Sheelanagig are coming to Future Yard on Friday 4th December for a super special show in the North West
Support from Triquetra featuring The Skylarks, The Tree Gnomes, and Answers On A Postcard.
Sheelanagig have been whipping up a storm of foot-stomping, roof-raising, high-energy live folk for nigh on twenty years. With an arsenal of strings, soaring flute, pounding drums and a sprinkle of fairy dust they spin melodies that have set feet flying all across the globe. Their shows are a heady mix of raucous dance medleys and thoughtfully crafted original pieces feverishly brimming with fire, flair and finesse. Floors tremble and windows rattle in their presence; these rapturous minstrels are not to be missed under any circumstance.
Drawing deep from a bountiful well of European folk traditions, from medieval melodies to modern grooves, from baroque to folk-rock, Sheelanagig’s irresistible alchemy makes it impossible to stand still. Their infectious energy and mischievous stagecraft are matched only by their impeccable musicianship—delighting festival crowds and intimate venues alike.
Now, in 2026, they mark twenty years of tuneful trickery with the release of St Congar’s Walking Stick—heralding a new dawn for Sheelanagig. In this thrilling new chapter, the band have embraced folk-rock flavours, break-neck bangers, thoughtful takes on the traditional and a raucous array of original material which blends seamlessly with their time-honoured, inimitable style. Produced by their guitarist Alex Garden (The Drystones, Tarren) this album ventures boldly into new realms whilst remaining faithful to it’s heritage. One feels the clout of twenty years’ experience, bolstered and ignited by the drive of a daring new frontier in UK folk.
“The only thing better than doing what you love is doing it with your friends… and we really love hitting the road and playing some shows!”
UK Country/Americana standouts Two Ways Home and Katy Hurt are joining forces this Autumn and are proud to present “The Better Together Tour.” Hitting the road across the UK this October and November, the “Better Together” tour throws the traditional headline format out the window. Instead of a standard back-to-back lineup, expect a fully collaborative experience from start to finish.
Fans will get the best of both worlds: high-energy full-band performances, intimate acoustic moments and the exclusive live debut of brand-new music. Fans of the harmony drenched magic of Fleetwood Mac and the roots/rock storytelling of Sheryl Crow will find themselves right at home.
Featuring voice, esraj, harp and tabla, a luminous meeting of Indian and European classical and folk traditions, Songs of the Luminous Heart brings together four exceptional artists in a richly textured, genre-defying collaboration.
Drawing on the emotive vocal forms of thumri and bhajan, alongside the mystical writings of Mirabai and Hildegard of Bingen, Indian vocalist Ranjana Ghatak explores shared spiritual and musical threads across cultures. She is joined by Céline Saout (harp), Kirpal Singh Panesar (esraj) and Harkiret Singh Bahra (tabla), whose sensitive interplay weaves classical, semi-classical and original compositions with improvisation and intricate rhythm.
Following an acclaimed performance at St George’s Festival of the Voice—described by audiences as “enthralling, stimulating, sublime”—this concert offers a rare and deeply moving musical experience.
Twelve Bells #003: Just Her with support from Benj Aitch and Lee Reed
Just Her sets are wondrous occasions. With a unique ability to move your feet and heart in equal measure, she crafts her own brand of emotive house music, spreading joy on dancefloors, festival fields and beach parties across the world.
Just Her is on a mission to make the industry humble again and the world a happier and more peaceful place via those moments of euphoria on the dance floor. Her killer hooks, emotive melodies and strong lyrical messages are exactly what the world needs right now.
We team up with Events 471 to present Yelllowman live at Future Yard on Monday 6th July 2026. Jamaica’s first dancehall superstar, Yellowman ushered in a new era in reggae music following Bob Marley’s death.
His early-’80s success brought the popularity of toasting — the reggae equivalent of rapping — to a whole new level, and helped establish dancehall as the wave of the future. For better or for worse, he also epitomized dancehall’s penchant for “slack” lyrics.
Graphic sexuality was his particular forte, reaching levels of explicitness previously unheard in Jamaica. There was more to it than that, though; Yellowman was one of the most verbally nimble toasters of his time, with a loose, easy flow, a talent for improvisation, and a definite wit in his wordplay.
