Live music in Liverpool this week: 14-20 Dec

There's a whole lotta Britpop going on: hometown veterans Cast and Space return, while Kula Shaker and Travis prove that the 90s are definitely back

Preview by Will Fitzpatrick | 14 Dec 2016

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 14 Dec

Crispian Mills' Britpop bunch Kula Shaker return in celebration of the 20th anniversary of debut album K – either a document of a long-ago time when indie fretted less about cultural appropriation or a document of your misspent youth, depending on your age. They'll probably play Tattva.
O2 Academy, 7pm, £22.50

Thu 15 Dec

Is it really 16 years since Damon Gough, aka Badly Drawn Boy shot to fame after his unexpected Mercury Prize victory? Apparently so, and with anniversary tours being all the rage (see above), he's on the road in support of last year's 15th birthday reissue of debut LP The Hour of Bewilderbeast. He'll probably play Once Around The Block.
Arts Club, 7pm, £18

Welcome to INKbeat* NEON, (it says here) an immersive experience hosting an interactive drawing performance. There's also a trapeze performance and plenty of UV glowing oddities, plus live appearances from Brothermoon, Lo Five and Bear. Not an old band touring an album from ages ago, it should be noted.
24 Kitchen Street, 7.30pm, £4-6

John Peel once referred to James Yorkston as "the finest songwriter of his generation", and whether or not you think that's fair enough, there's little doubting the power of the Fife folkster's enduring material. Wonder where his restless muse will take him next? Hey, us too: head along and enjoy the ride.
Magnet, 8pm, £13.50

Fri 16 Dec

More reuinted Britpop gentry – or Britpop bourgeoisie, at any rate. Ex-La's bassist John Power struck gold with his own project Cast in the mid-90s, and since reforming in 2010 they've found an audience hungry for nostalgia. The closest thing Liverpool had to early Who? Maybe. They'll probably play Alright.
O2 Academy, 7pm, £20

Manchester-based hip-hop crew The Mouse Outfit head along to the Arts Club, with last year's Step Steadier opus still providing solid ground from which to launch their finely-honed live show. The closest thing the UK has to a hip-hop supergroup? Arguably. A guaranteed good time? Definitely.
Arts Club, 7pm, £12-15

A double bill of DIY punk from London, helped out by two of Liverpool's finest: Fresh mesh the squall of emo with the rush of pop-punk, while Happy Accidents are a scratchier outfit who do a mean Grimes cover. As for locals Puzzle and Katy McGrath, trust us when we say they're worth it.
Maguire's Pizza Bar, 7pm, £5

A festive party, courtesy of local dubbed-out psych-popsters The Isrights? Why not, eh? They take over 24 Kitchen Street for a seasonal celabration of local aceness, backed up by rising stars Blurred Sun Band, Mary Miller and Astles. A fiver, too!
24 Kitchen Street, 7pm, £5

Sat 17 Dec

Tommy Scott is quite possibly the only pop star to ever have made a hook out of one of Loyd Grossman's catchphrases. After a tremendously sucessful spell in the late 90s, Space split up for an eternity before returning to make albums with titles like Attack of the Mutant 50ft Kebab. Make of that what you will. They'll probably play Neighbourhood.
Arts Club, 7pm, £12.50

Another punk extravaganza, albeit more on the gritty side. The ever-pacy Crocodile God are the stand-out act on this bill, making a rare appearance ahead of a new 7", but there's plenty to look forward to on a bill that also includes 2 Sick Monkeys, Old Radio, Casual Nausea and Nosebleed.
Maguire's Pizza Bar, 7pm, £6

Mon 19 Dec

As though to prove Britpop never really died – or, more accurately, it died a very clear death and then came back in time for anniversary tours – Travis made a new album this year entitled Everything At Once, and you know what? It's probably very pleasant. They'll probably play Driftwood and the one about 'it' always raining on him. Well, they bloody should do anyway.
O2 Academy, 7pm, £27.50