More than most, Liverpool’s Sound City gives you a chance to say ‘I saw them before they were big’. Fontaines DC, The 1975, Blossoms and Ed Sheeran are just some of the names to play on the famous Merseyside stages before they became the iconic outfits they are today.

With Sound City around the corner once again, The Rock Revival have picked out a handful of venues to get down to during the couple of days – and potentially see the next big thing.

EBGB’S

In a building that has stood for over 200 years, EBGB’S continues to provide one of the most authentic venue experiences in Liverpool. 

The Rock Revival are taking over the EBGB’S stage, located in the basement of Heebie Jeebies and the lineup is brimming with fresh talent. Basht are quickly taking off in the post-punk scene with a fresh, brash voice; Imogen and the Knife has a powerful voice and cites influences like Kate Bush and Fiona Apple and East Exchange are making waves in the Liverpool scene already despite not yet releasing their first official single.

Meanwhile, Keo feel like the band of the moment, with their first headline tour selling out in minutes. If you want a glimpse of the action make sure to get down early – this room will fill up quickly.

Grand Central Hall

The biggest venue on the list, the Grand Central Hall packs over 1,500 people into one of Liverpool’s most historic buildings.

Taking over many life forms after being built in 1905, from a cinema to the home of the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. 

Noughties legends Franz Ferdinand and Mumford & Sons have both graced the stage previously, and Wrexham boys The Royston Club are set to join them very shortly.

The Jacaranda

One of the purest heartbeats of the Merseyside music scene, The Jacaranda have the biggest boast out of any venue in the world – it’s where The Beatles first took to the stage. 

Since then, it’s become a record store by day and a venue by night, still with the aim of promoting newer artists. 

Arts Club Theatre and Loft

Described as part Victorian theatre, part Manhattan loft club, Arts Club Theatre is a venue that lives and breathes for authentic live music experiences, always having an exciting artist on their stage. 

Aimed to promote as wide of a range of sounds as possible, everyone from Stiff Little Fingers, Blossoms and AJ Tracey have played here, and with a handful capacity of a few hundred people, Arts Club won’t stay quiet quickly.

Kazimier Stockroom 

A grassroots venue in its purest form, Kazimier Stockroom holds just over 100 people in its intimate venue.

Proudly hosting local acts for just over five years, you’re guaranteed to see something different every time you put your head around the door. From improv jazz to electronic dance, this venue joins the rest of the list as a place of utmost importance for support – passion for the live arts is crucial and this room is filled with it.

Words by Niall McGreevy