10 great Liverpool gigs in 2018
Liverpudlians love their music – and who wouldn’t in this World Capital of Pop and UNESCO City of Music?
Head down any street in the city centre and chances is you’ll trip over someone with a guitar slung on their back or a band carrying an amp on the way to a gig.
Along with the daily diet of music in clubs, bars and other venues, there are also a slew of big names heading the city’s way in 2018.
Here are just 10 of the names you can see in Liverpool over the next 12 months.
Belle and Sebastian – Philharmonic Hall
March 19
Scottish indie-folk band Belle and Sebastian are heading for the Philharmonic as part of a UK and European tour.
The group, which formed in 1996 by Stuart Murdoch and Stuart David, will perform new music including its new single, We Were Beautiful, which was recorded and produced in the band’s native Glasgow.
Tickets HERE
The Fratellis – Liverpool Olympia
March 22
Glasgow trio The Fratellis are back with a new UK tour – including an opening date at the Olympia - and a new album, In Your Own Sweet Time, which is being released on March 9.
The band had phenomenal success with their debut album Costello Music entering the UK Album Chart at number 2, and went on to win the Best British Breakthrough Act at the Brit Awards in 2007.
Expect songs from the new album as well as hits like Chelsea Dagger.
Tickets HERE
Gary Numan – O2 Academy
March 24
Music fans take note - singer-songwriter Gary Numan is heading for Liverpool’s O2 Academy this spring.
After his hugely successful UK tour in the autumn, and having won an Ivor Novello songwriting award to boot, the ‘electro icon’ is going back on the road to perform tracks from his new album Savage.
Tickets HERE
The Wonderstuff and Ned’s Atomic Dustbin – O2 Academy
March 29
Indie favourites The Wonderstuff and Ned’s Atomic Dustbin join forces for this irresistible gig at the O2 Academy in March.
It’s been almost 30 years since the bands from Stourbridge – who have sold millions of records between them - last shared a stage together, and now they’re reuniting for a one-off, 12-date tour titled, appropriately, Love From Stourbridge.
Tickets HERE
Bryan Ferry – Philharmonic Hall
April 11
If you haven’t already got your ticket for Bryan Ferry’s latest Liverpool show then you might be disappointed - because it’s already sold out.
If you HAVE got a ticket then you’ll be able to hear the urbane former Roxy Music frontman perform a set list that combines both Roxy Music and solo hits, and songs from Ferry’s critically acclaimed release Avonmore, described as his best album in 30 years.
Tickets HERE
Tears for Fears – Echo Arena
May 8
Tears for Fears appear at the arena with their Rule the World tour which follows the recent release of their Greatest Hits album.
The band, formed in 1981, enjoyed a string of hits in the 1980s including Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Shout and Mad World.
Fellow 80s favourite Alison Moyet will be a special guest at the Liverpool show.
Tickets HERE
Katy Perry – Echo Arena
June 21
Katy Perry is no stranger to the Echo Arena having performed there for a number of times including at the MTV Europe Awards in 2008.
In her 10 years with Capitol, she has seen more than 18 billion streams alongside worldwide sales of more than 40 million adjusted albums, and 125 million tracks.
If you’ve got deep pockets and want to get up close and personal, there are places in the Teardrop Pit at £130 and VIP tickets from £155.
Tickets HERE
Roger Waters - Echo Arena
July 2
Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters brings his Us and Them tour to the arena following a successful run of shows in the US.
The show, named after a 1974 track, features songs from Pink Floyd’s greatest albums including The Dark Side of The Moon, The Wall, Animals and Wish You Were Here, as well as some new songs from Waters’ new, best-selling album Is This the Life We Really Want?
Tickets HERE
Caro Emerald – Philharmonic Hall
October 16
Chanteuse Caro Emerald returns to the Phil as part of a new UK tour.
Emerald’s debut album Deleted Scenes from the Cutting Room Floor went multi-platinum. And over the last eight years she’s chalked up sales of more than two-and-a-half million records, a host of awards, sold out tours and appearances at festivals including Glastonbury and the Isle of Wight.
Tickets HERE
Jeff Lynne’s ELO – Echo Arena
October 23
They proved a massive hit when they played the arena in 2016 at the start of a UK tour, and Jeff Lynne’s ELO are on their way back this autumn.
During the course of their career, ELO have chalked up 26 UK Top 40 singles, making Lynne's sweeping productions some of the most recognisable music of the last 40 years and helping sell more than 50 million records worldwide.
Expect an evening of ELO’s greatest hits including All Over the World, Sweet Talkin’ Woman, Telephone Line, Livin’ Thing and, of course, the brilliant Mr Blue Sky.
Tickets HERE