirral, St Helens, Halton and Liverpool city centre will host these 64 independent artists and provide them and their work with a home for the summer.
Independents Biennial: Our Highlights
While the entire programme promises to be unforgettable, we’ve picked out a few exhibitions that are especially worth checking out…
The Right Map by Ghost Art School
You won’t want to miss The Right Map by Ghost Art School, a collective that exists between margins and creates art that challenges the conventions of traditional institutions. The Right Map is described as “a constellation of art exhibitions across Liverpool, unfolding under the banner of the Independents Biennial.” It brings together a series of exhibitions across the city region, including UNSTABLE in Port Sunlight, In Search of Swallows and Amazons in Kensington, Account in Birkenhead, and Slipstream on Blundell Street in the city centre.
Tom Stockley and Ruaíri Valentine
Building on this theme of place and disruption, Tom Stockley and Ruaíri Valentine bring their deep dive into Wirral psychogeography to the festival with Weird Wirral. Inspired by a gothic poem, the duo turns to folklore and legend, guiding us through the shorelines and landscapes of the Wirral to uncover traces of magic and forgotten stories hidden in the land.
Claire Beerjeraz
Meanwhile, at the Victoria Gallery, Claire Beerjeraz offers a powerful reflection on the legacies of colonialism and slavery. Their multidisciplinary exhibition explores how these histories are displayed, contained, and remembered within institutional spaces. With a tapestry of spoken word and clay, Claire weaves together personal and collective memory, urging us to look beneath the surface of memorials and museum walls—and to reimagine how art institutions can hold space for difficult truths.
Amy Flynn Technofossils
Amy Flynn Technofossils
In another standout piece, artist Amy Flynn invites us to consider the legacy of our modern waste through Technofossils—human-made objects and materials that will persist in the geological record for millions of years. Her pewter cast sculptures are deliberately alluring at first glance: sparkling gemstones and shiny metals entice the viewer in. But look closer, and you’ll find the contours of outdated mobile phones and discarded plastic food containers—rubbish masquerading as treasure. This journey through desire and disgust mimics the cycle of consumerism, exploring themes of duality: artificial/organic, worthless/precious, temporary/permanent, growth/decay.
Venus in Transit: A Cosmic Journey Through Liverpool
Explore Liverpool’s history through a cosmic lens in this bold, multi-part project that blends astrology, storytelling, and live art. Back in 1639, Toxteth-born astronomer Jeremiah Horrocks became the first person to observe the transit of Venus across the Sun—a pivotal moment in the history of astronomy. In astrology, Venus is associated with beauty and creativity, and this project asks how these Venusian themes have helped shape Liverpool’s identity across the centuries. This is part one of a collaboration between Independents Biennial and the Museum of Liverpool’s Global City series—and promises to be an unforgettable deep dive into the city’s star-studded past and artistic present.
Discover the full Independents Biennial programme
Independents Biennial will take place across Liverpool from 7 June to 14 September 2025. This year’s festival is already shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet. With so much to explore, experience, and be inspired by, Independents Biennial is a must for anyone looking to make the most of the city’s creative summer—it’s definitely at the top of our plans!
Society of Losers presents Loserpalooza 4 at Future Yard on Saturday 2nd August packed with 9 bands across 2 stages for extra fun! Frenetic alt-rock behemoths Pulled Apart By Horses headline, with Crapsons + Two Tonne Machete joining the bill, plus many more still to come.
It’s fun to lose.
1pm doors. Tickets on sale now.
Keep in touch
Newsletter
Sign up to keep up to date with what's on in the city and the region!
