- The Arts Club
It’s small n’ sweet, promising intimate gigs at which you’re guaranteed to have a ball. There’s never a lack of diversity in who plays here; whether you’re up and coming, or an already established musician – everyone is welcomed for bevvies and good tunes. The loft is also the OG home of Shit Indie Disco – arguably the best club night around, for all you Indie Cindies! RIP Shindie at Arts Club. Most of its live shows take place in the main room (the theatre); a red-drenched room which you’ll undoubtedly leave drenched in sweat. It’s worth it, though. I promise.
- EBGBS
Once home to the infamous Liquidation club night, Heebie Jeebies’ basement space is the go-to place for the underground music scene. It’s cool and it’s versatile; whether you fancy an afternoon pint with acoustic bands playing at the weekend, or a more hardcore move n’ groove in the evening, when the basement is kitted out with all of the indie-band gear. It’s a personal favourite.
- The Jacaranda
Affectionately referred to as “The Jac”, this legendary little Slater-street venue has stood tall since the 1950s, transforming from a coffee shop to one of the most popular places in Liverpool to champion upcoming musicians. It’s known as being the first venue at which The Beatles played; with them redecorating the place, in exchange for using the basement for a rehearsal space, back in the day. This remains unchanged even now, with the basement being a rehearsal and live performance space for independent, up and coming artists. The ground floor is still your good ol’ watering hole, scattered with pictures of The Beatles and a retro jukebox, while the first floor offers a more intimate and equally old-school listening experience. As you make your way upstairs, and pass Norman Chapman’s drum kit, you come to a record store with a touch of uniqueness. With four quirkily crafted listening booths, they channel old-school-cool, and relight the excitement which accompanies coming across new tunes. You can choose from an impressive collection of vintage or brand spankin’ vinyl and grab a bevvy while having a listening sesh… Sounds like the perfect date night to me!
- Jacaranda Phase One:
If you’ve got some kind of weird affinity for portaloos, then you’ll certainly adore it here. What it lacks in proper loos, it compensates with good tunes. That’s the general motto, here. Don’t worry, you get used to them. It’s an ideal place to grab quick coffee in the noon, or to chill out in one of the listening pods, with your favourite vinyl streaming and a beer in hand. Or, even better, they put on a plethora of live shows each week, showcasing local and upcoming talent. It’s also the new-ish home to the Liquidation club night, if you’re in the mood for some indie carnage on a Saturday night. You’ll certainly pass the phase one of haziness in this one – that’s for sure. The headache the next morning will be worth it… Judging from what you can remember.
- Constellations
With arguably the best beer garden in Baltic, Constellations is the epitome of a jack of all trades. Described as “an intersection of art, music, food and drink”, it’s multifaceted but non-intimidating. Ranging from fairy-light-ridden acoustic gigs to the Big Crowd karaoke, there’s something to suit everyone. Or, if you’re feelin’ confident and fancy jumping on the decks yourself, you can hop along to one of Melodic Distraction’s DJ workshops which are specifically aimed at femme/trans/non-binary/gender queer/questioning/intersex folks! Just as we thought we couldn’t love these guys more…
- Invisible Wind Factory
The airily cool space which is the lovechild of The Kazimier. Back in 2016, the team behind the Kaz took over an unused warehouse and transformed it into this lofty venue. It’s a creative, artistic-driven space which showcases art installations and live music, as well as being a popular host of local music festivals and club nights. It’s experimental and it’s fun; there’s nowhere which plays on your imagination quite like IWF does.
- Hangar 34
A lovely little addition to the bustling Baltic scene, Hangar 34 opened in October 2016, and was launched by local promoters with the intention of celebrating local talent, as well as promoting world-class DJs. It’s decently sized yet a little cosy; ideal for up and coming artists, although Miles Kane and Pete Doherty have played one-off intimate gigs here.
- The Zanzibar
The ‘Zanzi’ is a staple in the Liverpool music scene, often giving many upcoming bands their first opportunity to showcase their talent. It’s also been the host of an array of one-off intimate shows throughout the years, including Miles Kane, The Zutons, and The Coral, as well as The Libertines and The 1975 in their earlier years. It’s gritty and it’s iconic; a staple in showcasing often undiscovered talent.
Caitlin Andrews 