Liverpool Sound City 2014

Liverpool Sound City returns for three days and nights from Thursday 1st to Saturday 3rd May 2014 and is held at multiple venues and spaces in Liverpool's cultural quarter.

During the days the Hard Days Night Hotel plays host to a musical industry conference. Each night there will be bands, DJs and artists performing at many venues, spaces and clubs throughout the city. There will be dozens of parties and gigs, including an unsigned festival featuring new acts coming into Liverpool from all over the world, and parties hosted by festivals and labels each showcasing some of their biggest names and rising stars.

Line-up

The latest additions in alphabetical order are 65daysofstatic, Alana Henderson, Alberto Montero, All We Are, And So I Watch You From Afar, Animic, Bad Rabbits, Ballet School, Bang Bang Bang, Battle Lines, Beach Beach, Big Sixes, Bipolar Sunshine, Bird, Bleeding Heart Pigeons, Blood Red Shoes, Boreal Sons, Cats Park, Chloe Howl, Death at Sea, Demi Louise, Denai Moore, Dune Rats, DZ Deathrays, East India Youth, Embers, Ex-Easter Island Head, and Eyedress.

Plus Fabienne, Factory Floor, Fickle Friends, Flyte, Fred Page, Gengahr, Gentlemen Rogues, Gentlemen, Gianna Lauren, Glass Animals, Gory Glory, Grizfolk, Hermitude, Hero Fisher, Hibou, Hugh Keice, Jack Garratt, Jagwar Ma, Jaws, Jeremy Neale, Joan Colomo, Kan Wakan, Kid Mac, Kill It Kid, Le Couleur, Life, Lizzo, Lovepark, Luke Sital-Singh, Malojian, Mama Kin, Moats, mojoFURY, Moko, Money For Rope, Russian band Mumiy Troll, Natalie McCool, Norma Jean Martine, Nozinja, Pawws, Pearls Negras, Peter Pan Complex, Phoria, PINS, Ports, Powder Blue, Public Access T.V., and Public Service Broadcasting.

Also added to the line-up are Rae Morris, Raleigh Ritchie, Ratking, Rosie Lowe, Say Lou Lou,September Girls, Shy Nature, Sivu, Slaves, Taylor Fowlis, Team RKT, Tennis, The Beaches, The Bohicas, The Bug, The Creases, The Delta Riggs, The Districts, The Dumblings, The John Steel Singers, The Kooks, The Magic Gang, The Neighbourhood, The Parrots, The Physics House Band, The Radiophonic Workshop, The Scenes, The Shimmer, The Sunshine Underground, The Tea Street Band, Theo Verney, Tourist, We Have Band, White Male Actors, Womans Hour, Years And Years, Young Kato, and Youth Man.

They join Kodaline, Gruff Rhys, Jon Hopkins, Albert Hammond Jr, Action Bronson, The Hold Steady, Jimi Goodwin, Drenge, Mixhell, Royal Blood, The Wytches, Fat White Family, Superfood, San Fermin, Lyla Foy, Fuck Buttons, Clean Bandit, Jungle, Wolf Alice, Darlia, Circa Waves, Thumpers, Big Ups, Courtney Barnett, Girls Names, Loom, LSA, We The Wild, Fair Ohs, We Were Evergreen, Marika Hackman, Traams, Sons And Lovers, Dolomite Minor, The Minutes, Blaenavon, and Lola Colt.

For the line-up details as available, click here.

In total, more than 400 acts from around the world will play to 25,000 people across 30 of Liverpool's venues for four days, with the traditional series of label showcases, late night sessions and parties also happening across the city.

Convention

Featuring exclusive keynotes, Q&As, and panels with those who have changed, shaped and documented the entertainment industry and those who have pioneered the technology, discovery, delivery and consumption.

Keynote speakers include John Cale, Gruff Rhys, Vanessa Jorge & Natalie Baartz, Alan McGee, Keith Harris, Peter Hooton, Jon Morter, Arwen Hunt, John Robb, Kevin Sampson, Dave Haslam , and Thurston Moore, plus former head of the FA Premier League Rick Parry will be interviewed by novelist Kevin Sampson, and sports correspondent James Corbett.

The following topics will be covered as part of the conference’s series of panels and debates:

• Is everybody Appy!? The importance of the tech and entertainment business (in terms of commercial music exploitation)
• The ‘pornification’ of pop culture
• The rebirth of vinyl – fad or trend?
• The death of music sub cultures or just old bastards moaning
• The importance and business of style in British pop culture
• Repackage and Redefine! Breathing life into well-worn brands. Are there any new lessons for the music business?
• Zero to Hero- The rise of the blogger!
• The new demagogues? - What can the music industry learn from the international football business (and vice versa)

Tickets

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Three-day festival only wristbands are priced at £55 including booking fee.

Conferences

Liverpool Sound City also features conferences and panels with seasoned veterans and younger voices, the commemorative John Peel World Cup, and legendary keynote speakers and special guests. LSC also helps the creative industry to grow and evolve is an integral part of LSC's ethos, with networking, education and skills development a central part of the main event.

Other arts & cultural events and happenings including a private art auction in conjunction with Liverpool Biennial featuring a limited edition print by Richard Woods and the opportunity to buy an exclusive poster from Antony Gormley’s studio signed by the artist.

Screenadelica returns with a pop-up exhibition celebrating the art of the screen printed gig poster; celebrated artist and illustrator Nick Rhodes and his team will be creating live murals and pop-up sculptures across the festival site; The Red Huk DJ Competition will be searching for the next big turntable talent and Buskers Corner will offer new and unsigned acts the chance to tout their tunes

For the first time the festival will have its very own record fair – Worth the Waxx. Sound City has also commandeered the iconic Mersey Ferry on the Saturday afternoon so any Sound Citizens wanting to make the pilgrimage will be entertained by live acts including The Splintered Ukes, The Hummingbirds and the Gentlemen Rogues.

Topping off the fringe activity is the John Peel World Cup on Saturday 3. A tribute to one of Liverpool’s favourite sons the knockout contest features 16 teams made up of bands and industry pros. This year the soundtrack will be provided by a team from the Brazilica Festival who will add a dash of samba sunshine to proceedings.

Wristbands

Wristbands will be available at the Kiosk from Midday on the Wednesday and must be collected in person by the lead booking name, with a valid proof of ID. Sound City Kiosks will be located in the centre of the festival circuit on Seel Street, Liverpool.

Sound City wristbands allow entry to ALL Liverpool Sound City 2014 branded gigs including those at The Epstein Theatre, on a first come first served basis subject to the individual venues capacity. Please note some gigs will be 18+ only.

Accommodation

The festival offers no accommodation at the event. There are plenty of accommodation options available in the city.

More information will be here when available.

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