Live music in Liverpool this week: 12-17 Apr
Global superstar Bruno Mars and freshly reunited local ska heroes The Dead 60s lead the charge as we take another look at the week's gigs
We dive into the listings to bring you the essential guide to gigs in Liverpool this week – plus the latest news on festivals, tour announcements and more. Think we've missed something? Hit up will@theskinny.co.uk with the details...
Wed 12 Apr
Ever lamented the fact that you were never old enough to have seen Big Black live? Newcastle upon Tyne's Massa Confusa offer a pretty good solution, with drum machine clanks and abrasive post-punk atonality making for a viscerally brilliant live show. Enamel Animal and Scaredycats support, noisily. Maguire's Pizza Bar, 7.45pm, £5
Fri 14 Apr
It's classic rock a-go-go at Maguire's tonight, as local quintet Equinox gather together some of their favourite sounds from the region. NWOBHM acolytes Midnight Prophecy, the hard-riffing Riptide and blues-tinged Fragile Things complete the bill at a night that's handily titled 'Rock at Maguire's'. Maguire's Pizza Bar, 7.15pm, £3
Sat 15 Apr
Ste, Richie & Eoghan, aka Dublin boyband Taken visit the Zanzibar for a Saturday matinee show. Is this the beginning of a One Direction-style empire? No idea, but still – they're here now. Hope the fans stick around for the venue's evening show, mind you... Zanzibar, 12pm, £10
... as Zappatika, a (surpriiiiise!) Frank Zappa tribute act promising some of the singular rock innovator's former collaborators and a selection of studio originals. Definitely one for the Taken fans, we're sure you'll agree. Zanzibar, 7.30pm, £10
Imagine being one of the biggest-selling artists in pop history, and ubiquitous for almost three years thanks to a global smash hit with Mark Ronson. Bruno Mars has done alright for himself, hasn't he? Alright, some of his stuff is a bit shit, but still. Fair play to the lad. Erm, dunno what our point is here, to be honest. Echo Arena, 7pm, from £37.50
A goth-tinged alt rock trio divided between Shrewsbury and Manchester, The Devil In Faust first formed at the tail-end of 2014 before going on to record with Meshuggah/ Sick Of It All producer Tue Madsen in Aarhus, Denmark. Slick and loud, essentially, with a fair few nods to the grunge era. So there you go. Maguire's Pizza Bar, 7pm, £3
Sun 16 Apr
Pop-punk label Fox Records gathers three of its rising stars for a package tour: Birmingham's Coast To Coast have an earnest sense of indie rock melancholy to their anthemic fare, Better Than Never offer succour to A Day To Remember fans and local hookmeisters Pine provide their own pacy take. Maguire's Pizza Bar, 7pm, £6