Plus, all the boasting about his prowess on the mic or in the bedroom had to be over the top to be convincing: true to his stage name, Yellowman is an albino, which carries a tremendous social stigma in Jamaica. His rise to stardom was unlikely enough, but his transformation from untouchable outcast into sex symbol was staggering — and may not even have taken place without his trademark lewdness. Shocking though it could be, it affirmed him as a sexual being just like his listeners, and was delivered with enough humour to let the audience know that he didn’t take himself too seriously.
Bouts with cancer pushed him into more thoughtful, socially conscious territory in the 1990s, but his initial style remains the most influential, paving the way for countless dancehall toasters to follow. He remained quiet through most of the 2000s before mounting a comeback with 2019’s No More War.
NYC’s up and comers SKORTS come to Birkenhead. Described as psych-glam, post-alt and dark wave disco, SKORTS are taking stages by storm.
Since forming less than 2 years ago SKORTS went from conception to one of the most talked about and in demand local bands in New York. At SKORTS’ first show, an amp exploded — call it a freak accident or a catalyzing prophecy – either way, from there was born a band that refused to arrive quietly.
We are made up to have them down on Argyle Street as part of their EU tour, straight off the back of their debut album Incompletement. Described as pure passion pressed into permanence – polished, stadium-ready rock with a DIY edge.
SKORTS are on the kind of trajectory that won’t keep them small for long, catch them before they blow up.
Napalm Death’s longest standing member, Shane Embury, comes to Future Yard off the back of the release of his book release ‘Life?… and Napalm Death’. The bassist has been a major figure in the grindcore music scene for more than four decades, Life?… And Napalm Death takes readers on a front seat journey of his story and the history of the scene. This is not just his story, but a history of Napalm Death and grindcore’s development from the beginning to the present.
Napalm Death’s Shane Embury reflects on 40 years of noise terrorism in conversation with journalist Joel McIver, sharing stories from his unique life in and out of the band, reflecting on the community that has grown up around them and the political values that are central to their music. Shane will be signing copies of his illustrated memoir ‘Life? And Napalm Death’, published by Rocket 88 after the show.
There will be a chance to ask your own questions.
This show will feature an in conversation with Shane Embury about the book with a signing afterwards.
Created in-house at the Unity, this new performance dives into the theatre’s bold and rebellious past. From its roots as Merseyside Left Theatre in the 1930s to the vibrant creative home we inhabit today, A Radical Reimagining brings decades of radical storytelling roaring back to life.
Through dynamic performance, powerful voices, and striking moments from the past, we celebrate a legacy of theatre made for the people. Expect a journey through protest, passion, and creativity, a reminder that this stage has always belonged to those with something to say.
Part of Unity’s Heritage Lottery Funded project.
Come along and experience the political songs that the Unity Theatre would have performed, written and experienced over the years from the Spanish Civil War to the 1960s.
From rousing marching songs through to sophisticated cabaret. Listen and sing the wit and irony, dark humour of songs that speak of injustice and corruption.
Patrick Dineen is a composer and lyricist. He has written many scores for theatre and political cabaret over the years and has had a long standing relationship with The Unity Theatre. His work as a composer includes tv, film, dance, cabaret and directing his own music-theatre shows.
Liverpool Arab Arts Festival presents the world premiere performance of the hugely anticipated second album from Tamsin Elliott (UK) and Tarek Elazhary (Egypt).
The album, currently untitled, is scheduled for release in September 2026. Together, Tamsin and Tarek explore the intriguing parallels and idiosyncrasies of Egyptian Maqam and English folk traditions in a captivating fusion of songs, tunes and textures, finding commonality, fostering cross-cultural connection and helping heal the scars of a colonial past through meaningful and conscious collaboration.
Tamsin Elliott is a Bristol-based multi-instrumentalist, composer and filmmaker working primarily with English folk traditions, equally adept on fiddle, lever harp, and microtonal accordion. Alongside solo projects, she leads the genre-crossing ensembles Solana and Hedera, and collaborates widely across folk and experimental music contexts.
Tarek Elazhary is an Egyptian composer, educator and oud player whose work centres on Arab musical traditions. Through performance, teaching and composition, he explores how these traditions can be sustained and developed in contemporary settings. He is the founder and leader of the ensemble Dokkan.
For this Liverpool premiere, the string quartet will be the Ensemble of St Lukes, founded 34 years ago by members of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. The Ensemble give regular chamber recitals of western classical repertoire at the Music Room, and have previously collaborated with LAAF in 2023 on a performance with Syrian qanunist and composer Maya Youssef.
