(Circa Waves at Soundcity 2016)
SOUNDCITY is back for its 10th Anniversary and this time it’s bringing four insane days packed full of artists big and small that can’t be missed.
Last year the unrivalled festival brought huge names such as The Dandy Warhols, Catfish & the Bottlemen, Band of Skulls and Pete Doherty to Bramley-Moore Dock. It was a successful weekend, with new artists also making a name for themselves on the surrounding smaller stages like Edge Hill University’s own Youth Hostel and Weekend Wars as well as Canadian band Surf Dads and hip-hop crew Queen City Stoop Kids. But for this year SOUNDCITY have doubled the weekend in May to give the public four days of music and events.
The eighties synth-pop band The Human League will start the festival off on Thursday with special guests, they will then be followed by the legendary John Cale on Friday who will perform alongside special guests to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of one of the 40 greatest albums of all time The Velvet Underground & Nico.
Saturday will bring British electronic group Metronomy to the main stage as one of the headliners who are renowned for their remixes and live shows. In the run up to the headline performance other bands will be making their mark such as Hertfordshire lads The Hunna who have gained a lot of attention since their sold-out shows in London early last year. After touring excessively with The 1975 indie act The Japanese House will grace the stage with their lush dream pop, as well as punk duo Slaves who have been blaring their political opinions since 2012. By Sunday the festival will bring the likes of British indie rock band The Sherlocks who have supported Kings of Leon. The psychedelic lads from Liverpool The Vryll Society will make their appearance on The Baltic Stage as well as headliners The Cribs who like the festival are celebrating a ten-year anniversary for their renowned album Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever. Closing the last night of the festival will be The Kooks a band that have been blaring their indie jams since 2004 as well as released four albums and received an EMA the Brighton born boys won’t disappoint.
(The Human League via their Facebook page)
Emerging artists will be playing an important role during the SOUNDCITY weekend, the festival is known for giving support and exposure to the smaller acts as much as the big artists. Returning to the festival is garage rock three-piece Shrinking Minds who performed with The Label Showcase on the Cavern Stage last year. With new track Something Better which was recently released through Edge Hill’s The Label Recordings the local lads are sure to attract a crowd with their fuzzy guitars and intense vocals. Wirral four piece Oranj Son will play the festival for the first time, and like Shrinking Minds they’ve been working closely with The Label Recordings especially on their debut single Psycho Disco Face. Also, coming to Liverpool with their invigorating rock/garage sounds will be Yak, who supported The Last Shadow Puppets and share similarities to The Hives. They’re known to blast their energy on stage and their latest album Alas Salvation gained awesome reviews from NME and The Guardian. Another band to catch will be rock trio Wasted Johnny’s who mix their Korean roots with blues, with such a distinct sound it’s difficult to compare them to other artists. The band only formed in 2011, but already they’ve gained a fan base from touring and the release of their album Cross Road.
With such an array of talent that’ll be rolling up to Clarence Dock it’ll be difficult to see every amazing new or well-known artist that brings themselves to the stages around the festival. But notable artists that I think can not to be missed are the feisty Canadian electronic artist Peaches, British indie rock band VANT with their political and rowdy lyrics, as well as the dreamy band Pale Waves who have joined the Dirty Hit Records roster and finally Paris Youth Foundation who are sure to gather a crowd with their unusual sound and similarities to Two Door Cinema Club. Tickets can be purchased via the Soundcity website, be sure not miss out on Liverpool’s music event of the year.
Charlotte Louise Guilpain
