Liverpool music gig guide: Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, Drenge, Josh Rouse and much more

We are heading out of April like a shot, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have some parting gifts, as Getintothis’ David Hall finds out in the latest live listings.

There’s nothing to look forward to this week, let’s call the whole thing off. The Grand National is all over, and the winnings of any betting slips that weren’t torn and confettied have been long since spent.

Those double bank holidays are the sort of tantalising length of time away that just makes the weeks in work between now and then seem longer.

Has everyone been out in the last week dropping to your knees, worshipping and fearing that fiery ball in the sky? Great. Get back to us on what that thing was, please. There’s goat blood everywhere now, but hopefully that will have satisfied that hot shiny thing to leave us alone and not slaughter our families.

How can people just sit around in beer gardens while all of this has been going on? We’re at a loss.

Well thankfully, the Merseyside gig scene has plenty for us heathens to look forward to, even if the rest of the world doesn’t. Lookie here:

Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls: O2 Academy, Wednesday April 25

Following his solo acoustic spot at EBGBs in celebration of Independent Venue Week, Frank Turner not only returns to Liverpool with a full band setup this week, but with a new album Be More Kind landing in early May.

Now some thirteen years, six albums, three compilations, one split album and five EPs down the line, Turner shows no signs of letting up his relentless schedule.

Drenge: Invisible Wind Factory, Wednesday April 25

Continuing their long standing love affair with Liverpool, Derbyshire based garage duo Drenge return to Merseyside.

Remember Drenge‘s intimate, rammed free show at the now dearly-departed Magnet a few years back? If a gig in the relatively diminutive Invisible Wind Factory is anything to go by, we’re expecting nothing short of bloodsports.

The Shipbuilders: Shipping Forecast, Friday April 27

The Shipbuilders have a single to launch (we would say no pun intended but, pun intended) and you can be there to see them cast off!

Following a Record Store Day acoustic set at Up North Records in Chester, they will hit the Shipping Forecast for the release of new single Fault Line, which is backed by Wild Atlantic Way on 7” vinyl and digital download.

Kick.Out #5: Sound Food and Drink, Friday April 27

Featuring on the bill a headline set from local rising stars Wild Fruit Art Collective, Manchester grunge punks Witch Fever, plus Inland Taipan and Beija Flo, the Sound Basement delivers another first class lineup.

Tickets are still available priced at just £4 to experience some of the best rising bands from across the north west of England, gathered in a carpet, thrown in the back of a Transit van and brought to Liverpool.

Circus & Cream Present Kaluki: The Asylum At Newsham Park, Saturday April 28

Taking place at the intensely creepy, grade 2 listed Newsham Park Orphanage and Asylum, Dubfire, Camelphat, Heidi, Max Chapman, Pirate Copy and Pete Zorba bring the tunes on Saturday night.

Punters may or may not have to deal with the several spirits said to haunt the venue, including one of a small child and other shadowy figures prowling around. If you see anything ghastly on the night, it could be a ghost or it could be a ket head.

Reef: Arts Club, Saturday April 28

If some nostalgia is more your bag, then the Arts Club have you covered at the weekend, when 90s four piece Reef take to the stage.

Without being sniffy about them (us? never!) they had hits like Naked and Come Back Brighter, which are a cut above your standard Britpop output of the era. You just know however that when they play Place Your Hands, the roof will come off the place.

Josh Rouse: Leaf On Bold Street, Saturday April 28

Quietly bashing out albums for the past 20 years, Josh Rouse has had flirtations with the big time but probably hasn’t quite attained the level of success he deserves. Support meanwhile comes from new Bella Union signing Field Division.

Rouse’s music has been featured on films like Vanilla Sky and he has a brand new album in Love In The Modern Age, which takes a synthpop diversion from his more usual indie folk style.

Read our full preview here.

We’re not finished with you yet, Getintothis’ Gigbites is here to bring you the best of the rest:

• Cousin Kula: Shipping Forecast, Tuesday April 24
• The Beat Club Featuring Tommy Scott, Howie Payne, Ian Prowse, We Are Catchers, The Racket: Hangar 34, Thursday April 26
• Michael Chapman: Philharmonic Music Room, Thursday April 26
• No Hot Ashes: Zanzibar, Friday April 27
• Fabio & Grooverider: Hangar 34, Saturday April 28
• Carcer City, In Depths, Antimony: EBGBs, Saturday April 28
• Don Broco, The Lafontaines, Yungblud: O2 Academy, Saturday April 28
• Ciaran Lavery: Buyers Club, Sunday April 29

Upcoming gigs to keep an eye on:

Stereophonics: Echo Arena, Wednesday May 30

Surprise announcing a one-off date at the Echo Arena in little over a month’s time, Welsh rockers Stereophonics are set to play huge outdoor gigs in the summer at Wrexham Racecourse and the Cardiff City Stadium. That they consider an Echo Arena show as a warm-up for those dates probably says a lot about the calibre of venues the band play these days.

The Kelly Jones-fronted outfit released their 10th (dreadfully titled) studio album Scream Above the Sounds in late 2017. It was held at number two on the UK Albums Chart by Michael Ball and Alfie Boe, who topped the chart by just 35 sales. Scenes above the sounds, more like.

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