Liverpool's music scene has had an up and down few years, on one hand there has been the rise of Soundcity and a slue of other metropolitan festivals bringing people to the city from all around the world, there has been a plethora of scouse acts including Outfit, Circa Waves and Forest Swords highlighting the cities ability to create talent and there has been the full formation of the Baltic Triangle, Liverpools premier creative hub. On the other hand, the creative minds of the city have had to witness the closing of Mello Mello, Wolstenholme Creative Space and The Kazimier and suffer the looming threat of their most beautiful venue, St Lukes Bombed Out Church being closed. It seems that the young, ambitious, folk of the Liverpool music scene are fighting fire with fire, or austerity with creativity. The more the council want to kill off the noise of the city, the more that its music scene kicks back.
All this pushing and pulling has worked wonders for the D.I.Y scene in the city. So many promoters, venues, sites, groups and communities have risen through the fog and it is a testament to the creative spirit, ambition and passion of Liverpools artistic society. October highlights just how awesome a D.I.Y scene Liverpool has.
We caught up with the minds behind our top 5 D.I.Y shows Liverpool has to offer this month and asked them to give us 5 reasons to head to their show.
Edils Recordings who host Shocking Pinks w/ Puzzle, Queen Maud, Z.E.B.R.A & Paul James McLaughlin @ Maguires Pizza Bar, October 10th
1/ Shocking Pinks are from NZ and on a 3 month world tour. That's a lot of miles and bands like this don't visit Liverpool often
2/ Pitchfork said "an emotionally vulnerable highlight reel of scruffy Jesus and Mary Chain dream-pop, ecstatic My Bloody Valentine haze, droning C-86 confessionals, and bedroom New Order bass lines...His heartache, our pleasure." Spot on
3/ Queen Maud don't play live often but they're playing this show!
4/ The pizza
5/ Z.E.B.R.A are playing a special set for us to kick it all off.
More info here; www.facebook.com/events/396376760550993
Michael Bagshaw, Rubberneck Promotions who host Siena Root w/ Elevant & Mind Mountain @ O2 Academy, October 14th
1/ Pioneering Swedish root rock. Siena Root where at the birth of the euro retro rock revolution that paved the way for acts like Blues Pills, Graveyard and Kadavar.
2/ Elevant, everything on the line, Elevant go at it as if they've been backed into a corner with their lives in danger. They're in the process of making their 3rd album, as well as taking huge steps in developing their own record label, so spirits are sky high in their camp.
3/ Mind Mountain, scouse heavy psych masters play the O2 stage for the first time. They'll melt you down and force you to drink yourself as a night cap.
4/ There will be live audio recordings of each set on the night so everyone will be aiming for the tippy top of their form.
5/ Errr it's Wednesday which is named after the anglo saxon god Woden and we're hoping to channel his ancient spirit through the medium of 70s rock! :D
More info here; www.facebook.com/events/111194975879465
Ticket link; www.songkick.com/concerts/23857253-siena-root-at-o2-academy-liverpool
Edils Recordings who host OS Drongos w/ Big Safari, Ohmns & Slushy Guts @ Maguires Pizza Bar, October 16th
1/ Os Drongos are from France and their new album is not just one of the prettiest looking releases I've ever seen, it's also a brilliant display of garage, psych and grunge.
2/ Ohmns - hottest Liverpool band right now? Possibly
3/ BIG SAFARI - again, not seen them playing live that much but they're absolute class.
4/ Slushy Guts is up from London for this too. One man and his tape player, so good.
5/ The pizza
More info here; www.facebook.com/events/798767910244927
Tommy, Big Muff Promotions who host Ceasars, Medics, Skellums & Atlas Eyes @ Maguires Pizza Bar, October 17th
1/ The shows going to be cool!
2/ It's going to be Medics first ever time in Liverpool!
3/ Skellums and Atlas Eyes are both Awesome
4/ It's something to do on a Saturday
5/ They sell Pizza in the venue, which is Mint
More info here; www.facebook.com/events/438049583051016
Dan Hunt, Rock Formations who host Glossom, Dystopian Future Movies, Taws, Chiyoda Ku & Triptych @ Maguires Pizza Bar, October 24th
1/ Great bands who deliver something different.
2/ Great atmosphere and venue to watch Five awesome bands from Liverpool and other parts of UK.
3/ It's £4 for 5 bands of great quality. Cheaper than a double spirit or pint in some places lol.
4/ First Rock Formations gig for a few months so should be a better.
5/ All the bands are Quality
More info here; www.facebook.com/events/703875583090354
And a Brucie Bonus from us folks here at Yeah Buddy! who are teaming up with Maguires themselves to host 'Halloween Havoc 2' with Spanish Announce Team @ Maguires Pizza Bar, October 31st
1/ Spanish Announce Team are fantastic and hilarious and their set of Wrestling theme tune covers should not be missed
2/ It will be part of the 2nd Yeah Buddy! Variety Show so there will be all kinds of fun occurring on the night including a horror film being shown in the bar area before kick off
3/ Maguires will be pulling out all the stops too with 'Zombie Wrestlers' themed fancy dress and tons of games to boot
4/ We have a really cool supporting cast to announce as well so keep your eyes open
5/ Music, pizza, fun and games on Halloween, what more needs to be said!?
More info here; www.facebook.com/events/983982481658039
Ticket Link; www.seetickets.com/tour/halloween-havoc
Enjoy your October you fine lot and make sure you get your ass to a D.I.Y show.