May 2026 is Liverpool Sound City’s 19th edition and also Liverpool Music Month, with the baton handed to the city by New York.
With more than 150 bands and artists in 10 venues across the city for two days of the bank holiday weekend, plus the Sound City+ Conference kicking things off on Friday.
Saturday sold out and Sunday was very busy too, the weather was kind and people flocked to Liverpool from around the UK and overseas to soak up the sights and sounds of one of the UK’s premier multi-venue festivals for new music, with a passionate voice for upcoming talent.
Sound City is the brand responsible for organising a range of boutique music, media and technology festivals and conferences around the world. Since its inception, it has designed, delivered, marketed and hosted events in cities on three continents that range from a series of shows, conferences and product and service launches to full music and arts festivals and creative and digital industries conferences.
Sound City-owned events include Liverpool Sound City Festival and conference, Dubai Sound City, Tromso Sound City, New York Sound City, Gateway to the Asian Music Markets, Sound City Korea and Sounds of the Xity, Beijing and China.
A real eclectic lineup across the weekend in Liverpool, with sparkling performances from the big names and rising stars, and the complete unknowns, many getting their first festival slot. A good chance some will become tomorrow’s headliners.
Venues included The Dome at Grand Central Hall, The Arts Club Theatre and Arts Club Loft, Kazimier Stockroom, The Jacaranda, EBGB’s, Spanish Caravan, Tunnel, and The Shipping Forecast. Plus unofficial fringe venues.
Day 1’s hot picks for us included a sensational performance from mod trio The Molotovs, fresh off of the Yungblud arena tour. They were in the totally rammed 550 capacity main room of the Arts Club Theatre for a 30 minute incendiary set, which was worthy of the 3,500-capacity main stage at the Dome for sure.
As you can see, our ace snapper Liam Battersby captured some great shots of their set; siblings Issey and Matt Cartlidge and drummer Noah Riley just about stole the weekend. [We were the first media anywhere to tip them, way back in 2022.]
Also delivering cracking sets on Saturday were: Westside Cowboy, Keo, Gurriers, Dea Matrona, Adult Leisure, Fletchr Fletchr [new EP out soon and a band that are worth attention], Keyside, The Kairos, Finn Forster, Yee Loi and Ava Fitz. The Katumba Drummers pulled big crowds on both days with their dynamic and colourful street performances.
Two previous Sound City small stage artists had headline status this year; welcoming back Keo to Saturday night and Jalen Ngonda to Sunday night, both filling the ornate Grand Central dome venue. Warming up for headliners Keo were the excellent hometown heroes Keyside, following repeated sell-out Liverpool shows.
Manchester’s Westside Cowboy have risen from “accidental hobby band to folkish, infectious indie figureheads” and gone from small gigs to major stages in a short space of time – headlining The Arts Club Theatre on Saturday.
Middlesbrough’s rising star Finn Forster pulled a good crowd at The Shipping Forecast on day one, as did ones to watch Fletchr Fletchr and one of this magazine’s much covered and admired bands, Bristol’s Adult Leisure.
Sound City’s Managing Director, Becky Ayres, says: “Sound City has always been about discovering tomorrow’s superstars today: giving artists the platform to grow, connect with audiences, and take their first steps toward global success. Sound City has always been about spotting talent at the moment it’s about to break… From acts already making serious noise to those right on the cusp of something special, this line-up underlines why Sound City remains the place where future headliners are discovered first.
“Alongside welcoming back major names like Jalen Ngonda and Keo, we’re proud to be creating space across Liverpool city centre for the next generation of artists to connect with audiences, industry, and each other – all while continuing to push forward meaningful conversations through Sound City+ about where music is heading next.”
Shira Gans, Senior Executive Director for Policy and Programmes at New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and founder of New York Music Month, said: “From the streets of New York to the docks of Liverpool, music connects us all. As we hand the baton to Liverpool Music Month, we celebrate the shared spirit of creativity, community, and the enduring friendship between our cities. The ties between Liverpool and New York run deep: both have rich musical histories that continue to inspire generations. We’re excited to see Liverpool carry forward this celebration of talent, community, and the universal language of music.”
Liverpool Music Month is followed by Liverpool Summer of Music, a city-region-wide celebration of live music and cultural events taking place from June through to August. It will shine a spotlight on the full calendar of festivals, concerts and events taking place across the Liverpool City Region, highlighting activity not only in the city centre but across communities and neighbourhoods throughout the boroughs.
Check back soon for our coverage of Sunday’s Sound City…
Photos: Liam Battersby
Words: Steve Best
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