Live music in Liverpool this week: 26-31 Oct
Music Week provides the biggest thrills in Liverpool this week, but elsewhere there's psych-pop magnificence and chiptune Halloween bashes on offer
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...
Liverpool Music Week
It surely can't have escaped your notice by this stage, but just in case, here's a swfit reminder: IT'S LIVERPOOL MUSIC WEEK! Many of these shows are sold out already – still, here's the full list in case you're lucky enough to procure a ticket. Deep breath, everyone!
Warpaint (26 Oct, Grand Central), Dinosaur Jr (27 Oct, Arts Club), John Carpenter (28 Oct, Olympia), The Big Moon (29 Oct, Arts Club Loft), Clean Cut Kid (29, Arts Club), Amber Arcades (29 Oct, Arts Club Loft), Let's Eat Grandma (30 Oct, Arts Club Loft), She Drew The Gun (30 Oct, Leaf), Louis Berry (31 Oct, Leaf), Gogo Penguin (1 Nov, Arts Club), Dream Wife (1 Nov, Arts Club Loft), Abattoir Blues (2 Nov, Arts Club Loft) and Cat's Eyes (3 Nov, Leaf).
There's also the small matter of the massive Closing Party event, which takes place at a variety of venues in the North Liverpool Docklands on 4 November, including performances from Clinic, Barberos, XamVolo and many, many more. Pick up tickets here.
26 Oct
Psych pop types Yak (one of whom used to play in Peace for a bit) bring their appropriately shaggy groove to Liverpool in support of latest single Semi-Automatic. If that alone isn't reason enough to head down, the excellent support most certainly should be: teenage Rough Trade signings Goat Girl and melodic Skinny faves Peaness are also on the bill.
O2 Academy, 7pm, £9
27 Oct
New Liverpool promoters The Pentatonic host an evening of new acts from Merseyside and beyond tonight. It's headlined by the woozily melodic Hushtones, with new noise from Pale Horse, Amsterdam's newest lo-fi sensation Pip Blom and singer-songwriter Drew Connor.
Maguire's Pizza Bar, 7.30pm, £4
28 Oct
The electronic-tinged, neon pop of Glass Animals makes an appearance at the O2 Academy tonight, as they return to tour new offering How to be a Human Being – "an album that's all about highs and infectious fun," according to our review. But don't take our word for it; check 'em out yourself. [EDIT: TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT. TAKE OUR WORD FOR EVERYTHING]
O2 Academy, 7pm, £15
There's also minimalist punk electronics and politically-minded spoken word/rap from Nottingham-hailing duo Sleaford Mods, touring in the wake of their recent TCR EP. Whenever anyone you know bemoans the fact that no one seems to be writing music in reaction to the shitty world we live in, point them in the direction of the Mods," we said, adding "Fucking vital" for good measure.
Calmdownkidder also host their second Halloween ball, aka Chipfest 15. Fancy dress is encouraged, as you'd expect, and there's special chiptune covers sets from Methpop (The Vengaboys), XYCE (Genesis, on the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive), Auracle (The Prodigy) and Tommy Creep (dunno; that's where our blurb ends). Oh, and there's chip battles too, of course. ACE.
Maguire's Pizza Bar, 7pm, £5
31 Oct
NYC trio Augustines (formerly We Are Augustines) do a rather fine line in earnest, anthemic indie rock, due in no small part to frontman Billy McCarthy's measured and majestic vocals. Manna from heaven for fans of The National and heavy crowd interaction.
O2 Academy, 7pm, £15